Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-220
Duty to provide refuse containers and service (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
It shall be the duty of the occupant of every occupational unit to provide or contract to maintain in good condition and repair, unless otherwise provided for by lease agreement, sufficient commercial refuse container(s) and scavenger service to meet its waste generation and recycling needs, so as not to allow the container(s) to overflow. It shall be the duty of the licensed scavenger to maintain in good condition and repair such commercial refuse containers. Notwithstanding this requirement, and unless otherwise agreed to by the parties via contract, the occupant shall be liable for its usage of the container(s) and for notifying the property owner or his agent of the need for additional containerization or service, including recycling service. The owner or his agent of every multiple dwelling with five or more dwelling units, if not required to have a compactor under section 7-28-225 at the owner's or his agent's expense shall provide or contract for sufficient commercial refuse containers using a minimum standard of 1/4 cubic yard for each occupied dwelling unit per week, including container space for recyclable material. The 1/4 cubic yard requirement can be lowered if the multiple dwelling can verify a lower waste generation rate over a period of months. The commissioner of streets and sanitation shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations related to the cubic yard verification. If an owner of a multiple dwelling elects to contract for refuse pickup more than one time per week, the minimum cubic yard standard shall decrease accordingly. All refuse which is placed for collection service outside of the building must be kept in standard or commercial refuse containers or refuse compactors. (Prior code § 99-16; Amend Coun. J. 7-7-99, p. 6985; Amend Coun. J. 2-9-11, p. 112120, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 2)
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-220 establishes a shared framework of responsibilities for refuse containers and waste removal. Occupants of commercial or occupational units are generally responsible for securing adequate container capacity and scavenger service to prevent overflow, while owners of residential buildings with five or more units must provide at least one-quarter cubic yard of container space per occupied dwelling unit per week, including space for recyclables. Licensed scavengers bear responsibility for keeping the containers themselves in good repair. The provision also allows for adjustments to the minimum container standard if a building can demonstrate a lower actual waste generation rate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-220, owners of multiple dwellings with five or more units are expected to provide or contract for commercial refuse containers meeting the one-quarter cubic yard per occupied unit per week baseline, with dedicated space for recyclable material. Compliant operators typically document their waste generation rates if they seek a reduction below that standard, and coordinate with the Commissioner of Streets and Sanitation under the applicable rules for any cubic yard verification. Owners who schedule more frequent than weekly pickup may proportionally reduce the minimum container volume required. Lease agreements can shift some container-related duties to occupants, so reviewing those terms carefully is a standard part of property management under this section.
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 § 7-28-220 gives occupants of commercial or occupational units a role in ensuring sufficient refuse and recycling service is available, including notifying the property owner or their agent when additional containerization is needed. Tenants in residential buildings with five or more units have an interest in confirming that their building meets the minimum container-space requirements set by this provision. If containers are consistently overflowing or recycling space is inadequate, tenants may raise the issue with the property owner, contact the Chicago Department of Housing or relevant city agencies, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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