State law file · verified June 2026

Illinois idling law: the 10 minutes per hour rule

In the Chicago metro and Metro-East St. Louis nonattainment areas (Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Will, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe counties and parts of Grundy/Kendall), diesel vehicles over 8,000 lbs may not idle more than 10 minutes in any 60-minute period (625 ILCS 5/11-1429).

10 minutes per hour Idling limit Diesel vehicles over 8,000 lbs, in listed counties

$90 first / $500 subsequent Penalties

None Citizen reward reporting is unpaid here

Exceptions that actually matter

Locations more than 200 feet from a residential area, per the statute’s terms
Safety and health emergencies
Other statutory exceptions in 625 ILCS 5/11-1429

Penalties

A violation is a petty offense: $90 for a first conviction and $500 for a second or subsequent conviction within 12 months.

Who enforces it — and how to report

Police in the covered counties; Chicago also promotes idling reduction city-wide.

Report persistent idling to local police or the municipality; there is no citizen reward.

Can you get paid for reporting in Illinois?

No. Illinois has no citizen reward — complaints are civic, not paid. The only major program that pays complainants is New York City's idling bounty, where citizens keep 25% of collected fines and our enforcement data shows what that produces: hundreds of thousands of cases and an estimated eight-figure sum paid to filers. If a paid program launches in Illinois, this page will say so.

Frequently asked questions

What is the truck idling limit in Illinois?

Ten minutes per 60-minute period for diesel vehicles over 8,000 lbs — but only in the Chicago metro and Metro-East nonattainment counties listed in 625 ILCS 5/11-1429. Fines: $90 first conviction, $500 for repeats within 12 months.

Does Illinois pay citizens for idling reports?

No — reporting goes to local police with no reward. Only NYC pays complainants a share of fines.

Sources

This summary was checked against the following official sources on the date shown above. Laws change — verify before relying on specifics.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of June 2026.