Neighborhood Services

The Neighborhood Services team for the 48th ward is dedicated to assisting our constituents in navigating bureaucracy, making connections with community partners, and ensuring that city services meet the needs of our neighbors. We are responsible for processing 311 service requests, fulfilling constituent inquiries, and reaching out to city departments on behalf of the constituents we serve.

Our team strives to respond to inquiries within 2-3 business days, and we are proud to maintain a phone pick-up rate of over 90%.

Service Requests

For non-emergency city services, use 311 by dialing 3-1-1, going to 311.Chicago.gov, or using the CHI 311 app (Apple store or Google Play) on your mobile device.

Submit Neighborhood Services requests to the 48th ward office here or via the button below.

You can also search for and follow along with local city projects at the ChiStreetWork website.

Common Ward Office Requests

Below, please find common ward office requests.

  • A block party permit grants you permission to close your residential street to traffic and occupy the street for a block party with your neighbors. Block parties must be open to all residents of the given block, so residents should make efforts to engage their neighbors in these events.

    Use this form to request a Block Party permit.

    You may request a bouncy house from the city’s Jumping Jack program. These are approved on a first-come first-served basis so put your request in as soon as possible.

    To request a fire truck at your Block Party, complete the CFD Presence Request form and email it to the address listed on the form at least two (2) weeks before your Block Party date. Please note that a fire truck presence is not guaranteed, even if the request is submitted within the specified timeframe.

  • The City of Chicago requires permits for garage, yard, and apartment sales to guard against perpetual yard sales. Residents planning a sale can obtain their required permits through our office.

    There is no fee for these permits. Please complete this form to request a permit.

  • If a neighbor lives adjacent to a residential parking zone, they can request a letter of exception from the Alderwoman’s office which allows them to park in a nearby permitted zone. These letters are given in a limited number of cases. 

    For more information, please submit a Service Request to our office.

  • Complimentary, non-enforceable, No Parking signs are available to residents of the 48th ward for residential moves. To obtain signs for your move, please submit this form and then come by our office at 1129 W Bryn Mawr to pick them up.

    No Parking signs are available for an eight hour window, between the hours of 8am–4pm or 9am–5pm. Residents may not reserve space for more than one day. Signs must be picked up and posted at least 3 days in advance of the move.

    Please note that these signs are non-enforceable; these are offered as a courtesy.

    Important notes about sign placement:

    • Signs must be posted in legal parking spaces.

    • Street cleaning signs take precedence over moving signs. Vehicles parked when street cleaning signs are posted are subject to ticket.

    • Do not post signs in existing Loading Zones, marked Tow Zones, driveways, crosswalks, or at a fire hydrant.

    • Residential Moving Signs are not valid on commercial streets with paid/Pay Box parking.

    NOTE: If you or your moving company do not comply with the above requirements, our office is not liable for any citations or enforcement that occur.

    The Chicago Department of Transportation also offers enforceable No Parking signs for residential moves. For a fee of $25, CDOT will provide enforceable signs to eligible moving companies (enabling ticketing or towing) for the day of the move. For more information on this program, please see the Department of Transportation’s permit portal.

    NOTE: Moving pods / containers are not allowed on the public way –  no exceptions. By City ordinance, those pods cannot be on the public way (sidewalks, streets, curbs, parkways, and alleys) and if they are, the renter of the pod will face steep fines. Moving pods can only be placed on private property or in a privately owned parking space or driveway.

  • Chicago uses mechanical street sweepers to remove debris and litter from streets every year beginning April 1st through the fall season.

    See this page for the 2024 street cleaning map and schedule.

    Parking is prohibited on streets that are being swept, and the fine for violating the parking restriction is up to $60 on first notice. Orange temporary signs will indicate which day of the week each side is being swept and the specific hours of the parking restriction.

    Please note that some streets also have permanently posted signs that specify either a once-per-week or two-days-per- month period when parking is prohibited for street sweeping.

    For information about sewer cleaning, see the City Resources section below.

  • The City of Chicago uses a grid system for tree trimming with 1-2 trim crews from the Bureau of Forestry (BoF) trimming trees in a 16-block area, or "grid," on a given day of the week.

    BoF trims every tree in the grid, and if these trees are properly cared for, they should not need to be trimmed again for at least five years.

    See this page for a map of tree trimming in the 48th ward and updates as the grid is trimmed.

    If you have an emergency tree removal request, file a 311 report.

City Resources

All Chicagoans can find helpful information on the City of Chicago website. Below, find quick links to some frequently requested resources.

If you have any questions, contact our office at 773-784-5277 or info@the48thward.org

  • CityKey is a free 4-in-1 municipal ID for all Chicagoans, regardless of age, gender, immigration status or housing status.

    With a CityKey ID, Chicagoans can unlock access to all our city has to offer. It serves as an official form of ID, library card, Ventra card, and Chicago Rx prescription drug discount card. It provides savings at local participating Chicago businesses, sporting events, and cultural institutions.

    Read more about the CityKey and make an appointment to apply at the City Clerk website.

  • For information on residential garbage collection, see the City of Chicago website.

    The City's residential Blue Cart program provides bi-weekly recycling services to single-family homes and multi-unit buildings with four or fewer units. Learn more at the City of Chicago website.

    There are many composting opportunities in Chicago, including Food Scrap Drop-off and Community Composting. Learn about those programs and more at the City of Chicago website.

  • For information on presenting a claim to the City of Chicago for items like vehicle or property damage, see this page on the City website.

  • For information about property taxes, including appealing your assessment, see the Cook County Property Tax Portal.

  • Housing is a human right. Here are some resources for renters who may be experiencing housing difficulties.

    The City of Chicago website provides many additional resources for renters, including explanations of renters’ rights.

  • Sewers/catch basins that are full of dirt or debris or that are not draining properly can be reported for cleaning via the 311 system. Be sure to include the approximate address and the location (i.e., near the curb, in the street, or in the alley) of the sewer.

    Note: Cleaning of catch basins on private property is the responsibility of the property owner.

    The Department of Water Management (DWM) follows a cleaning and maintenance schedule for all sewers in the City of Chicago.

    You can request a public sewer be cleaned by submitting a Sewer Cleaning Inspection Request. The City will inspect public sewer structures, assess if they are draining properly and, if necessary, perform a deep cleaning to remove dirt and debris obstructions. 

    • If you experience flooding in your basement, submit a Water in Basement complaint.

    • If standing water remains on the street 24 hours after a rainstorm, submit a Water on the Street complaint

    While each City storm sewer is cleaned approximately every three years, DWM requests that residents also assist by removing day-to-day thick layers of debris and leaves from public catch basins.

  • Use the following links to learn more about utility services in the City of Chicago:

    Paying municipal utility bills.

  • All Chicago residents driving and/or parking a vehicle for which they are responsible in the City of Chicago must purchase and display a Chicago City Vehicle Sticker from the Chicago City Clerk.

    For vehicle registration information, see the Illinois Secretary of State.

    For information about abandoned vehicles and Chicago tow yards, see the Streets and Sanitation site.

    To contest a driving/parking ticket, see this City of Chicago site or contact the ticket helpline at 312.744.7275 M-F 7am-7pm CT.

  • In Illinois, residents can register at any time, including at the polls on Election Day.

    For information about registering to vote, your registration status, and all other voting information, see the Chicago Board of Elections website.