Frequently Asked Questions

Use the GONorthbrook Service Request System to report a concern. You can search for the specific topic using keywords or go to the "Property Maintenance" section.

Visit the Information Requests page to learn how to submit a FOIA request.

Use our "How Do I Recycle This?" Guide to get the latest recycling information.

People meeting the eligibility requirements can either register in person in the Northbrook Village Hall at the cashier’s desk or call 847-664-4038 and request an application by mail. Proof of residency is required and can be in the form of a current water bill, or other utility bill. No matter the form provided, it must have both the name and address of the applicant.

Applicants must also provide a photocopy of one of the following proof of age documents including, Driver’s License, State of Illinois Identification Card, U.S. Immigration Alien Registration Card, or Passport photocopy of page(s) with photo and date of birth).

No. The RTA now has local service centers which you can learn more about here. 

Grass, leaves and garden waste must be handled separately from other waste for pick up by Advanced Disposal and disposal in a composting landfill. Customers must collect yard waste in approved biodegradable paper bags and affix a sticker to the bag denoting that the collection fee was paid or enroll in Advanced's subscription landscape waste collection service. For more information on both options, visit the Refuse and Recycling Page.

People moving in or out of Northbrook must notify the Northbrook Water Department to update water billing information. For information, call Village Hall at 847-664-4171. Water is billed quarterly. Current rates are available at this link.

Yes, learn more about commuter parking here.

In order to conserve a precious resource (also keeps your water bills lower) there is a restriction on lawn sprinkling. From May 15 to September 15 each year, no lawn sprinkling is permitted between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This restriction does not apply to plantings or new sod, but is enforced by the issuance of tickets for violations.

For information on registering to vote, visit the  Registering to Vote Page. For other information related to voting, please see the Voting & Voter Services page.

Village Postage-Free Green Drop Boxes are in three locations:

1. Behind the Village Hall (drive-up)

2. At Northbrook’s Police Station

1401 Landwehr Road

3. At Wood Oaks Junior High

1250 Sanders Road

Water bill payments and other official Village business can be placed in the green boxes, postage free.

Yes. For more information, see our Pet Licenses page.

Yes. Please see our Vehicle Licenses page for more information.

- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula (cold water is less likely than hot water to leach metal from pipes and fittings). - Any time there has not been water use for several hours, residents should run their cold water faucet until the water gets as cold as is typical for that faucet. If there has been recent heavy water use, such as showering or laundry, this could take as little as five to thirty seconds. Otherwise, it could take two minutes or longer. The goal is to get to fresh water that has not been sitting in your household pipes or service line for a long time period, and every house is different. - Install a lead filter on the principle potable water faucets used in your home, particularly if you are pregnant or have children under age six.

Residents concerned about lead in the water may wish to have their water tested. The Village of Northbrook does not provide lead testing to its residents. However, a list of local IEPA-certified laboratories can be found at this link: www.northbrook.il.us/lead. 

Please call the Ambulance Billing Department at 847-664-4494 for assistance. You can also request a copy of your ambulance transport report via our

You can request copies of records such as fire reports, fire inspections, ambulance bills, or ambulance transport records through our

You can schedule a tour using the GONorthbrook Service Request System. Tour hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Due to concern throughout the Northbrook Fire Department’s jurisdiction regarding the use of grills on combustible balconies and on balconies on combustible buildings, the adopted code related to grill use and the Northbrook Fire Department’s enforcement policy regarding grill use on balconies is as follows:

International Fire Code 2006ed. Section 308.3.1 308.3.1 Open-flame cooking devices. Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction. Exceptions include one- and two-family dwellings and where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.

308.3.1.1 Liquefied-petroleum gas-fueled cooking devices. LP-gas burners having an LP-gas container with a water capacity greater than 2.5 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity] shall not be located on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction. As reference the standard round tank used on a stand-a-lone grill that you can exchange is considered to be 18 lbs in water weight. Exception: One- and two-family dwellings. This is not an ordinance unique to Northbrook but rather part of a national standard adopted by the Village of Northbrook as early as 2002 when the Village adopted the 2000 edition of the International Fire Code.

When a grill is noted on a balcony during any future inspection of a property or from a complaint, it will be brought to the attention of the management company/association. The management company/ association will be directed to address the issue with the unit. If the unit will not comply, then the Northbrook Fire Department will begin the fining process for any non-compliant unit. The end result is a citation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Fire Marshal Kevin Frangiamore at the Fire Prevention Bureau at 847-664-4501.

The Northbrook Fire Department staffs three fire stations providing fire and ambulance response. Last year, we responded to over 5,800 emergencies. At times, all of the Northbrook units are busy, and additional ambulance calls or other fire incidents require additional resources from neighboring towns.

Sometimes an emergency will occur where the neighboring fire station is closer than the Northbrook station, and the closest unit, regardless of jurisdiction, is dispatched to assist. When this happens, neighboring Fire Departments respond through pre-approved Mutual Aid agreements to these emergencies at no additional cost to tax payers. Northbrook firefighters also reciprocate in turn and respond into other communities when they need assistance.

This neighbor helping neighbor Mutual Aid occurs seamlessly on a daily basis. Over the past five years, Northbrook Fire provided Mutual Aid assistance to other communities on average 464 times annually, and received Mutual Aid assistance from our neighbors 468 times annually. So the next time you see a fire engine from another community in town, know that Northbrook firefighters will be assisting them in their town sometime soon, providing the most efficient response possible.

View information about the

Check out the "How Do I Recycle This?" Guide on our website for information. Call the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, (IEPA) at 217-785-8604 to find out when and where the next community disposal will be.

To safely and efficiently ensure all occupants are evacuated from the home and to extinguish the fire requires many simultaneous tasks to be accomplished. Local experience, along with state and national standards have developed recommendations for the number of fire firefighting apparatus/equipment and staffing needed to perform the various tasks at a fire.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 Standard recommends a minimum of 14 to 16 firefighters to safely make an interior attack of a fire in a two story, 2,000 square foot, single family home without a basement. Larger structures typically require more apparatus and personnel.

Northbrook Fire Department maintains a minimum staffing level of 16 firefighters on duty every day. Through our Paid-On-Call firefighter program, and our pre-arranged intergovernmental automatic aid agreements, we can quickly enhance our initial response to any fire and also provide coverage in our vacated fire stations. At most house fires in Northbrook we average 24 to 25 firefighters responding.

The prospect of subdividing a residential property is complicated and depends on various factors. When subdividing, the newly created lots must comply with the below lot areas specific to the zoning district of the property, as well as comply with the below lot width requirements. If the subdivided lots can meet the requirements for their specific zoning district, than you can proceed to contact the Development & Planning Services Department to further discuss a request to subdivide a property. For more information, review the

Sharps / used needles can be placed inside of your refuse cart on your regularly scheduled garbage pick up day in a securely taped or closed milk jug, laundry detergent jug, or sharps container. In addition, the container must be clearly marked "Sharps" with a dark permanent marker. For questions on sharps disposal, contact the Village Manager’s Office at 847-664-4010. 

A building permit can be obtained by visiting the Development and Planning Services Department located on the 2nd floor of the Village Hall at 1225 Cedar Lane. For more information, contact 847-664-4050 or visit the

The Village has regulations that prohibit weeds and grass from growing to an average height of more than 8 inches. The Village does not have regulations regarding the maintenance of landscaping bushes and trees. View the Village's

To register a concern, residents may submit a form through GONorthbrook online by completing and submitting a request. If you provide your email address on the form you will be sent updates regarding any enforcement activity that takes place. Residents may also call the Village at 847-272-5050, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Village does not have regulations specifically addressing rental properties. If you are having problems with your rental unit, please visit the

There is no fee for the initial garbage and recycling carts. Residents may rent additional refuse and recycling carts for $5/month.

Residents may apply in limited instances for a hardship status. If a customer qualifies for hardship status, the customer may elect to receive 1 time a Week Backdoor Service at the 1 time a Week Curb Service rate. In order to qualify, residents must meet the following criteria: A “Hardship Customer” is a Customer who is physically unable to place refuse containers at the curb and has no family member or other person living in the residence that are able to place refuse and/or recycling containers at the curb. To apply for this status, residents should contact the Village Manager’s office at 847-664-4010. The Village will review each request on a case by case basis to determine if a residence qualifies for hardship status. The Hardship Program applies to both refuse and recycling.

White goods (stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers) must be handled separately from your trash. Please contact LRS at 844.633.3577 or email Service@LRSrecycles.com to schedule these collections. There is a cost of $30 for each white good.

You may place 1 bulk item at the curb each week on your pick up day for collection at no charge. 

A number of agencies and organizations clear snow and ice in the Village. Use our guide on the Street & Roadway Snow Plowing page to determine who is responsible and how to contact that agency with any questions.

If your mailbox has been hit by a snow plow, please contact the Public Works Department either at 847-272-4711 or through the GONorthbrook system to report the damage. Public Works can either install a new standard mailbox or issue a check for reimbursement up to the maximum amount allowed for that winter. For more details, see the Village's Mailbox Replacement Standard Operating Procedure. 

Plastic bags are very difficult to recycle (they should not be put in recycling carts or recycling dumpsters) and cause damage to recycling facility equipment. They are the number one source of contamination to our recycling collection in Northbrook, and recycling that is contaminated with bags are sent to landfills instead of sorted. Plastic bags take up space in landfills, litter our community, block storm drains, and endanger wildlife. Paper bags can be recycled, but they need a very large amount of water and energy to produce.

The Northbrook Village Board of Trustees adopted the tax on single-use bags to reduce environmental impacts and cost to the Village caused by single-use bags. Numerous studies have shown that a mandatory tax on single-use bags significantly reduces the number used. 

The tax is ten cents ($0.10) per single-use bag (plastic, paper, or other material including but not limited to compostable material) provided at the checkout.

All retail stores within Northbrook whose square footage is 3,000 feet or greater must charge the tax. Examples of these types of stores include, but are not limited to: convenience stores, department stores, retail chain stores, hardware stores, and grocery stores. 

Restaurants, beauty salons, auto mechanics, and dry cleaners are not required to charge the bag tax. Stores whose square footage is less than 3,000 feet are not required to charge the bag tax. Sales at seasonal events, including farmers markets or yard sales, are also not required to charge the tax. 

The tax is not subject to sales tax. Retailers should NOT be applying the sales tax rate to the single-use bag tax that is charged.

Yes. Retail stores required to collect the bag tax must display a sign viewable to customers inside or outside the store, alerting them to the bag tax. Stores may either use the Village-provided sign, or create their own. Minimum requirements for signage will include a statement that by local ordinance, the store is required to charge a 10¢ tax on each single-use bag provided at checkout.

For each ten-cent tax, five cents are to be retained by the business and five cents will go to the Village. The single-use bag fees submitted to the Village of Northbrook will be used to fund sustainability projects as reviewed and approved by the Village Board. At the start of the program rollout, the Village will supply free reusable bags for distribution at applicable businesses.

• Retailers will not need to charge for

1. A bag provided by a pharmacist that contains a prescription drug 
2. Any newspaper bag or bag intended for use as dry cleaning, garbage, pet waste, or yard waste 
3. A bag provided at a seasonal event, such as a farmers market, yard sale, etc.
4. A bag used to package a bulk item or to wrap a perishable item 
5. A bag used to package carryout food from a food service establishment 

• Exempt customers: customers that participate in a federal food assistance program (e.g. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] and Women, Infants, and Children [WIC]) or an Illinois food assistance program. 
• Exempt businesses: retail stores under 3,000 square feet

All customers must be charged except those who provide proof of participation in a federal or state Food Assistance Program. Examples of Food Assistance Programs include EBT, SNAP, or WIC. Customers will need to volunteer this information to become exempt.

Shoppers can avoid paying the ten cent bag tax by bringing their own bags, including reusing disposable bags that they already have, or refusing a bag when they make a purchase.

Yes. The tax on single-use bags does not apply to any bag brought into a store by a customer, nor does it apply to packages containing multiple bags for food storage, garbage, pet waste, or yard waste. Additionally, the tax does not apply to:

1. Bags provided by a pharmacist that contain a prescription drug 
2. Any newspaper bag or bag intended for dry cleaning
3. Bags provided at a seasonal event, such as a farmers market, yard sale, etc.
4. Bags used to package a bulk item or to wrap a perishable item 
5. Bags used to package carryout food from a food service establishment 

Yes. The bag tax must be applied to each disposable bag (plastic, paper, or other material including but not limited to compostable material) used to deliver goods or provided at self-checkout. It is recommended that stores place notification of the bag tax at each self-checkout location. Printable materials for signage are available on this webpage. 

Online ordering services are able to charge a card an estimated amount when the order is placed, then change this amount after the fact depending on how many bags are used.

A retail store must record on a customer’s receipt the number of disposable bags (plastic, paper, or other material including but not limited to compostable material) provided to a customer and the total amount of tax charged for each type of bag. Please note self-checkout and online orders should also be subject to the tax.

The Village reserves the right to request that a retail store make its records available for compliance audits and can assess penalties for failure to comply with the ordinance.

Stores must pay the Village five cents ($0.05) for each ten cent ($0.10) bag tax collected. Bag taxes are due on the 20^th of each month. Along with the tax, stores must submit a report.

The tax is not subject to sales tax. Retailers should NOT be applying the sales tax rate to the single-use bag tax that is charged.

Stores will be required to report the number of disposable bags distributed to customers, the total amount of tax due, and basic contact information for the vendor.

The Village’s portion of the bag tax will be allocated to a Sustainability Fund. The Sustainability Fund is established to advance the implementation of the Northbrook Climate Action Plan (CAP) to foster environmental sustainability and reduce carbon emissions community-wide. This includes providing reusable bags for distribution to the community.