Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-460
Substances that scatter in wind (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
No lime, ashes, coal, dry sand, hair, feathers, or other substance that may be scattered by the wind, shall be sifted through a sieve, agitated, or exposed. No mat, carpet, or cloth shall be shaken or beaten, nor any cloth, yarn, garment, material, or substance be scoured, cleaned, or hung, nor shall any business be conducted over or in any public way, or where particles set in motion therefrom will pass into any public way, or into any occupied premises. No usual or reasonable precaution shall be omitted by any person to prevent fragments or other substances from falling, or dust and light material from flying, into any public way or into any place or building from any building or structure while the same is being altered, repaired, or demolished. Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $300.00 and not more than $1,000.00 for each offense. Each day that such a violation continues shall be considered a separate and distinct offense. (Prior code § 99-38; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-00, p. 46866, § 1)
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-460, it is prohibited to sift, agitate, or expose wind-scatterable materials such as lime, ashes, coal, dry sand, hair, or feathers in ways that could send particles into public ways or occupied buildings. The rule also bars shaking mats or carpets, conducting cleaning or scouring activities, or running any business over a public way when particles could drift into that space. Additionally, anyone altering, repairing, or demolishing a building must take all usual and reasonable precautions to prevent dust, debris, or light materials from falling or flying into public ways or neighboring structures. Fines range from $300 to $1,000 per offense, with each continuing day counted as a separate violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Chicago should be aware that § 7-28-460 of the Municipal Code covers a broad range of dust- and debris-generating activities on or near their properties. Compliant operators typically implement dust-control measures during construction, alteration, repair, or demolition work—such as wetting materials, using enclosures, or scheduling work to minimize wind dispersal—and ensure that routine maintenance tasks like carpet beating or material cleaning are not performed over or adjacent to public ways. Because Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-460 treats each day of a continuing violation as a separate offense, operators generally address any identified issues promptly to limit cumulative fine exposure of up to $1,000 per day.
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 § 7-28-460 gives residents a basis to raise concerns when a neighboring property owner, contractor, or business is scattering dust, debris, or other wind-borne materials into public ways or occupied buildings. Tenants who believe this provision is being violated may document the conditions and report them to the appropriate Chicago municipal enforcement authority, or raise the violation as a relevant factor in any related housing proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help residents understand how § 7-28-460 interacts with other housing protections and what general enforcement paths 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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