Park Ridge does not issue birth certificates and does not provide copies of birth certificates.
The Cook County Clerk's Vital Records Office keeps official records of births that occur in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Under state law, you may legally obtain a certified copy of your own birth certificate and/or the birth certificate of your child (your name must appear on the child's birth certificate).
The City Clerk maintains offices at 118 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 603-7790); at 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Room 149, Skokie, IL 60077 (847) 470-7233; and at 2121 Euclid Ave., Room 238, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 (847) 818-2850
Or visit the Clerk's website at www.cookctyclerk.com under "Vital Records" for more information.

Persons under the age of 18 may not be on the street without a parent or guardian between midnight and 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, or between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Click to access the "Flooded Basement" [PDF]

The City requires residents to get a garage sale permit for every garage sale. There is no charge for the permit.  No more than three permits will be issued for the same location in any calendar year. Each permit will be good for a garage sale of not more than three consecutive days and only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The permit must be displayed at the location of the garage sale. Conducting a garage sale without a permit will result in a fine of not less than $50.

All Garage Sale applications must be filled out on-line. Click here to open the Garage Sale application and print your permit.
Garage Sale application, rules and permit.

Total tree removal on private property is the responsibility of the owner. Any qualified tree service company listed in the classified section of the telephone book may be used. A permit may be required for a total tree removal.
Contact the Urban Forester at 847-318-5242 for information on tree removal permits.

What are the rules for political (temporary) signs in residential areas?

The following restrictions apply to all temporary signs, including political signs:
Signs cannot exceed six square feet in area, nor five feet in height
Not more than 20 square feet of total temporary signage is permitted on any zoning lot
Signs cannot be posted more than 60 days prior to the election
No temporary sign is permitted within any public right-of-way, including the parkway
No signs may be attached to a tree or utility pole
No inflatable signs or tethered balloons are permitted

Collection is made once each week by Arc Disposal Company at the curb or alley, on the scheduled day for single and two-family dwellings. Collection is made between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Refuse must not be placed on the parkway prior to 5 p.m. the day before collection.

Refuse for single family residences must be placed in carts provided by ARC Disposal.  Occasional overflow refuse may be placed in plastic bags next to the filled cart, provided they are sstored prior to pickup day to prevent them from being torn and the contents strewn.

Parkway Tree Removals - Parkway tree removals are performed by the City of Park Ridge. If you are concerned about the health of your parkway tree please call the Forestry Division at (847) 318-5242.

Private Tree Removals - A permit is required for any private tree removal 10 inches or greater in diameter (measured 45 inches from the ground). A tree removal application may be applied for in the Building Department. For any tree removal questions, please call the Forestry Division at (847) 318-5242.

The City of Park Ridge does not maintain an official bidders list. If you want to do business with the City, you may send information about your company/product to the office of the Purchasing Agent. If he feels there might be a future interest in this product, he will put it in a folder with similar products. Generally, contractors interested in doing work on large projects such as street resurfacing, alley reconstruction or other public projects need to have an IDOT certification. Others interested in doing business with the City should contact the office of the Purchasing Agent at 847/318-5215 to make an appointment.

A building permit is required for the construction, alteration or additions of any building or structure, including but not limited to:

• The removal of any wall or portion thereof.
• The removal or changing of any structural beam or bearing support.
• The removal or changing of any required means of egress.
• Rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the exit requirements.
• Construction or resurfacing of driveways and off street parking facilities.
• Construction of all flat work.
• Installation of siding in excess of one hundred (100) square feet.
• Deck, porch, stair and stoop construction or replacement.
• Installation or alteration to an elevator.
• Exterior door or window replacement or installation involving structural changes.
• Addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe system, water supply, plumbing, sewer, drainage, gas, soil waste, vent or similar piping, electrical wiring, heating, air conditioning, or other mechanical components.
• The construction of any fence, sign, shed, or garage.
• Altering any land grade or to remove a tree with a diameter of 10 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) or greater.
• Installation of a swimming pool, any accessory structure or a solar collector.
• A permit is not required for any repairs to a building or structure that will not result in the installation or relocation of any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical system or for any decorating of any building or structure.

Construction hours:
Monday through Friday:  7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
No construction is allowed on Sundays or Holidays. Exception: Construction work that does not require fencing around the construction site may be done on Sundays and holidays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
Fencing: All demolition and new construction shall have a six-foot high chain link fence installed and maintained around the perimeter of the construction site. Plastic snow fencing is permissible tobe used to enclose the construction area for room additions and other minor construction projects and to encircle trees being protected.
Address numbers shall be posted on each and every unit, front and back, on all fences, seen from all the streets.
Site, city sidewalks, city streets, etc shall be maintained clear, clean, orderly, and unobstructed.
Dust is prohibited; demolition shall be sprayed with water.
Sidewalks shall have pedestrian protection, if open.

1. If the officer who issues the ticket to you also gives you a Court Diversion Envelope, you have three options. You may plead guilty and pay the citation, either by mail or in person at the court. You may plead guilty and attend traffic safety school, if eligible (it's explained on the envelope). If you pass the class, the conviction will be considered a supervision and not be entered on your driving record at the Secretary of State's Office. If you fail the class or do not attend the class, then a conviction will be entered upon your record. You may also mail the envelope in to request a court date to contest the ticket.

3. If the officer who issues the ticket to you assigns you a court date and the MUST APPEAR box is NOTchecked, then you may either appear on the date assigned or pay the ticket at the courthouse prior to the assigned court date.

A permit is required by the City of Park Ridge if you are having a garage or yard sale. Know the dates of your sale. If you are having an estate sale and everything will be indoors, you do not need a permit. You can have three garage sales a year, and each can be for three consecutive days, operation times from 8am to 8pm. All applications for a garage sale must be made on-line.

Click here for a Garage Sale application, rules and permit.

The Records Department is open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. You will need to complete a Freedom of Information Act request form,which can be obtained from the Police Department website at www.parkridgepolice.org, or you may call 847-318-5307 to request one be faxed or mailed to you. You may return the completed form in person, by mail, or by fax at 847-318-5308. All requests will be processed and responded to within 7 business days.  All fees for copies of reports are listed on the Freedom of Information Act request form and all checks should be made payable to the City of Park Ridge.