Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-370
Disposal of furnishings, bedding, clothing or other materials infested with bed bugs (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) No person shall place, discard or dispose of any bedding, clothing or other materials infested with bed bugs on the public way or in a refuse container or dumpster located on the public way, except when such bedding, clothing or other material is placed in or near the person's refuse container or dumpster for pick-up as trash and the bedding, clothing or other material is totally enclosed in a plastic bag and labeled as being infested with bed bugs. (b) No furnishing, bedding, clothing or other material infested with bed bugs shall be recycled. (c) For purposes of this section, "bedding" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in Section 7-28-810 . (Added Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 55787, § 4) Editor's note - Per Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 55787, § 6, § 7-28-370 becomes effective on 12-2-13. Coun. J. 10-28-97, p. 54730, repealed a former § 7-28-370, which pertained to manure and garbage loaded on railroad cars.
Chicago Municipal Code § 7-28-370 governs how bed-bug-infested items must be handled when discarded. Infested bedding, clothing, or other materials may only be set out for trash pickup if they are completely sealed in a plastic bag and clearly labeled as bed-bug-infested; they may not simply be left loose on the public way or placed in a public refuse container or dumpster. Recycling any infested furnishing, bedding, clothing, or similar material is prohibited outright under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers dealing with bed bug infestations should be aware that § 7-28-370 sets specific disposal requirements for infested items removed from units. Compliant operators ensure that any infested bedding, clothing, or materials set out for trash collection are fully enclosed in sealed plastic bags and visibly labeled as bed-bug-infested before placement near the property's refuse container. Placing such items loose on the public way, depositing them in public dumpsters without proper containment, or routing them to recycling are all practices that this section prohibits.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Chicago Municipal Code § 7-28-370, tenants who need to discard bed-bug-infested items have a defined set of rules to follow to avoid a violation. Infested materials must be completely sealed in a plastic bag and labeled as infested before being placed near a refuse container for pickup, and they cannot be recycled or left loose in public areas. Tenants who believe a landlord or another party is improperly disposing of infested items in violation of § 7-28-370 may consider reporting the concern to the appropriate Chicago municipal authority or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on 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 October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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