Chicago collects yard waste from April through November on a call-in basis. Residents place paper bags or bundled brush curbside on their regular pickup day after requesting service through 311. Plastic bags are banned and bags are limited to 33 gallons.
Chicago Streets & Sanitation operates yard-waste collection seasonally from April 1 through November 30 in line with Illinois Public Act 86-1300, which prohibits landscape waste from going to landfills. Service is on-call: residents must request a pickup through the 311 system at least 24 hours before their regular refuse day. Materials must be placed in paper yard-waste bags no larger than 33 gallons, or bundled with natural twine into branches no longer than 4 feet and no thicker than 2 inches in diameter. Plastic bags are not accepted under any circumstance. Bags must weigh no more than 50 pounds each. Collected material is delivered to permitted composting facilities under City Code §11-4-2100 and turned into compost and mulch. Spring leaf cleanup is heaviest in April and May; fall leaf season runs October through mid-November, when residents typically schedule multiple pickups. Christmas trees are collected free curbside during the first two weeks of January, separate from the seasonal program.
Setting out yard waste in plastic bags or co-mingling it with regular trash violates City Code §7-28-235 and carries fines of $50 to $500 per occurrence. Illegal dumping in alleys or parks is a separate offense with fines up to $1,500.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Chicago, IL
No Chicago-specific ordinance allocates division-fence costs between neighbors; the Illinois Fence Act (765 ILCS 130) applies, requiring adjoining landowners...
Chicago, IL
Chicago Zoning Ordinance 17-17-0309 lets fences encroach into required setbacks: a fence no more than 20% opaque up to 6 feet is allowed in front, side, and ...
Chicago, IL
Chicago Building Code Chapter 13-196 requires approved smoke alarms in every residential unit: at least one on each story (including basement), within 15 fee...
Chicago, IL
Chicago has no ordinance specific to residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round decorations. Landmark Commission approval is required only for perma...
Chicago, IL
Chicago has no ordinance specific to residential holiday inflatables. Inflator-motor noise after hours is enforced under MCC Section 8-32 (noise), and sidewa...
Chicago, IL
Chicago has no ordinance regulating residential holiday light display windows or brightness. Property maintenance complaints are handled under MCC Section 13...
See how Chicago's yard waste collection rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.