Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-395
Construction debris on public way prohibited (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
Any person who constructs, demolishes, renovates, remodels, excavates or otherwise performs any maintenance operation on private property shall not allow any debris generated by that operation to accumulate on any adjacent public way and shall remove all debris from the public way at least once a day. Such person shall transport, remove and dispose of the debris in conformity with the requirements of this code and in a manner that does not cause any debris to be washed, drained, discarded or otherwise allowed to flow into the city sewer system. If the public way is damaged during the removal process, such person shall restore the public way to the condition that it was in before the damage occurred or shall pay the city in full for any costs and expenses which the city incurs in connection with the performance of that work. Any person who violates this section shall be fined not less than $350.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. This section may be enforced by the Department of Streets and Sanitation, the Department of the Environment, and the Department of Transportation. As used in this section: "Debris" means any dirt, rock, sand, construction or demolition waste, landscape waste, chipped paint, rubbish, rubble, garbage, trash, chemical residue, or any other miscellaneous material or substance generated by the construction, demolition, renovation, remodeling, excavation or performance of any other maintenance operation on private property. "Debris" does not include any item or material placed on the public way in compliance with a valid permit issued by the department of transportation. (Added Coun. J. 6-6-01, p. 60214, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. II, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 10-27-21, p. 40504, Art. II, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-20-25, p. 39283, Art. III, § 7)
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-395, anyone who carries out construction, demolition, renovation, remodeling, excavation, or other maintenance work on private property is prohibited from letting the resulting debris pile up on an adjacent public way. All debris must be cleared from the public way at least once per day and disposed of in a way that keeps it out of the city sewer system. If the public way is damaged during debris removal, the responsible party must either restore it to its prior condition or reimburse the city for the cost of doing so.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers overseeing construction, renovation, or maintenance work in Chicago should be aware that Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-395 places the cleanup obligation on whoever performs or directs the work. Compliant operators typically establish daily debris-removal schedules, ensure disposal methods keep materials out of city sewers, and document the condition of any adjacent public way before work begins so that restoration obligations can be met if damage occurs. Fines range from $350 to $500 per offense, with each day of continued violation counting as a separate offense, so prompt corrective action is a standard part of responsible site management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-395 primarily targets those performing construction or maintenance work rather than tenants, residents who observe debris accumulating on a public way adjacent to a work site may have grounds to report the condition. Complaints can generally be directed to the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, the Department of the Environment, or the Department of Transportation, all of which are authorized to enforce this section. Tenant-rights organizations and local aldermanic offices can also be resources for understanding how to document and report ongoing violations in a neighborhood.
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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