(Arvell Dorsey Jr. / Flickr)

After weeks of delay, Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation will begin its street sweeping season on May 18. But residents won’t get tickets for cars parked along cleaning routes as long as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order remains in effect.

“It is critical we maintain the cleanliness of our streets. However, the department is cognizant that it may be difficult for residents to move vehicles during the governor’s stay-at-home order,” DSS Commissioner John Tully said in a statement. “Because of this, DSS will not be enforcing the no parking postings related to street sweeping at this time.”

Street sweeping in Chicago usually begins April 1, but rather than force residents who were sheltering in place to move their cars, DSS focused on cleaning main arteries and only swinging down side streets when possible.

Starting May 18, street sweepers will begin working to clear debris and leaves that have accumulated along residential streets in addition to arterial streets, according to a DSS press release.

In advance of street cleaning, the department will post bright orange signs announcing temporary parking restrictions, but those are to encourage residents to move their cars only, not to signal punishment for noncompliance like ticketing or towing, the DSS said. The same applies to streets where permanently posted signs specify the weekly period when parking is prohibited.

Track where street sweepers are working in communities every day in real time via the Sweeper Tracker tool and check out the 2020 street sweeping schedule online. 

You can also call 311 for dates and locations.

Contact Kristen Thometz: @kristenthometz | (773) 509-5452 |  [email protected]