Chicago associations can no longer ban composting outright
Chicago associations can no longer ban composting outright
2026-09-10 · Illinois · Regulation
What happened. The Chicago City Council adopted Substitute Ordinance SO2025-0018160 on October 16, 2025, amending Municipal Code §§ 7-28-710 and 7-28-715 on composting standards.1
A note on the record: we could not open the enacted text — the Chicago Municipal Code site refused automated retrieval — so the precise effective date is unconfirmed. Practitioner guidance treats it as a 2026 compliance item.
What it does
Property managers, building owners and community associations may no longer impose blanket prohibitions on residents composting, dropping organic waste at certified facilities, or contracting with licensed private haul-away providers — so long as the system meets the ordinance's standards.
Containers must be:
- fully enclosed, with openings no larger than one quarter inch or an equivalent seal;
- odour-controlled and pest-controlled;
- leak-resistant; and
- operated in a safe and sanitary manner.
Enforcement is by the City, with fines reported at roughly $300 to $600 per offence.
What associations keep
Reasonable restrictions remain lawful: container size, placement and location, odour control and pest control. What is gone is the flat prohibition.
The distinction that decides compliance
Keep reading with the Illinois State Pass
The rest of this analysis — what an association can actually do, the recent bills and rulings, and how Illinois compares nationally — is for subscribers. $49/month for every Illinois topic on HOA Weekly.
$49/month, $449/year, or a $19.99 day pass.
What you unlock
- The harder case: shared systems
- Why this ordinance is the template, not the exception
- What a Chicago board can do now
and 1 more section in detail
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Recurring monthly subscription · Cancel anytime · Need help?
Related Illinois HOA Topics
Stay on top of Illinois HOA law
Every week: new Illinois legislation, court rulings, and regulatory developments affecting condos, planned communities, and property managers. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.