| Repair | Who pays | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Service Line | Property owner | In Chicago, Peoples Gas owns the gas line to the meter; the customer owns the pipes that exit the meter to the appliances. Cited to Peoples Gas (peoplesgasdelivery.com). |
| Municipal Liability: Pothole Damaged My Car | Depends | Chicago reviews pothole damage claims through the City Council by ordinance, not small-claims court, under state limitations law. |
| Sewer Lateral | Shared | Who pays for sewer lateral in Chicago, IL? Owner: house to property line. City (Private Drain Program): property line to main. |
| Sidewalk Repair | Shared | Chicago owns the sidewalk and has no owner-repair mandate; repair is a voluntary CDOT cost-share program, while snow and ice removal is the enforceable owner duty. |
| Street Tree / Parkway | City | Chicago's Bureau of Forestry maintains all parkway trees; owners only water required trees and tend the parkway lawn. |
| Tree Roots | Property owner | Chicago parkway trees are city property, but the owner still pays for sidewalk repair. The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program offers a subsidized rate, not a free fix. |
| Water Service Line | Shared | In Chicago the water service line splits at the external shut-off valve under the parkway: the City owns main-to-valve, the homeowner owns valve-to-home. Cited to a City of Chicago release quoting the Municipal Code. |
Gas Service Line
Chicago: the pipes past the gas meter are yours, Peoples Gas maintains the line to the meter, customers own "the pipes that exit the meter."
Peoples Gas owns and is responsible for maintaining the gas lines that deliver gas to the meter at your building ... Customers are responsible for the pipes that exit the meter and serve the natural gas-fueled appliances throughout your property.
Source: Piping FAQ
Municipal Liability: Pothole Damaged My Car
Chicago doesn't use small-claims court for pothole damage; the City Council reviews and settles claims by ordinance, with $2,500-or-less claims going to the City Clerk and larger ones to the Law Department.
In most cities/towns, if you find yourself in a situation like above, you would be required to file a case with the small claims court or similar county court system. In Chicago, however, claims such as these are reviewed and settled by the Chicago City Council passing an ordinance to award damages.
Source: Claims
Sewer Lateral
Chicago: shared, the homeowner maintains the private drain; DWM repairs qualifying breaks in the public way.
The property owner shall be responsible for repairs to the part of the building sewer located on private property. ... The department shall be responsible for repairs to the part of the building sewer located on public property
Source: 11-16-020 Care of sewers, sewer structures and drains.
Sidewalk Repair
Chicago: the City owns the sidewalk and there is no owner-repair mandate, repair is a voluntary cost-share with CDOT, while snow removal is the enforceable owner duty.
The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program is an extremely popular voluntary program in which property owners share the cost of sidewalk repair with the City... The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program cost per square foot charged to property owners is well below what a private contractor would charge. Senior citizens and persons...
Street Tree / Parkway
Chicago's Bureau of Forestry maintains all 500,000+ parkway trees; the abutting owner's only duty is watering required trees and routine parkway-lawn care, not general street-tree maintenance.
Chicago has more than 500,000 parkway trees and each is maintained by the DSS Bureau of Forestry.
Source: City of Chicago :: Forestry
Tree Roots
Chicago keeps sidewalk repair on the owner even for parkway-tree damage; the only relief is the voluntary Shared Cost program, which does not care what caused the crack.
The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program cost per square foot charged to property owners is well below what a private contractor would charge." / "Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may qualify for a further discounted rate.
Water Service Line
Chicago: split at the parkway shut-off valve, the City owns main-to-valve, and "from the external shut-off valve into the home... is the property and responsibility of homeowners."
Per the Municipal Code, the service line beginning at the water main to the external shut-off valve, usually located under the parkway, is owned and maintained by the City. From the external shut-off valve into the home, the service line is the property and responsibility of homeowners.
Source: Equity-Focused Lead Service Line Replacement (quoting the Municipal Code)
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