Code Compliance

The Code Enforcement officials are responsible for proactively enforcing Village ordinances regarding the health and safety of Hillside’s residents. Our code enforcement team works with residents on a daily basis to resolve code violations that impact the quality of life in Hillside.

Although Code Compliance is challenging, officials see their role as improving the quality of life for all by ensuring a cleaner, safer and more attractive community.

Functions of Code Enforcement 

  • Receiving citizen calls, letters and in-person reports of code violations throughout the village.
  • Proactively patrolling Village streets and alleys to ensure code regulations are followed regarding health, safety and aesthetics.
  • Investigating and working with private property owners to gain compliance when violations are found or reported.

Top code violations

  1. Watering: The frequency of outside watering is restricted, depending upon the time of year, the time of day and the drought stage in effect.
  2. Weeds and grass: Weeds and grass of more than 8 inches in height is unlawful. Property owners and/or occupants are responsible for keeping their lawns mowed to the edge of the roadway and to the middle of the alley.
  3. Junk and unsightly:It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any junk, debris, and any and all other objectionable or unsightly matter to accumulate upon a parcel of land.
  4. Junked vehicle:A vehicle that is wrecked or inoperable, or a vehicle that has expired registration and inspection certificates, and has remained inoperable for more than 30 days is unlawful.
  5. Illegal dumping:Some unlawful examples include:  Unauthorized use of a dumpster.  Discarding trash and debris on another’s property.  Dumping left on any public or private property.
  6. Garbage containers:Every resident shall use approved containers provided by the Vilage to hold the garbage and trash normally accumulating on the premises. Every resident shall keep all garbage and trash containers used securely closed in such a manner as to prevent the scattering of the contents thereof and to render said contents inaccessible to insects, rodents and other animals.
  7. Low limbs:It is a violation to allow brush, shrubs, or trees to impede into alleyways, public rights-of-way or streets.
  8. Standing water: It is unlawful for any person to allow stagnant water to collect that may allow the breeding of insects.
  9. Signs:In Residential areas.
    1. Real estate signs.
      1. No more than one real estate sign shall be erected on any premises, except one additional “Open House”sign may be used on the day of the “Open House.”
      2. No real estate sign shall exceed six square feet in area. The top surface at the sign shall not exceed four feet in height from the existing grade at the point of installation.
      3. No signs shall contain the word “sold” or “leased.”
      4. No sign shall be an illuminated sign.
      5. No sign shall be on the property for more than three days after the sale has been completed.
    2. Political signs.
      1. No more than two candidate signs shall be erected on any premises.
      2. No sign shall exceed six square feet in area. The top surface at the sign shall not exceed four feet in height from the existing grade at the point of installation.
      3. No sign shall be an illuminated sign.
      4. No sign shall remain on the property for more than three days after the election.
    3. Contractor signs.
      1. For a contractor actually doing work on a residential home and only while the work is in progress.
      2. No more than one sign shall be erected on any premises.
      3. No sign shall exceed six square feet in area. The top surface shall not exceed four feet in height from the existing grade at the point of installation.
      4. No sign shall be an illuminated sign.
      5. No sign shall be on the property for more than three days from the completion of the work.