Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 9 and 11 regarding fines for illegal dumping and adding new Section 9-92-036 authorizing impoundment of vehicles used in fly dumping

Votes › Transportation and Public Way › 7th Ward: Gregory I. Mitchell

• Record number: O2026-0024966
• Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
• Status: Final
• Sponsor: Gregory I. Mitchell (7th Ward)
• Committee: Committee on Transportation and Public Way
• Introduction Date: May 20, 2026
• Final Action Date: Jun 17, 2026
• Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed Jun 17, 2026

49 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. On motion of Alderperson Mitchell, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Jun 17, 2026.

Yea (49): 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), 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)

Absent (1): Gilbert Villegas (36)

Plain-language summary

Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: Fly dumping II v11 (1).pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance raises fines for illegal dumping in Chicago and lowers the waste amounts that trigger higher fines, with a new top fine of $50,000. It also raises the penalty for vehicles impounded for dumping from $1,000 to $2,000. It creates a new process so a vehicle seen or recorded being used for fly dumping can be impounded later, even if it was not towed at the scene.

• Fine levels now start at smaller amounts of waste (5 cubic yards or 5 gallons instead of 20), with new fine tiers added.
• Vehicle owners whose vehicles are impounded at the scene of dumping face a $2,000 penalty (up from $1,000), plus towing and storage fees.
• Police or Streets and Sanitation workers who see or record dumping can report the vehicle, and police will mail the owner a notice of intent to impound.
• Owners have 14 days to contest by mail, with a hearing within 30 days. If they do not contest or they lose, the vehicle can be impounded if found on the public way within 12 months, unless the $2,000 penalty is paid first.
• The ordinance takes effect 10 days after passage and publication.

Money

• $1,500 to $2,500: fine for dumping up to 5 cubic yards of solid waste or up to 5 gallons of liquid waste
• $5,000 to $10,000: fines for dumping more than 5 and up to 20 cubic yards or gallons
• $25,000 to $40,000: fines for dumping more than 20 and up to 100 cubic yards or gallons
• $50,000: fine for dumping more than 100 cubic yards or gallons (raised from $30,000)
• $2,000: administrative penalty for vehicles impounded or eligible for impoundment for fly dumping (raised from $1,000), plus towing and storage fees

Who: People who illegally dump waste and owners of vehicles used for dumping are affected, along with the Police, Streets and Sanitation, and Administrative Hearings departments that carry out the rules.

Where: Citywide in Chicago

Timeline

• May 20, 2026: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
• Jun 10, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Transportation and Public Way. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
• Jun 17, 2026: Passed, City Council (49 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Mitchell, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.

Documents

• O2026-0024966 CL.pdf (Committee Letter)
• Fly dumping II v11 (1).pdf (Legislation)

Related legislation

More from Gregory I. Mitchell

• Time fixed for next City Council Meeting December 8, 2026 and December 9, 2026, at 10:00 A.M., Council Chamber (O2026-0029508, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Passed)
• Time fixed for next City Council Meeting October 14, 2026, at 10:00 A.M., Council Chamber (O2026-0029058, introduced Sep 29, 2026, Recommended to Pass)
• Time fixed for next City Council Meeting July 22, 2026, at 10:00 A.M., Council Chamber (SO2026-0027311, introduced Jul 15, 2026, Passed as Substitute)

More on Municipal Code Amendments

• Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-24-065 regarding ability to pay pilot program (O2026-0029654, introduced Dec 8, 2026, Council Introduction)
• Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4 and 8 regarding technical and scriveners' corrections (2027 Municipal Code Corrections Ordinance) (O2026-0029649, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred)
• Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 15, 17 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various… (O2026-0029644, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred)

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