Amendment of Municipal Code Section 10-32-055 to limit height of non-tree plants in native and pollinator gardens to 36 inches

Votes › Environmental Protection and Energy › 2nd Ward: Brian Hopkins

Record number: O2026-0022796
Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
Status: Final
Sponsor: Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward)
Co-sponsors (1): Ruth Cruz (30th Ward)
Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy
Introduction Date: Feb 18, 2026
Final Action Date: May 20, 2026
Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed May 20, 2026

50 yea, 0 nay. On motion of Alderperson Knudsen, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of May 20, 2026.

Yea (50): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)

Plain-language summary

Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: W2 - Managed native and pollinator garden registry.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance changes Chicago's rules for the city's registry of managed native and pollinator gardens. For registered gardens planted in the parkway with a permit, non-tree plants could be up to 36 inches tall. Based on the amendment markup, the old limit appears to have been ten inches.

Amends Municipal Code Section 10-32-055, which covers the managed native and pollinator garden registry.
For permitted gardens in a parkway, plants other than trees may not be taller than 36 inches.
The text indicates the previous height limit of ten inches is being replaced.
Other registry rules stay the same, including that plants may not encroach on the public sidewalk or extend beyond the property line.
Takes effect upon passage and approval.

Who: People with managed native and pollinator gardens in a parkway who want to be on the city's registry; the ordinance was introduced by Alderman Brian Hopkins of the 2nd Ward.

Where: Parkway gardens covered by the registry; no specific ward or neighborhood is stated

Impact report

Written by AI from the official document. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance would set a 36-inch height limit for non-tree plants in registered native and pollinator gardens located in a parkway, replacing the word "ten" in the current rule.

Who it affects

Residents with native or pollinator gardens in a parkway: Plants other than trees in their permitted parkway gardens could be up to 36 inches tall and still qualify for the city's garden registry.
Community gardens with native or pollinator plantings: Those with permitted parkway gardens would follow the same 36-inch height limit for non-tree plants to stay eligible for the registry.
People walking on public sidewalks: The existing rule that garden plants may not encroach on the public sidewalk or extend beyond the property line stays in place.

What changes

Non-tree plants in a permitted parkway native and pollinator garden could be up to 36 inches tall.
The number "ten" in the height rule is replaced with "36 inches."
Trees remain excluded from the height limit.
Gardens still cannot have plants that spill onto the sidewalk or past the property line.

Where: 2nd Ward

When: Upon passage and approval

Timeline

Feb 18, 2026: Referred. The matter was Referred to Committee.
May 11, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
May 20, 2026: Passed, City Council (50 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Knudsen, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.