This page is a guide to important Village information

The Village government is composed of the following departments:  For more information, follow the links to the Department's web page, or call them at the number listed below. 

VILLAGE BOARD MEETINGS: The Village Board generally meets at 8:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 200 South Hough Street.   Click here to see a schedule of Village meetings. 

You may want to come to the Board meetings to learn about Village issues or to comment on one of your concerns; an open forum called “Citizens Registration” is scheduled during each Board meeting for residents who wish to express their opinions.  All Village Board meetings are also broadcast on the Village's Public Access Channel 4. 

For further information regarding the Village Board of Trustees, click here.

VILLAGE MONTHLY REPORT: Once a month, excluding January and December, you will receive the Village’s newsletter which contains important information regarding Village activities, future events, and Village services. Please take the time to read this meaningful newsletter, which is also available by clicking here. 

VOTER REGISTRATION: If you are at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and have resided in your precinct for thirty days prior to the election, remember to register to vote. Bring two forms of identification, one with your current address, to the Village Hall; the receptionist will help you register. Registration will usually close about 28-30 days before an election.

For those residents living in Lake County (north of Lake-Cook Road/ Main Street), click here; for those residents living in Cook County (south of Lake-Cook Road/ Main Street), click here for voting locations, election calendar, and general voting requirements. 

VEHICLE STICKERS: The Village of Barrington no longer requires vehicle stickers.

DOG LICENSES AND REGULATIONS: A license is required for all dogs and is available at the Village Hall. This license fee will be waived if you provide documentation that can show the dog to be at least 15 years of age. Also, please remember that Village ordinances require that your dog be leashed and that you carry a device to “clean up” after your dog while walking off of your private property.

COMMUTER AND EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT PERMITS: If you plan to commute regularly by train, you may want to buy a commuter parking lot permit. If you work within the Central Business District of the Village, parking permits for employee lots are also available. Commuter and parking lot permits are sold on a quarterly basis at the reception desk in the Village Hall.

CONSTRUCTION PERMITS: Permits are required for construction of any type including additions, alterations, decks and patios, demolition, driveways (new or resurfacing), fences (including electronic dog fences), fireplaces, heating/air conditioning, new buildings, structure relocation, signs, site development and underground work. Call the Building and Zoning Division for additional information before you start any construction.

GARAGE SALE AND OTHER “FOR SALE” SIGNS: When you decide to sell your home or have a garage sale, please do not post signs on utility poles, rights-of-way, parkways or any other public property. Also, a permit must be obtained from the Building and Planning Department if you wish to have a garage sale. Signs posted without a permit or on the public rights-of-way will be removed by Village staff and taken to the Public Works facility for reclaiming.

COMMUNITY EVENT SIGNS: If you want to advertise a community event, you will need approval from the Village Board to post signs on public property. Organizational banners announcing specific events can be hung at the gazebo at Main and Hough Streets. Applications for the gazebo may be completed at Village Hall.

BICYCLE REGISTRATION: You may want to stop by the Police Department and obtain a license for your bicycle; there is no charge for the non-mandatory license, and it is valid for as long as you own your bicycle. The licenses help the Police Department trace lost and stolen bicycles.

ALARM PERMITS: An alarm permit is required to own and operate a burglar and/or a fire alarm system. Applications are available at the Police Department.

PARKING AT NIGHT: Do not leave your vehicle on Village streets or alleys between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Parking regulations are strictly enforced during those hours to provide security for your neighborhood and to facilitate street cleaning. Also, overnight parking is prohibited in any Village parking lot.

PARKING WHEN IT SNOWS: Parking is not allowed on Village streets when snow accumulation exceeds two inches. The Public Works Department asks residents to help snow removal efforts by parking their vehicles in the driveway once snowfall reaches two inches or more.

PARKING IN YARDS: Any vehicle that can be licensed to use on the street must either be parked in the driveway or the garage, not in the yard. If a vehicle is determined to be inoperable, it must be stored in the garage, or removed from the property.

BICYCLE, SKATEBOARD & IN-LINE SKATING: The Village requires that all bicycle, skateboard, roller skate and in-line skate riders yield to pedestrians on all Village sidewalks. In addition, reckless behavior on the part of bicycle and skate riders that demonstrates a disregard for the safety of persons, including bicycle and skate riders, while on public property or public rights-of-way is prohibited.

SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE: You should make sure that students, commuters, joggers, shoppers and other pedestrians can use the sidewalks safely by removing snow, ice and leaves from the sidewalks adjacent to your property. Also, please remove snow, ice, and leaves from fire hydrants near your property.

SIDEWALK REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT: If you feel your sidewalk needs repair sooner than it is scheduled to be replaced, Public Works has a 75/25 cost-share sidewalk replacement program. Under this program, the Village pays for 75% of the total replacement cost of the sidewalk, and you, the resident, pay 25%. Call Public Works for additional information.

TREES FOR YOUR PARKWAY: If you would like to beautify your parkway with trees, the Public Works Department has a 50/50 cost-share tree program. The cost of the trees is split evenly between the Village and the homeowner. Call Public Works for additional information.

REFUSE COLLECTION:
Recyclable/ compostable and regular refuse are collected on FRIDAY. Please have your recyclables/ compostables and refuse at the curb before 7:00 a.m., but no more than 24 hours before pickup. Also, please remember to promptly remove your empty bins from the curb after pickup.

Refuse will not be collected on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. When one of these holidays falls on a Friday, your refuse will be picked up on Saturday.

RECYCLABLE & COMPOSTABLE MATERIAL:
The Village has provided each single-family home with a 90-gallon wheeled cart for yard waste, including grass clippings, weeds, leaves and small twigs. This cart is for compost only and will not be emptied if it contains any other refuse such as sod, dirt, clay, stones, rocks and gravel.

Please remember the following regarding branches:

• Branches cannot exceed 4 feet in length and 1 inch in diameter
• Branches must be tied with twine, with the bundle not exceeding 18 inches in diameter and not weighing more than 45 pounds

Please do not burn leaves or other materials when you clean up your yard.

REGULAR HOUSEHOLD REFUSE: Your regular household refuse, furniture, swing sets (four ft. lengths maximum), bicycles, and carpet will be picked up on Friday. Carpet must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet and only one large item will be collected per pickup. The refuse contractor will not take clumps of earth or construction material during regular pickups.

Call GROOT, 1-800-344-5600 or 773-242-1977, to arrange for special pickups of construction material, appliances, or for further information about your refuse collection

UTILITY AND REFUSE BILLING INFORMATION: The Village will bill you Bi-Monthly for water, sewer, and refuse service. Water and sewer charges are based on actual usage. Refuse charges are for the services during the Bi-Month that follow the bill. There is a drop box in front of the Village Hall for your convenience to pay your bill. For further questions regarding billing, call Utility and Refuse Billing at 304-3400.

CURFEW: If you are younger than 17 years of age, you are not allowed in public areas of the Village after 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and after midnight on Friday and Saturday unless you are accompanied by an adult. Curfew ends at 6:00 a.m. each day.

If you are younger than 18 years of age and are enrolled in school, you are not allowed in public areas while school is in session unless you are traveling to and from school by the most direct route, engaged in approved school activities, or engaged in personal business that is approved by school authorities with authorization from a parent or legal guardian.

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY: A reminder to parents and guardians that you may be legally responsible for code violations by minors whom you have custody of and code violations by minors who are guests of your children in your home, even without your knowledge of the violation occurring. For example, you may be responsible for curfew violations, consumption of alcohol by a minor, or possession/use of cannibas by a minor. Contact the Police Department for additional information.

BUSINESSES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS: Due to zoning requirements, there are important restrictions that govern the practice and operation of a business within a residential home. Please contact the Building and Zoning Division for information about these important guidelines before you begin any home-based business.

“NO SOLICITOR” STICKERS: You can legally prohibit solicitors and peddlers from disturbing you at your residence by obtaining a free “Solicitors and Peddlers Forbidden” sticker at the Police Department or the Village Hall. If you choose not to use the sticker, be aware that solicitors are required to register with the Police Department and they may only solicit between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. If you have a problem with a solicitor, please contact the Police Department.

HOME WATCH PROTECTION: If you are planning to go out of town for an extended period of time, you can have your home placed on a “Vacation Home Watch List” by contacting the Police Department before you leave.

CALL J.U.L.I.E. BEFORE YOU DIG: It is very important that you call J.U.L.I.E. at 8-1-1 or 1-800-892-0123 at least two working days before you break ground on your property in order to check for the placement of utility and telecommunication lines underneath your lawn.

FREE WOOD CHIPS AND COMPOST: Four times a year, the Public Works crews travel to every street within the Village for the purpose of chipping branches left in the parkways by residents. Chipping is done quarterly in the months of April, July, October and January (for Christmas trees only). These chipping materials are available to the public for free and can be picked up at the Public Works facility. Chipping materials cannot be delivered to homes or organizations.

DECEASED ANIMALS: If you notice a deceased animal within the public streets, parkways, or other public areas of the Village, please contact the Public Works Department for removal. Public Works employees can not remove deceased animals from private property.

BEES: For bee or hornet nests on public property, contact the Public Works Department who will arrange for removal. If you wish to remove nests from your private property, you will need to contact a private pest control company.