Property Maintenance

Each property owner is required to keep their home and property in good repair. The Village Building Inspector works with homeowners to ensure this is done. Occasionally, a property may fall into disrepair. Should this happen, Community Development Department staff will investigate any valid complaint on a property or any violation of code noted during periodic surveys of the community. Should you have a question about what might constitute a code violation or to express a concern about a property, please contact Community Development Department at 708-447-1241. You may also report property maintenance issues through Riverside Responds. (There is also an app available in the iTunes app store or Google play store: search Riverside Responds.)

The Village of Riverside has adopted the 2006 International Property Maintenance Code. Sections of this code require the following:

Property Maintenance Requirements

Grass/Weeds

Grass may not exceed 8 inches in height and shall be kept free from weeds.

Landscaping

Each property owner must keep landscape neatly trimmed. Bushes and trees shall be trimmed so as not to overhang the Village right-of-way or create a hazard to pedestrians or to cars.

Please remember that bushes and tree limbs that hang into a neighbor's yard are your responsibility to keep trimmed.

Garbage

Kitchen refuse must be in a covered container stored in an area not visible from the public right-of-way. Containers (as well as construction and household debris) may be placed at the curb after 4 p.m. the day before pick up.

Peeling Paint

Homes which are painted must be maintained in good condition. Peeling paint is unsightly and must be scraped and repainted in a timely manner.

There is no ordinance in the Village of Riverside regulating the color of paint on a home. This is up to the individual property owner.

Roofs & Gutters

Roofs shall be maintained in good repair to prevent water from entering the structure. Worn or curling roof shingles, or any shingle that is past its useful life, shall be eliminated.

Roof drains, gutters and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair and free from obstructions.

Roof drains may not discharge directly onto adjoining properties. Roof water should be directed to the front or rear yards.

Reduced Backflow System (RPZ)

The State of Illinois requires that each property owner with a fire sprinkling or lawn sprinkling system have a reduced pressure backflow preventer (RPZ) and have it inspected annually. This inspection ensures that no contaminated water will flow back into the Village's potable water supply. This annual inspection is required under the State of Illinois Plumbing Code 890.1130 (c).

A certified copy of the report must be on file with the Village of Riverside. All inspections must be completed and the report received and submitted to the Public Works Department no later than July 16th each year. For more information, visit the Village RPZ requirements page.

Street Numbers

Each structure assigned a street number shall have such number displayed in a position easily observed and readable from the public right-of-way. All numbers shall be in Arabic numerals at least 4 inches in height and 1/2 inch in stroke.

A homeowner may be cited for a property maintenance violation if the numbers are too small, the numbers are not in Arabic numerals (e.g., must be 123, not One Hundred Twenty-Three), or the numbers are difficult to read or obstructed from view.

Having legible numbers is for your own safety. It is difficult for the Police/Fire Departments to find your home in the event of an emergency.