Our Hearing Process

An administrative hearing is a civil hearing, and cases filed in the division may result in the imposition of fines, costs, liens, or orders to clean, repair, or demolish property. The City of Des Plaines Division of Administrative Hearings began operations on June 6, 2002.

There are two types of hearings: Police-generated cases and Housing-generating cases, each with different hearing schedules. The hearings take place at City Hall, 1420 Miner Street, Room 102. For questions for the Administrative Hearings for Police matters please contact Police Records via email. For questions for the Administrative Hearings for all other matters, please contact Community and Economic Development via email.

Types of Cases

• Animal Leash Violations
• Building Code Violations
• Business Violations
• Compliance Tickets
• Fire Code Violations
• Health Code Violations
• Parking Tickets
• Public Passenger Vehicle Violations
• Zoning Code Violations
• Speeding tickets and moving violations are heard in the Circuit Court of Cook County at:
  5600 Old Orchard Blvd., Skokie, IL 60076

Hearing Regulations

• Audio and video equipment, newspapers, magazines, food, drink and chewing gum are not allowed in the hearing room.
• Proper conduct must be maintained at all times. Disruptive people will be removed from the hearing room and risk having their cases heard without them.
• In an administrative hearing, the burden of proof required to prove a violation of a city ordinance is by a “preponderance of evidence.” This means that it is more likely than not that the violation occurred. It differs from a criminal proceeding in which the burden of proof required to prove guilt is beyond a reasonable doubt.
• There are no public defenders and no right to a jury in these administrative hearings, as this relates only to criminal matters heard at Circuit Court.
• All fines are made payable to the City of Des Plaines. Payment can be made at the cashier’s window located in the lobby of City Hall, 1420 Miner Street, Des Plaines.