Residents

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Summary of Services for Residents
The following information should answer the most common questions regarding Sleepy Hollow services. For any additional questions, please contact the Village Hall at (847) 426-6700, which is located on Sleepy Hollow Road and Thorobred Lane. It is opened Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.

 

Fire Service
Sleepy Hollow is in the Rutland Dundee Township Fire District. There are two stations in this district. One is located within the Village limits and the other in Gilberts, two miles west of the Village of Sleepy Hollow.

 

US Postal Service
Mail is distributed through the Dundee Post Office but the mailing address is Sleepy Hollow, ll. 60118. All registration of vehicles and driver licenses should reflect this.

 

Refuse Collection
Groot Industries provides street side garbage & recyclable pick-up to all single-family homes on Thursdays. All residents will be charged. 

Please contact Groot Industries at (866) 782-5161 to set up service for your home, report a missed pick-up or for questions relating to the rental of totters or the replacement of recycling bins. Refuse must be at the street side no later than 6:00 am the day of collection and be containerized in a 34-gallon can or 33 gallon bags not to exceed fifty (50) pounds in weight. Materials that cannot be containerized must be tied in bundles not to exceed three (3) feet in length and fifty (50) pounds in weight. Per Village ordinance your trash cannot be put out before 6:00 pm the evening before your pickup day and must be taken in no later than 8:00 am the following morning.

Groot Industries provides unlimited yard waste collection of grass, leaves, shrubs, vines, and similar items from April 1 through November 30 (extended to December 5, 2019) on the regular garbage pickup days.

During the months of October and November, Yard Waste & Leaves will only be picked up if placed in biodegradable paper bags. Bags not exceed 33 gallons in size and 50 pounds in weight. No stickers will be needed but materials must be placed in 30 gallon biodegradable paper bags. Bags are available at local retailers.

Brush will also be collected, up to 3.5 inches in diameter and 3 feet in length, but must be tied with string or twine in bundles not to exceed 50 pounds in weight.

Residents will be allowed one bulk item pickup per week, however State law (July 1, 1994) prohibits the disposal in landfills of residential appliances or “white goods”. Therefore appliances cannot be considered a bulk item and are the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure proper collection and disposal. Please call Groot Industries at 866-782-5161 for what is considered a bulk item or to arrange for a price quote on the special collection of white goods. Payment must be made to Groot Industries at the time of this service.

As of January 1, 2012, the State of Illinois requires that electronic equipment be recycled, so it will no longer be collected with regular trash. The Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act, which took effect in 2008, required manufacturers to establish residential recycling programs for discarded and unwanted electric products, if they sell their products in Illinois. Kane County Recycles for more information.

Service Holiday Schedule
New Years Day - Office closed, collection delayed 1 day
Day After New Years Day - Office open, collection delayed 1 day
Martin Luther King Day - Open, normal collection schedule
Memorial Day - Closed, collection delayed 1 day
Independence Day - Closed, collection delayed 1 day
Labor Day - Closed, collection delayed 1 day
Veterans Day - Open, normal collection schedule
Thanksgiving Day - Closed, collection delayed 1 day
Day After Thanksgiving Day - Office open, collection delayed 1 day
Christmas Eve - Office closed, normal collection schedule
Christmas Day - Office closed, collection delayed 1 day
New Years Eve - Office closed, normal collection schedule

Download the Groot Recycling & Waste mobile app to:

  • View your collection schedule
  • Sign up to get waste collection reminders about your service day by email, text, or voice
  • Sign up for service alerts to be notified when unforeseen events cause collection delay
  • Search how to properly dispose of everyday or unusual material

Groot Recycling & waste is available on Google Play for Android and the Apple Store for iOS.

 

Burning of Leaves/Brush
Burning of brush is allowed and limited to the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th weekends of every month. The burning of leaves, however, it is limited to the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and only on the 2nd and 4th weekends in the months of September, October & November. Please be sure that conditions are not such that would cause the burning to get out of control. To prevent road damage and expensive repair no burning is permitted on the streets or in the swales.

 

Storm Water Drainage
Proper drainage is essential to preserving the good roads that contribute so much to the appeal of Sleepy Hollow. To help with that, property owners are required to maintain their swales at the height and grade set by the Village. Homeowners are asked to keep the swales, culverts and pipes located under the driveways cleaned out and free of debris.

 

Construction Permits
A construction permit is required for any remodeling, new homes, re-roofing, concrete work of any kind, etc. Please view the Building Department page or call the Village’s building inspection service company, ICCI, and check before moving forward on a project. ICCI may be reached at 630-551-4224.

 

Water & Sewer Services
The Village-owned water department provides water service to most Sleepy Hollow residents. New residents should call (847) 426-6700 extension #1702 or woneill [at] sleepyhollowil.org (email Wendy) for water service and rate information. Water meters are read during the first week of every month and payments are due monthly. Payments made after 3:30 pm on the Due Date incur a 10% Late Penalty.

Sewage disposal for most homes in the Village is by septic system. Owners of these homes are responsible for their systems. Homeowners should be sure it operates properly and does not cause unpleasant odors or health hazards.

There is an area in Sleepy Hollow that is connected to sewers. This area is on the east side of Sleepy Hollow where the water table is very high and no longer able to accept septic systems. Call for current rates. These residents are also reminded that it is illegal to connect a sump pump drain into the sewer line. Homeowners in violation face a fine of up to $750.00.

A final reading must be taken from your meter when a current resident moves out. Please be sure to call the Water Department at (847) 426-6700 extension #1702 before the closing date to make arrangements for our Public Works Dept. to take the read from the meter.

The latest Water Quality Report can be found on the Water Quality Report page.

 

Water & Sewer Payments
Payments are also accepted at the Village Hall, you may mail them, drop them into the red Payment Drop Box that is conveniently located in the driveway entrance to the Village Hall, or pay online (see or Payments page).

 

Recreation
The Sleepy Hollow Center, tennis and basketball courts, located on Winmoor Drive at Glen Oaks Drive, are under the direction of the Dundee Township Park District. Information about them and all the park district programs are available by calling (847) 428-7131.

 

Schools
Sleepy Hollow children attending public schools are generally sent to Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, Dundee Middle School or Dundee-Crown High School. They are all in Community School District 300. The main phone number is (847) 426-1300. There are also parochial and private schools in the area.

 

Vehicle & Pet Registration
Village Ordinance requires registration of all vehicles, motorcycles, cats and dogs. Verification of current rabies inoculation is required when registering animals. You have thirty (30) days after obtaining a new vehicle or animal to register them without incurring a penalty. New homeowners have the same amount of time after moving into the village to register. Please check with the Village Hall for the current cost of stickers and tags. The current Vehicle and Pet Registration form can be accessed by clicking here.

 

Board Meetings
Residents are invited to attend the Board Meetings at the Village Hall on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. The meetings start at 7:30 pm and open to public comment around 8:30 so that you may express opinions. It is necessary to sign registration sheet before being able to speak during this time. You will be given five (5) minutes to make your comments. If you wish to speak longer, please call the Village Hall and ask to be put on the agenda and let us know what subject you wish to discuss.

 

Voter Registration
Voter registration may be done at the the following locations:

 

Code Book Summary for Residents
This section is currently under review and revision. Please contact the Village Clerk for the most further information

This information is provided to all new residents. It is a summary of the most common ordinances that the average resident should be aware of. For a more detailed description, please refer to the appropriate section of the complete code book.

The purpose of the Sleepy Hollow Zoning Ordinances, and other related ordinances, is to maintain the attractive character of the Village and to enhance property values. Complete ordinances are available for inspection or copies may be purchased at the Village Hall.

  • Pool, patio, deck and dog-run fences are allowed with limitations and require a building permit.
  • Perimeter fences and other fences, including decorative fence sections, are not permitted, except for those constructed before January 16, 1978, which are ‘grandfathered’ but may not be replaced.
  • Storage sheds, outbuildings and detached structures of any kind are not permitted, except those constructed prior to January 16, 1978, which are “grandfathered”, but may not be replaced. Playhouses are allowed, but have size regulations, must be of wood and also require a building permit.
  • Garbage may not be visible nor put out for collection earlier than 6:00 pm the evening before pickup and all cans should be in by 8:00 am the following morning.
  • Parking or storing of vehicles, including cars, recreational vehicles, boats and snowmobiles, is permitted only on paved driveways or paved areas abutting driveways.
  • Only one recreational vehicle, one boat, or two snowmobiles may be parked or stored outside, with limitations.
  • Recreational vehicles and boats longer than twenty (20) feet are not permitted residential storage, except those acquired before September 1, 1992, and registered with the Village by December 1, 1992. Permitted recreational vehicles may be parked or stored outside all year. Permitted boats may be parked or stored outside from April 1st through November 30th. They must be stored outside of the Village, or in the garage, or outside along the garage with 75% screening with non-deciduous vegetation from December 1st through March 31st.
  • Snowmobiles may be parked or stored outside from November 1st through April 30th but must be stored outside of the Village or in the garage from May 1st through October 31st.
  • Trailers, except snowmobile and boat trailers, may not be stored outside anytime.
  • Outdoor storage of lumber, building materials, or building equipment except during a permitted building project, is prohibited.
  • Repairing of vehicles, outside the garage, for more than one day at a time is prohibited. Also, the parking or storing of junkers, inoperable vehicles, or vehicles without current license plates is prohibited.
  • Occupancy of recreational vehicles and parking or storing of mobile homes are prohibited.
  • Parking or storing of truck tractors, buses, earth-moving machines, or trucks over one ton carrying capacity or with higher than Class B license plates, is prohibited.
  • Only one permitted truck or commercial vehicle without attached appurtenances may be parked or stored outside the garage. Any with attached appurtenances are prohibited.
  • Garage sales are limited to four (4) days total per year. They are limited to the sale of family possessions only (No articles are to be brought in from outside the Village to be sold). Except for garage sales, displaying of personal property or goods for sale is prohibited. (i.e., cars, boats, snowmobiles, etc.)
  • Brick, stone or concrete pillars or mailboxes are prohibited. Those existing prior to September 1, 1992, are “grandfathered “provided they display the required reflectors.
  • Grass and weeds on all developed lots must be kept under eight (8) inches.

 

5-3A-3: WHERE PARKING PERMITTED:
A.   Parking of a vehicle shall be allowed at the following places in the Village, from sunrise to sunset each day:
 

  • Churchill Court, at the south end of the street.
  • Thorobred Lane, on the south side of the street, between Winmoor Drive and Bullfrog Lane. 
  • Winmoor Drive, on the east side of the street, between Thorobred Lane and Willow Lane.
  • Willow Lane, on the north side of the street, between Winmoor Drive and Bullfrog Lane.
  • Danielle Court, on the paved surface only, and only on the south side of the court where indicated by appropriate signage. (Ord. 2017-24, 11-6-2017)

After Village snow plowing, why is snow always left at the end of my driveway?

Unfortunately, this is one of the consequences of owning a home in Northern Illinois. Despite popular opinion, crews do not place snow in driveways on purpose. There is no practical way for the snowplow operator to cut off the window of snow when crossing a driveway. The problem is especially acute in cul-de-sacs because this is a very confined space. Cul-de-sacs require that all of the snow that is on the roadway within that confined space be placed along the outside of the circle. Cul-de-sacs are cleared just as the street is with the driver plowing in a counter-clockwise circle from the inside to the outside. As with driveways on streets, it is inevitable that some snow will come off the plow.

In a cul-de sac, it is extremely difficult to have the truck push the snow onto a center island. Trucks are not built to be articulated into an angle that would allow a portion of the snow on the island, and centrifugal force causes the snow to move off of the plow toward the outside of the circle.

Public Work’s goal in clearing all streets is to maintain as much of the normal pavement width as possible, while at the same time, allowing acceptable access to the mailboxes by the postal carriers.

If possible, try to wait until the cul-de-sac has been plowed before clearing your driveway.

Can we keep about 3-4 chickens on our backyard in summer time? Do we need some kind of permit to place a small hencoop?

The current Village Code does not allow the keeping of livestock. See 8-3A-3:

C.   Prohibited: The following uses shall be prohibited in the R-1 residential districts in the village:

      1.   Keeping, harboring, or raising of animals, including, but not limited to, poultry or other birds, rabbits, or other animals or livestock, and specifically including the following....

I have a question about the Village or its services. Should I address it at a Board of Trustees Meeting?

While you are welcome to attend the Board of Trustees meetings, this may not be the best forum to have a question answered. The public comment section of the meeting agenda is an opportunity to make a statement or share a concern about the Village. If you have a specific question, please contact the Trustee that is designated for the area concerning your question. For example, if your question is related to the water main replacement project, contact the Trustee responsible for Water and Sewer issues. The Trustee's area of responsibility is listed on the Elected Officials page. If you are uncertain of who to contact, call the Village Office to be directed to the correct Trustee. In many, but not all cases, the Village Office may be able to answer your question.

My mailbox was damaged by a Public Works snowplow. How do I get it fixed?

During the Village's snow and ice control operations, there is a potential for mailboxes to be damaged either by direct contact with Village equipment or by snow being cast by Village plows. It is essential that the Village clear the entire width of the roadway, either to the curb or road edge to enable traffic flow, drainage and access to mailboxes, as required by the U. S. Post Office. 

The Village of Sleepy Hollow will not be responsible for the repair and/or replacement of any mailbox or post unless the damage was a direct result of the Village's snow removal equipment. Damage caused by private contractors, private vehicles, accidents not involving Village equipment, or from an unknown cause will not be repaired by the Village. Notification of a broken mailbox and/or post must be provided to the Public Works Department (847-428-5636) within 10 days of damage for repair or reimbursement by the Village. The Public Works Department will examine the damage and make a determination on the extent and cause of the damage. If a minor repair can be made, it will be up to the discretion of the Public Works Department to do so or recommend the resident replace the mailbox and request  reimbursement to the extent of the materials up to a maximum of $75.00. Landscaping and planting materials added to the parkway or around mailboxes will be the sole responsibility of the property owner. These are high traffic areas subject to harsh conditions from necessary road and utility maintenance and snow and ice control operations. The Village will not reimburse the owner for damage done to landscaping placed in the right-of-way resulting from Village operations.

For the full policy, see our Mailbox Damage Policy.

When does the burn pile open?

Generally, the burn pile opens October 1st and closes the Friday before Halloween. For 2023, The Board of Trustees has opened the burn pile on September 29th and will close it October 27th at 2:00 PM. The pile may be closed earlier than expected if it becomes too large to be manageable. As a reminder, this is for the benefit of residents only, no commercial use or logs.

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