Des Plaines, Illinois, IL Municipal Code — every chapter, in plain language

Current through : Ord. M-27-25, passed December 1, 2025, Ord. T-9-09, passed July 20, 2009, and Ord. Z-25-25, passed September 2, 2025. Official source: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/desplainesil/latest/overview

Every town writes its own rules, and Des Plaines, Illinois's live in its municipal code — 157 chapters covering day-to-day questions like fences, parking, pets, permits and property upkeep. Below is the full map of what the code covers.

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What's in the Des Plaines, Illinois code

1. CITY CODE of DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS
2. PREFACE
3. ORDINANCES PENDING REVIEW FOR CODIFICATION
4. ORDINANCE M - 2 - 26
5. ORDINANCE M - 3 - 26
6. ORDINANCE M - 29 - 25
7. CITY OF DES PLAINES ORDINANCE Z - 30 - 25
8. ORDINANCE Z - 1 - 26
9. ORDINANCE M-67-02
10. CHAPTER 1 DES PLAINES CITY CODE
11. CHAPTER 2 SAVING CLAUSE
12. CHAPTER 3 DEFINITIONS
13. CHAPTER 4 GENERAL PENALTY
14. CHAPTER 5 MAYOR1
15. CHAPTER 6 CITY COUNCIL
16. CHAPTER 7 CITY OFFICIALS
17. CHAPTER 8 POSITION GRADE AND COMPENSATION PLAN
18. CHAPTER 9 CODE OF ETHICS
19. CHAPTER 10 PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
20. CHAPTER 11 CITY ELECTIONS
21. CHAPTER 12 CITY PROPERTIES
22. CHAPTER 13 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE ANSWERING SYSTEM - 911
23. CHAPTER 14 STATE OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES ETHICS ACT
24. CHAPTER 15 LOCALLY IMPOSED AND ADMINISTERED TAX RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
25. CHAPTER 16 ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS PROGRAM
26. CHAPTER 1 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS
27. CHAPTER 2 PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD
28. CHAPTER 3 ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS1
29. CHAPTER 4 BOARD OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
30. CHAPTER 5 HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
31. CHAPTER 6 BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS
32. CHAPTER 7 RESERVED
33. CHAPTER 8 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
34. CHAPTER 9 HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
35. CHAPTER 10 DES PLAINES FOREIGN FIRE INSURANCE TAX BOARD
36. CHAPTER 11 CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMISSION
37. CHAPTER 12 CABLE SERVICES COMMISSION
38. CHAPTER 13 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
39. CHAPTER 14 YOUTH COMMISSION
40. CHAPTER 15 KEEP DES PLAINES BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION
41. CHAPTER 16 SPECIAL EVENTS COMMISSION
42. CHAPTER 1 CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
43. CHAPTER 2 POLICE DEPARTMENT
44. CHAPTER 3 FIRE DEPARTMENT
45. CHAPTER 4 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
46. CHAPTER 5 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
47. CHAPTER 6 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING
48. CHAPTER 1 BUSINESS REGISTRATION
49. CHAPTER 2 BUSINESS LICENSES - GENERALLY
50. CHAPTER 3 TEMPORARY EVENT LICENSES
51. CHAPTER 4 LIQUOR CONTROL
52. CHAPTER 5 FOOD SERVICE VEHICLES
53. CHAPTER 6 FIREARMS DEALERS
54. CHAPTER 7 TOBACCO DEALERS
55. CHAPTER 8 PAWNBROKERS AND SECONDHAND DEALERS
56. CHAPTER 9 SOLICITORS
57. CHAPTER 10 CONTRACTORS
58. CHAPTER 11 FOREIGN FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES
59. CHAPTER 12 DAYCARE CENTERS
60. CHAPTER 13 MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
61. CHAPTER 14 PUBLIC PASSENGER VEHICLES
62. CHAPTER 15 MOBILE HOME PARKS
63. CHAPTER 16 ADULT USES
64. CHAPTER 17 RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES USED FOR RENTALS
65. CHAPTER 18 SCHEDULE OF FEES
66. CHAPTER 19 MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE
67. CHAPTER 20 BODY ART ESTABLISHMENTS
68. CHAPTER 21 OCCASIONAL RESIDENTIAL SALES
69. CHAPTER 22 CANNABIS DISPENSARIES
70. CHAPTER 1 GENERAL HEALTH REGULATIONS
71. CHAPTER 2 SOLID WASTE, RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, YARD WASTE, AND COMPOSTING
72. CHAPTER 3 NUISANCES
73. CHAPTER 4 CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY ABATEMENT
74. CHAPTER 5 PLANTS AND WEEDS
75. CHAPTER 6 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
76. CHAPTER 7 ALARM SYSTEMS
77. CHAPTER 8 MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSING ORGANIZATIONS
78. CHAPTER 9 SALE OF ILLICIT THC PRODUCTS AND KRATOM PROHIBITED
79. CHAPTER 1 ANIMAL CONTROL
80. CHAPTER 2 GENERAL OFFENSES
81. CHAPTER 3 CHILDREN AND MINORS
82. CHAPTER 4 GAMBLING
83. CHAPTER 5 CIVIL EMERGENCIES
84. CHAPTER 1 VEHICLE LICENSES
85. CHAPTER 2 TRAFFIC CODE
86. CHAPTER 3 STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
87. CHAPTER 4 MISCELLANEOUS DRIVING RULES
88. CHAPTER 5 ONE-WAY, STOP AND YIELD STREETS
89. CHAPTER 6 TRAFFIC ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
90. CHAPTER 7 PARKING LOTS
91. CHAPTER 8 ABANDONED, WRECKED VEHICLES AND BICYCLES
92. CHAPTER 9 VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION AND IMPOUNDMENT FOR VIOLATIONS
93. CHAPTER 10 TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
94. CHAPTER 11 VEHICLE SEIZURE AND IMPOUNDMENT FOR VIOLATIONS
95. CHAPTER 12 AUTOMATED TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM
96. CHAPTER 1 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
97. CHAPTER 2 DRIVEWAYS
98. CHAPTER 3 HOUSE NUMBERS
99. CHAPTER 4 TREES
100. CHAPTER 5 RIGHT OF WAY LICENSE AGREEMENT
101. CHAPTER 6 PARKWAYS
102. CHAPTER 1 WATER SYSTEM REGULATIONS
103. CHAPTER 2 SEWER SYSTEM REGULATIONS
104. CHAPTER 3 STORMWATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS
105. CHAPTER 4 CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL AND BACKFLOW PREVENTION
106. CHAPTER 5 CONSTRUCTION OF UTILITY FACILITIES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
107. CHAPTER 6 SEWER AND WATER MAIN RECAPTURE AGREEMENTS
108. CHAPTER 7 PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
109. CHAPTER 1 BUILDING CODE
110. CHAPTER 2 RESIDENTIAL CODE FOR ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS
111. CHAPTER 3 FIRE CODE
112. CHAPTER 4 PLUMBING CODE
113. CHAPTER 5 MECHANICAL CODE
114. CHAPTER 6 FUEL GAS CODE
115. CHAPTER 7 ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE
116. CHAPTER 8 ELECTRICAL CODE
117. CHAPTER 9 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
118. CHAPTER 10 SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL
119. CHAPTER 11 RESERVED
120. CHAPTER 12 RESERVED
121. CHAPTER 13 CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS FEE SCHEDULE
122. CHAPTER 14 VIOLATIONS AND APPEALS
123. TITLE 11 RESERVED
124. TITLE 12 ZONING
125. PREFACE
126. CHAPTER 1 TITLE, PURPOSE, AND EFFECT
127. CHAPTER 2 LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
128. CHAPTER 3 DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCEDURES
129. CHAPTER 4 ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
130. CHAPTER 5 NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
131. CHAPTER 6 DISTRICTS AND BOUNDARIES
132. CHAPTER 7 DISTRICTS
133. CHAPTER 8 ACCESSORY, TEMPORARY, AND SPECIFIC USE REGULATIONS
134. CHAPTER 9 OFF STREET PARKING AND LOADING FACILITIES
135. CHAPTER 10 LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING
136. CHAPTER 11 SIGNS
137. CHAPTER 12 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
138. CHAPTER 13 DEFINITIONS
139. CHAPTER 14 MINIMUM SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
140. CHAPTER 1 GENERAL SUBDIVISION PROVISIONS
141. CHAPTER 2 PROCEDURES AND PLATS
142. CHAPTER 3 DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS
143. CHAPTER 4 DEDICATION OF PARK LANDS OR PAYMENTS OF FEES IN LIEU OF
144. CHAPTER 1 FLOOD CONTROL REGULATIONS
145. CHAPTER 1 MUNICIPAL RETAILERS' AND SERVICE OCCUPATION TAX
146. CHAPTER 2 MUNICIPAL AUTOMOBILE OCCUPATION TAXES
147. CHAPTER 3 MUNICIPAL UTILITY TAX
148. CHAPTER 4 HOTEL-MOTEL OPERATOR'S OCCUPATION TAX
149. CHAPTER 5 O'HARE CORRIDOR PRIVILEGE TAX AREA
150. CHAPTER 6 O'HARE CORRIDOR PRIVILEGE TAX AREA PARKING TAX
151. CHAPTER 7 REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX
152. CHAPTER 8 MOTOR FUEL TAX
153. CHAPTER 9 FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX
154. CHAPTER 10 MUNICIPAL GAS USE TAX
155. CHAPTER 11 SIMPLIFIED MUNICIPAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX
156. CHAPTER 12 CABLE/VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDER AND PUBLIC, GOVERNMENTAL, AND EDUCATIONAL ACCESS SUPPORT FEES
157. CHAPTER 13 MUNICIPAL CANNABIS RETAILERS’ OCCUPATION TAX