INTRODUCTION

    Our goal is to eliminate blight, improve the appearance of business and residential areas and create a community where all those who live, work or visit can experience a sense of pride and well being. While the goals of the Code Enforcement Officers may sound simple, your cooperation is needed to make them a reality.

    To protect the residential atmosphere of your neighborhood as well as prevent unsafe and unsightly use of property the City of West Chicago has adopted municipal codes to
achieve the quality of life everyone wants to enjoy. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with some of the codes.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

    All houses, fences, garages, and other buildings must be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. The owner of the property is responsible for keeping the premises up to code. Renters must continue to keep it clean and sanitary while they live there.

SNOW REMOVAL POLICY

With winter upon us once again, it is time to review our snow removal policy.  The City is divided into six plow routes to enable us to have at least one truck working in all areas of town.  Each route contains primary roads and secondary roads. Primary roads are arterial streets which keep traffic flowing in and out of the City, and are the first streets salted and plowed. Secondary roads are those which have less traffic flow, generally side streets, and are salted and plowed upon completion of primary roads.
    During heavier snowfalls, it is possible that side streets may not be plowed until after the snowfall stops; Every effort is made to at least make side streets passable until the truck has
time to properly plow the street.

Residents should be aware of the following City policies:

• City ordinance imposes a parking ban on all streets after a two-inch snowfall until such time as the street has been completely plowed curb to curb.

• It is illegal to plow/shovel snow from driveways or sidewalks into the street.

• The City does not provide for snow removal from sidewalks.

• The City will not be responsible for plow damage to improperly installed mailboxes or to boxes damaged by thrown snow. Properly installed boxes would require the box be securely attached to a strong post with the face of the box a minimum distance of 6 inches behind the back of the curb (preferably 12").

• Placing of ornamental rocks or other objects along the curbline is illegal as they present a serious safety hazard to snow removal equipment

CODE REGULATIONS

GENERAL CONDITIONS

• The outside of buildings, including detached garages, must be kept in good    repair, weather-proof and properly surface coated.
• House numbers are required and must be at least 3" high in arabic numerals, and readable from the street.
• Fences must be well maintained and can beno more than six feet tall in rear and fourfeet high in front yards, 3 feet by corners.
• Weeds and grass over eight inches in heighthave to be cut.
• Swimming pools and ponds with standing water which are unsanitary or stagnant are prohibited. All pools and ponds 2 feet deep or more must be fenced.

VEHICLES

• All open off-street parking areas must be paved. No parking is allowed on lawns.
• It is unlawful to keep any vehicle which is not properly registered or which is inoperable on any property except in a closed garage.
• Large commereial trucks and trailers cannot be parked in any residential neighborhood except when loading or unloading.
• The parking of a travel trailer, or recreational vehicle is not allowed in the front yard, only in the rear or side yard on pavement.  No one is allowed to live in the trailer.
• No vehicle shall at any time be kept or stored on any property in a state of major disassembly or disrepair, except in a closed garage.
• No vehicle shall be parked in a parking lot    for the primary purpose of sale.

REFUSE AND GARBAGE

• The storing of junk, trash, rubbish, garbage and refuse on private property is prohibited.
• Regular garbage pick-up shall be placed on the curb no earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before your collection day. Details of West Chicago's Solid Waste Collection programare available at City Hall.
• Do not rake leaves into the street. Seasonal pick-up of bagged leaves is provided by the city.
• Brush and tree branches shall not be placed on the parkway except the weekend before the scheduled monthly pick-up.

PERMITTED SIGNS

• Garage sale signs on premises of sale only.
• Political campaign signs confined to private property only.
• Real estate signs indicating the sale or rental of the premises on which they are located. Not more than one sign per street front.
• Signs placed on utility poles and parkways will be removed by City employees.