Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-210
Refuse containers (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) Standard refuse container. The standard refuse container required by this chapter shall be a receptacle of impervious material and sturdy construction, with a tight fitting cover, and shall be provided by the department of streets and sanitation. (b) Commercial refuse container. The commercial refuse container required by this chapter shall be provided or contracted for by the property owner or his agent or the occupant of an occupational unit, and shall be a leak-resistant, rodent-resistant, and lidded container which is constructed of impervious material and subject to the inspection of the department of health and the department of streets and sanitation. (c) Refuse compactor. The refuse compactor required by this chapter shall be a leak-resistant and rodent-resistant container constructed of impervious material and capable of reducing the volume of waste contained within it a minimum of 65 percent, subject to the inspection of the department of health and the department of streets and sanitation, and provided or contracted for by the property owner or his agent, unless otherwise agreed to by the lease agreement. (Prior code § 99-15; Amend Coun. J. 7-7-99, p. 6985)
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-210 establishes the specifications for three categories of refuse containers used in Chicago: standard containers (supplied by the city's Department of Streets and Sanitation), commercial containers (procured by the property owner or occupant), and refuse compactors (also the responsibility of the property owner or occupant unless a lease says otherwise). Each container type must be made of impervious material and be resistant to leaks and rodents, with commercial containers and compactors subject to inspection by the Department of Health and the Department of Streets and Sanitation. The rule sets minimum performance standards—such as a compactor's ability to reduce waste volume by at least 65 percent—to ensure safe and sanitary refuse handling across property types.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-210, property owners and their agents are responsible for procuring or contracting for compliant commercial refuse containers and compactors at properties where those container types are required. Compliant operators generally ensure that commercial containers are leak-resistant, rodent-resistant, lidded, and made of impervious material, and that any compactor on the property can reduce waste volume by at least 65 percent. Both commercial containers and compactors are subject to inspection by the Chicago Department of Health and the Department of Streets and Sanitation, so maintaining containers in good working order is a routine part of property management under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-210 gives tenants a basis for understanding who is responsible for providing adequate refuse containers at their building—generally the property owner or their agent, unless a lease agreement shifts that responsibility for compactors. If a building's refuse containers appear to fall short of the standards described in this provision, such as being non-lidded, leaking, or failing to deter rodents, tenants may raise this as a potential code violation with the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation or the Department of Health, which have inspection authority under this section. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help residents understand how to document conditions and what complaint processes may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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