Chicago Warns Construction Firms to Keep Facilities Clean

The city of Chicago will be introducing changes to its inspection procedures on Nov. 3 when Chicago introduces changes to its existing ordinances to the City Council’s Committee on Energy, Environmental Protection and Public Utilities.

The new procedures will require construction firms to use fabric mesh on each floor, install dust screens around construction sites and recycle reusable construction and demolition material.

Chicago’s Streets & Sanitation department will serve as the main enforcer for construction site cleanliness by using new, uniform guidelines. Additionally, the City will use a database that tracks construction site locations, recorded complaints and citations and inspection reports. Cleanliness inspections will be recorded on the permit that is required at each construction site. There will also be new contractor recycling requirements, beginning in January of 2006. They will initially require that 25 % of the debris from a construction or demolition project be recycled.

This will apply to major projects in both the public and private sectors.

To avoid a stop work order and fines, contractors will have to make sure that they have obtained all required permits, obey all Municipal Code requirements, comply with future recycling requirements, fence and secure work sites, keep the work site and adjacent public way clean, control/contain dust & debris, be diligent about waste disposal, take appropriate steps to keep sites rodent-free and observe noise regulations.