Chicagoans can start applying for the Utility Billing Relief program, which will require that applicants provide the same documentation as needed for LIHEAP. To get more information please visit www.chicago.gov/UBR, email utilitybillrelief@cedaorg.net, text WATERBILL to 313131 or call (312) 795-8946 and leave your name and number.

The Utility Billing Relief program will also include a second phase that moves all households with a meter, currently on a bi-monthly billing schedule, and households without a meter on a six-month billing schedule to a monthly billing cycle. This will enable residents to better track their water usage while allowing greater predictability for household budgeting.

Based on customer feedback, the Department of Finance is switching non-metered water bills from billing every 6 months to billing every month. Non-metered customers should expect to receive the following letter this month.

*"Dear Customer,

You have a nonmetered utility billing account with the City of Chicago which is currently billed on a semi-annual basis, or every 6 months. Effective December 1, 2020, billing will be switched from a semi-annual to a monthly basis. Monthly billing will provide customers with a smaller monthly bill which can be more easily budgeted.

Your overall bill amount is not increasing due to this change. Your six monthly bills will not exceed the amount that your semi-annual bill would be. The monthly bill may vary slightly from one sixth of your semi-annual bill due to rate changes and other charges, such as penalties for late payment.

Every month, starting in December, you can expect to receive a bill for the previous month of service. In December, you will receive a bill for the November service period. In January, you will receive a bill for the December service period, and so forth. You will still have 21 days to pay after the bill date.

If you have enrolled in AutoPay on our website, you don’t need to take any action. The payments will be switched to the monthly schedule automatically. If you haven’t enrolled in AutoPay, this is a good opportunity to do so. Just visit www.chicago.gov/utilitybill and click on the Online Utility Billing Portal link to get started."*

If you have any questions about this change or your utility billing account, please contact Utility Billing & Customer Service at (312) 744-4426 or utilitybill@cityofchicago.org.

You can use this website to find out about construction on your block. If you can’t find it on this map, please feel free to reach out to office at (773) 731-7777, and we can follow up about your specific request.

Most residential parking permits are issued through the City Clerk’s office. They have two nearby locations - one downtown and one in Jefferson Park. You can verify your zone number by clicking here. If you live very close to a residential parking zone, you can request a letter of exception from the Alderman’s office. These letters are given in a limited number of cases, and you must meet these requirements:

• You previously received a letter of exception from the Alderman’s office at your current address that is on file.
• OR you live within four lots of the residential parking zone you are requesting AND you do not live in a designated transit oriented development.
• Special considerations will be made for seniors and those with limited mobility.

Please give our office at least 2 business days notice if you are requesting a letter of exception. Our office cannot guarantee that we can provide letters immediately to those in line at the City Clerk’s office.

Fill out the permit here, and bring the application along with a proof of residency (lease, property tax bill, ID, etc..) to the 7th Ward Office at 2249 E. 95TH St, Chicago, IL 60617 where staff will review.

The 7th Ward requires that anyone who wants to host a block party collect signatures of approval from 50% of the affected block. You can find our application here.

Each year the City of Chicago provides a limited amount of free bouncy houses for residential block parties. Bouncy houses are available on a first-come-first-served basis and the application can be found here.

To prevent basement flooding, the City has placed restricter plates on many sewer grates. This ensures that the sewer system does not overflow and as a result, flood private properties. Instead, it keeps water on the street until the system is able to drain more water. Due to increased rainfall, many residents are noticing water on their streets more frequently. You can help decrease the amount of water on the street by using these tips on rainy days.

If the water on your street does not drain, you can place a 311 request for a sewer cleaning inspection. If you need help placing your 311 request for your street, you can reach our office at (773) 731-7777.

The City of Chicago Municipal Code outlaws predatory behavior by developers. If you do not want to sell your property, you can tell a developer "No," and tell them that you do not wish for any further contact. If they continue to call, e-mail, visit, or otherwise bother you after you told them to stop contacting you, you can lodge a complaint with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection here and select 'Predatory Real Estate Developer Tactics'.

Additionally, you can contact our office to fill out the complaint for you. Please provide name of the developer, development group and any relevant documents (letters that were sent in the mail, screen shots of phone calls, forwarded emails, etc..).

The Chicago Noise ordinance prohibits trucks from picking up trash before 7 AM. In many cases, those companies violating the ordinance are private contractors. While we recommend that you call 911 to seek enforcement of the noise ordinance, you can submit a complaint for persistent early pick-up using Chicago 311 here.

The Department of Finance provides photo evidence of all speeding, red light, and parking violations which lead to tickets. These images can be accessed online via the Department of Finance's webpage. Your ticket number and license plate number are required to access the image. For your convenvience, you can look up a speeding ticket here, a red light ticket here, and a parking ticket here. You can also search for a ticket, check its status, or pay for it by clicking here.

You may contest a ticket via mail, in-person, or via the City's new online eContest System. To contest via mail, the registered owner may submit a signed statement. More information can be found here. To contest in-person, the registered owner may request an in-person hearing. More information can be found here. To submit a hearing via the the City's website please click here.

If you have any additional questions, please email our office at 7th@gregmitchell7thward.org with your ticket number and license plate number.