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Arlington Heights Government
Arlington Heights was incorporated in 1887 and is a strong, longstanding municipality of the northwest suburbs of Chicago, in Cook County, Illinois. In 1954, Arlington Heights adopted the council/manager form of government, which combines the leadership of elected officials with the managerial experience of an appointed manager.The Village Board's role is to make laws and broad policy decisions for the Village Manager and staff to carry out. The Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the Village and serves as the key advisor to the Village Board. Our Village Board members are elected at large with staggered 4-year terms. Being elected "at large" means board members are responsive to all residents of the Village. Its role is to adopt laws and policies to govern the Village, leaving implementation up to the Manager and the rest of the Village staff.
Throughout its long history, Arlington Heights has remained steadfast in providing municipal services that are responsive to the needs of the residents and businesses and are reliable, efficient and fiscally responsible. To learn more about our organization, please view the Village's organizational chart. To learn about the Village's Annual Budget, view Budget Documents
Arlington Heights' Government: Locations, Roles, and Running for Office
Consolidated Election Petition Information 2025
Potential Candidates for Arlington Heights Village Trustee and Library Trustee should check the Illinois State Board of Elections Website in early September of 2024 which is when the information for the 2025 Consolidated Election will be released. Petition packets will be available through the Village Clerk’s Office beginning September 10th, 2024.
The dates for petition circulation or filing have not been issued by the State yet. Call the Village Clerk’s office if you have questions at 847.368.5540 or email at [email protected]
Municipal Building Locations
- Village Hall - Municipal Building
33 South Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 - Police Department
200 E. Sigwalt Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 - Public Works Department
222 North Ridge Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 - Senior Center
1801 West Central Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 - Fire Station #1
300 East Sigwalt Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 - Fire Station #2
1150 North Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 - Fire Station #3
2000 South Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 - Fire Station #4
3030 North Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Village Roles
Council-Manager form of Government
Arlington Heights has operated under the council-manager form of government since 1954. Under this system, the strong political leadership of elected officials in the person of the Village President and Board of Trustees is combined with the strong administrative direction of the Village Manager, the appointed chief administrator of the Village Government. The Village President is commonly referred to as the Mayor.
The council-manager plan is intended to provide for the maximum amount of participation by citizens. The voters elect the Village Board to govern their community, and the Board chooses the Village Manager to carry out its decisions.
Village Board
The Mayor and eight Trustees comprise the Village Board. They are elected at-large for staggered four-year terms.
The Village Board is the legislative and policy making body of the Village. Legislative powers include the adoption of ordinances and the levying of taxes. This means that the Village Board is the community’s decision maker, utilizing the authority entrusted to it by the citizens.
The Village Board meets the first and third Mondays of the month in a formal session. To expedite the handling of business coming before it, the Village Board typically meets as a Committee-of-the-Whole on the second Monday of the month for in-depth review of subject matters and discussion.
One of the most important programs undertaken by the Village Board on an annual basis is the Village Budget. Through the budgetary process, plans for the next year are formulated. The community’s leadership creates a plan for the Village to achieve its desired results in the upcoming year, which begins January 1 of each year.
Mayor's Role
The Mayor presides over all meetings of the Village Board and is the recognized official head of the Village for all legal purposes. The Mayor is a leader in developing community policies and works with other Board members to form these policies and interpret them to the public. The Mayor represents the Village at official functions, appoints members to the Village’s Boards and Commissions with the advice and consent of the Village Board, and maintains contact with other governmental agencies and civic groups.
Village Manager's Role
The Village Board hires the Village Manager to serve as the Board’s full-time executive. The Manager brings to the community the benefits of training and experience in administering a local government’s staff, its projects, and its programs. The Village Manager prepares the annual budget at the direction of the Village Board, which reviews, and approves it in its final form. Other responsibilities of the Manager include enforcement of laws and ordinances; appointment of Village employees; administrative control over departments; attendance at all meetings of the Board; and making necessary purchases and performing such duties as may be required by ordinance, resolution, or direction of the Board of Trustees.
Council-Manager form of Government
Arlington Heights has operated under the council-manager form of government since 1954. Under this system, the strong political leadership of elected officials in the person of the Village President and Board of Trustees is combined with the strong administrative direction of the Village Manager, the appointed chief administrator of the Village Government. The Village President is commonly referred to as the Mayor.
The council-manager plan is intended to provide for the maximum amount of participation by citizens. The voters elect the Village Board to govern their community, and the Board chooses the Village Manager to carry out its decisions.
Village Board
The Mayor and eight Trustees comprise the Village Board. They are elected at-large for staggered four-year terms.
The Village Board is the legislative and policy making body of the Village. Legislative powers include the adoption of ordinances and the levying of taxes. This means that the Village Board is the community’s decision maker, utilizing the authority entrusted to it by the citizens.
The Village Board meets the first and third Mondays of the month in a formal session. To expedite the handling of business coming before it, the Village Board typically meets as a Committee-of-the-Whole on the second Monday of the month for in-depth review of subject matters and discussion.
One of the most important programs undertaken by the Village Board on an annual basis is the Village Budget. Through the budgetary process, plans for the next year are formulated. The community’s leadership creates a plan for the Village to achieve its desired results in the upcoming year, which begins January 1 of each year.
Mayor's Role
The Mayor presides over all meetings of the Village Board and is the recognized official head of the Village for all legal purposes. The Mayor is a leader in developing community policies and works with other Board members to form these policies and interpret them to the public. The Mayor represents the Village at official functions, appoints members to the Village’s Boards and Commissions with the advice and consent of the Village Board, and maintains contact with other governmental agencies and civic groups.
Village Manager's Role
The Village Board hires the Village Manager to serve as the Board’s full-time executive. The Manager brings to the community the benefits of training and experience in administering a local government’s staff, its projects, and its programs. The Village Manager prepares the annual budget at the direction of the Village Board, which reviews, and approves it in its final form. Other responsibilities of the Manager include enforcement of laws and ordinances; appointment of Village employees; administrative control over departments; attendance at all meetings of the Board; and making necessary purchases and performing such duties as may be required by ordinance, resolution, or direction of the Board of Trustees.