What the three towns say about ravine and bluff lots, what a handyman can do around the house, and what needs a permit, an engineer or a restoration expert.
Keep gutters and downspouts clear so water does not run onto the slope, keep yard debris off it, and ask your town before removing any vegetation or changing drainage. Slope erosion and stabilization go to restoration experts and engineers. A handyman handles the house, stairs, rails, fences and trim.
Why do ravine and bluff lots need different upkeep?
Highland Park's Beach, Ravine and Bluff page calls ravine and bluff properties fragile lands that require special care. It says many of the City's homes sit on ravine or bluff slopes and that this ecosystem requires routine maintenance. Glencoe's ravine management page says ravines act as natural waterways for stormwater, carrying it to Lake Michigan.
Because a slope handles water for the neighborhood, small changes at the top, such as a downspout that empties onto it, can matter.
What do Highland Park, Glencoe and Winnetka say about ravines?
Highland Park. The City says ravine and bluff properties need routine maintenance and publishes a homeowner's guide to protecting them. Its Forestry Section page says removing any vegetation within the Steep Slope Zone, as defined by Chapter 150 of the City code, requires an approved tree removal permit application. The same page says a permit is also required before removing any tree of 8 inches or more in trunk diameter, measured about 4.5 feet above the ground. Contact the Forestry Section before cutting or clearing on a slope. The City also runs a page on maintaining ravine and bluff vegetation with guides on shrub and tree removal and native plants.
Glencoe. The Village's page says there are six ravines located entirely within Glencoe, plus portions of two more, and about 171 properties include ravines. It says all of Glencoe's ravines are privately owned. It also says early signs of erosion and destabilization can be hard to spot, and the longer a problem goes untreated, the harder and more expensive it is to fix. The Village's Sustainability Task Force and the Alliance for the Great Lakes can connect owners with restoration experts, landscape architects and engineers.
Winnetka. The Village adopted bluff regulations in 2024 for development in the steep slope area along the lake. See the Village's Lakefront Regulations page and call the permit desk before planning any work near the bluff.
What can I do myself or hire a handyman to do?
The Highland Park guidance for ravine and bluff lots is simple: keep gutters and downspouts clear and draining properly, and keep yard debris off the slope. A handyman can help with the parts of that which sit on the house:
- Clear gutters and downspouts so roof water goes where it is meant to.
- Re-fasten sagging gutters and reconnect loose downspouts.
- Repair exterior stairs, treads, handrails and gates near the slope edge.
- Repair fence boards and posts, after checking whether your town requires a permit.
- Re-caulk and repaint exterior trim that takes extra moisture from lake weather and shade.
- Check and repair doors and windows that have shifted or stick.
Do not change where a downspout discharges on or near a slope without asking your town first, because it changes where water goes.
What should go to restoration experts, engineers or contractors?
- Erosion, slumping, exposed roots, bluff stabilization: restoration experts, landscape architects or engineers, as Glencoe's page recommends.
- Tree or vegetation removal on a slope: the town's forestry staff for the permit, and a licensed tree professional. Highland Park requires landscapers, tree care professionals and arborists operating in the City to hold a license, according to its Forestry Section page.
- Roofing, plumbing and electrical: licensed independent contractors. Enhaus does not do this work.
- Shoreline and beach structures: the town's lakefront rules apply.
How often should I walk my slope and the house?
A reasonable rhythm is spring and fall, plus after any heavy rain or storm. Our spring storm checklist and fall and winter checklist cover the house side. For the slope, look for:
- New cracks or bare soil.
- Leaning trees or exposed roots.
- Downspouts or pipes that empty onto the slope.
- Yard debris, branches or clippings that have been dumped over the edge.
- Wet spots at the base of the slope or near the foundation.
Take dated photos from the same spots each time. If something has changed, call the town's forestry or engineering staff or a restoration expert before doing anything to the slope itself.
Does a historic house on the bluff need extra care?
Possibly. Highland Park has more than 130 local historic landmarks and three historic districts: Belle Avenue, Linden Park Place and Vine Linden Maple. The Historic Preservation Commission reviews exterior alterations to landmarks and to contributing features in those districts, so check with the City before changing exterior trim, doors or windows. Glencoe's Preservation Commission reviews proposed alterations or additions to landmark properties. Winnetka can delay demolition of a historically significant single-family home for up to 270 days.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to remove a bush or tree on my ravine lot in Highland Park?
Likely, yes. The City says removal of any vegetation in the Steep Slope Zone requires an approved tree removal permit application, and any tree 8 inches or more in diameter needs one regardless of condition. Contact the Forestry Section first.
Who looks after the ravine on my Glencoe property?
The Village says all of Glencoe's ravines are privately owned, so the property owner is responsible. The Village points owners to restoration experts, landscape architects and engineers.
Can a handyman stabilize an eroding bluff?
No. That needs an engineer or restoration expert. A handyman works on the house, stairs, rails, fences and trim, and can clear gutters so roof water is not adding to the problem.
Where do I check Winnetka's bluff rules?
Start with the Village's Lakefront Regulations page, then call the permit desk at 847-716-3527 before planning work near the bluff.
To send your list and photos, call or text (847) 877-1877.
