Village of Riverwoods

What Village of Riverwoods does

The Village of Riverwoods is an Illinois municipal government incorporated in 1959 under Illinois state law, serving approximately 3,790 residents across roughly 4 square miles in Lake County, Illinois. It is governed by an elected Mayor/Village President (Kristine Ford) and a six-member Board of Trustees serving staggered four-year terms, supported by a small paid staff of approximately 19 employees and substantial volunteer participation on committees including the Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and advisory boards. The Village provides core municipal services including water and sewer utilities (water billed quarterly at $10.37 per 1,000 gallons with a $20 monthly minimum; sewer maintenance at $54.00 quarterly plus Lake County usage), building permits and inspections, police services (24/7), garbage and recycling collection through Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), and fire protection coordination with two separate fire protection districts.

The Village operates a CivicPlus-powered digital platform that includes a resident portal, mobile applications for iOS and Android (MyAlerts via Konexus/AlertSense), online utility bill payment through BSA Online and JustInter eBill, SeeClickFix for resident issue reporting, and a Village e-Newsletter distribution system. The Village's distinctive identity is rooted in its founding vision of Edward Ryerson to preserve a unique woodland setting, codified in Woodlands Preservation Ordinances and the Tree/Woodland Protection Ordinance that limit tree removal and protect diverse natural plant communities including Northern Flatwoods, Mesic Woodland, Dry-Mesic Woodland, Mesic Savanna, and Wet/Wet-Mesic Floodplain Forest.

Revenue is generated primarily through property taxes, recurring utility fees, building and tree removal permits, business licenses, and intergovernmental transfers including Motor Fuel Tax distributions and Tax Increment Financing. The Village maintains approximately 30 homeowners associations that manage privately owned streets and partners with external service districts including Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, North Shore Mosquito Abatement District (NSMAD), Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), and Vernon Area Public Library District. Notable resident-facing programs include the Ecological Cost-Share Program reimbursing residents up to $4,000 for eligible stewardship projects and free notary services at Village Hall.

Name

Village of Riverwoods

Legal name

Village of Riverwoods

Website

https://riverwoods.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Municipal government serving approximately 3,790 residents across 4 square miles in Lake County, Illinois. Delivers utilities, building permits, public safety, and woodlands preservation services through a CivicPlus digital platform with ~19 paid staff and extensive volunteer engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Forestry (800), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tree Preservation & Construction Site Tree Protection (HSAIADAL), Tree Removal & Dismantling (HSAIADAB), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Woodland preservation
• Utility billing services
• Building permit administration
• Public safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverwoods

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Primary revenue source for the Village's General Fund. Property taxes fund village operations, infrastructure, and public services.
2. Utility Billing (Water & Sewer): Quarterly water bills at $10.37 per 1,000 gallons used plus $20 monthly minimum charge. Sanitary sewer pipe maintenance billed quarterly at $54.00 plus Lake County usage charges.
3. Building Permits & Licenses: Revenue from building permits, demolition permits, tree removal permits, business licenses, liquor licenses, rental property registration, and vacant building registration. Burglar alarm registration fees: initial $25, renewal $15.
4. Intergovernmental Revenue (Motor Fuel Tax): MFT Fund revenue from state distributions of Motor Fuel Tax, restricted for roadway and related projects or operations.
5. Tax Increment Financing (TIF): TIF funds used as public financing subsidy for redevelopment, infrastructure, and community-improvement projects to stimulate private investment.
6. Special Service Area (SSA) Funds: Property tax-derived funds legally restricted to specific service area purposes, generally private road maintenance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Village of Riverwoods is a municipal government that provides residents and local businesses with core public services including water and sewer utilities, garbage and recycling collection, police and fire protection, building permits and inspections, tree removal permits, woodland ecological cost-share programs, FOIA request processing, and emergency alert notifications. Services are delivered through Village Hall in-person, a CivicPlus online portal, and mobile apps, funded primarily through property taxes and utility fees.

Product overview

The Village of Riverwoods operates as a municipal government providing public services through a CivicPlus-powered digital platform. The village offers residents a comprehensive suite of services including emergency notification systems (e-Newsletter, Emergency Alerts via Konexus/AlertSense), online utility payments (through BSA Online and JustInter), building permits and inspections, water and sewer utilities, garbage and recycling collection (via LRS), police and fire protection services, tree/woodland management programs, and FOIA request processing. The digital infrastructure integrates SeeClickFix for issue reporting, Hefty ReNew for recycling, and various online payment systems. The village's ecological cost-share programs incentivize residential environmental stewardship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Village E-Newsletter (eNews) Weekly electronic newsletter delivering village news, upcoming events, seasonal maintenance reminders, and emergency alerts to subscribed residents via email.
• Emergency Alerts and Village Notifications Real-time notification system for emergencies and village updates delivered via voice, email, and SMS text messages; includes weather alerts from the National Weather Service.
• Online Utility Bill Payment Web-based payment system for water bills and citations through the BSA Online portal, supporting cash, check, and credit card payments.
• Building Permits and Inspections Comprehensive building department services including permit issuance, plan review, code compliance inspections, and zoning verification for construction projects.
• Water and Sewer Utility Services Municipal water distribution and sanitary sewer maintenance services. Water billed quarterly at $10.37 per 1,000 gallons with a $20 monthly minimum; sewer maintenance billed quarterly at $54.00 plus Lake County usage charges.
• Garbage and Recycling Collection Weekly containerized waste and recycling collection provided by Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), including the Hefty ReNew program for hard-to-recycle plastics and seasonal yard waste pickup.
• Police Department Services Full-service police department providing 24/7 protection, emergency dispatch, vacation watches, security camera registration, burglar alarm registration, and community safety programs.
• Fire Protection Services Fire protection provided through the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District and the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, with multiple stations serving the village.
• Tree and Woodland Removal Permits Permit system for tree and shrub removal exceeding 1.5 inches in diameter, enforcing the Tree/Woodland Protection Ordinance that limits woodland removal to no more than 20% per lot.
• Ecological Cost-Share Programs Village-sponsored programs reimbursing 50% of resident costs (up to $2,000-$4,000 depending on qualifying program) for canopy thinning, invasive removal, native planting, prescribed burns, and rain garden installation.
• FOIA Request Processing Freedom of Information Act request processing for public records, with online and paper submission options handled by the Village Clerk as primary FOIA Officer.
• CivicPlus Online Portal CivicPlus-powered online portal providing 24/7 resident access to alerts, notifications, forms, legislation, meetings, payments, permits, inspections, records requests, and service requests.
• Woodland Delineation Maps Village-wide natural plant community inventory mapping completed in 2017, identifying woodland types including Northern Flatwoods, Mesic Woodland, Dry-Mesic Woodland, Mesic Savanna, and Wet Floodplain Forest.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $4,000 village reimbursement for eligible ecological cost-share programs (50% of resident cost)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lake County, IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2024Lake County negotiated a permanent easement over a substantial portion of the Federal Life property to accommodate stormwater runoff from the planned Deerfield Road widening project (anticipated to begin in 2026). Under the Village's agreement with Lake County, the County will pay for the stormwater work, expected to be completed in fall 2025.
• Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFire protection district serving the northern portion of Riverwoods. Led by Fire Chief Tom Krueger. The district and village are collaborating on the Federal Life property redevelopment, with part of the site conveyed to the district for a new fire station headquarters. Intergovernmental agreement in place. District will continue operating Station 52 at 855 Saunders Road until the new station is operational.
• Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFire protection district serving the southern portion of Riverwoods. Led by Fire Chief Ray Larson. Provides fire suppression, emergency medical response, and related services to residents and businesses in the district's coverage area.
• Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLRS is the exclusive waste and recycling hauler for Riverwoods residents. Provides weekly garbage and recycle cart collection service. Required carts for collection service. Also handles bulk items (one per week free), Christmas tree collection, appliance/white goods collection, and yard waste services. Village and LRS launched Hefty ReNew program for hard-to-recycle plastics.
• Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWALCO provides residents with programs and infrastructure to divert materials from final disposal. Operates over 100 clothing and textile collection bins throughout Lake County. Riverwoods hosts SWALCO donation drives and events. Village participates in SWALCO's Hefty ReNew sustainability program.
• WB OlsonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Village collaborated with WB Olson to finalize the demolition bid package for the Federal Life building. WB Olson prepared the demolition bid specifications and contract documents for board approval.
• North Shore Mosquito Abatement District (NSMAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSMAD provides mosquito surveillance and control services for Riverwoods. Uses multi-faceted approach including larval control (via helicopter treatment with Natular G30), tick identification, and public education. NSMAD provides residents with real-time mosquito surveillance data and treatment dashboards.
• Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2015, the Village of Riverwoods and the Riverwoods Preservation Council (RPC) contracted with RES to complete a Village-wide natural plant community inventory. The study revealed diverse natural plant communities due to gradual changes in elevation and wetness.
• Vernon Area Public Library DistrictminorOthersThe Vernon Area Public Library serves residents of Lincolnshire, unincorporated Prairie View, most of Long Grove, portions of Buffalo Grove, Riverwoods, and Vernon Hills. Most Riverwoods residents pay for a library card as they do not reside within the library district boundary.
• Vernon Area Public LibraryminorOthersCo-hosts community programs at Riverwoods Village Hall and venues like Half Day Forest Preserve. Programs include Book Trails Walking Club connecting literature with nature exploration for adults.
• Riverwoods Residents Association (RRA)minorOthersRRA is a volunteer organization of Riverwoods residents encouraging and supporting social and charitable activities. Village directs residents interested in volunteering to RRA for volunteer opportunities.
• Riverwoods Preservation Council (RPC)minorOthersRPC is a non-profit resident volunteer organization advocating for environmental awareness, educating the community on ecological matters, and promoting environmentally-sound practices. Co-sponsored Village ecological inventory with RES and collaborates on woodland preservation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Village of Winnetka, Illinois: Affluent North Shore village where Riverwoods' Finance Director previously served. Larger and more urbanized than Riverwoods but shares the same Lake County/North Shore demographic, small-municipal governance culture, and reliance on CivicPlus-era digital services.
• Village of Kenilworth, Illinois: One of the smallest affluent North Shore villages in Illinois with a comparable focus on preservation of community character. Useful as a comparable for how small North Shore municipalities deliver services and steward distinctive community identity.
• Village of Glenview, Illinois: Larger North Shore village with comparable suburban character, tree preservation programs, and Lake County-adjacent service model. Provides a broader-incumbent benchmark for North Shore municipal operations, building department, and woodland preservation ordinances.

Direct peers

• Village of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois: Lake County village with comparable population scale (~8,000 residents) and a focus on natural-area preservation within a suburban context. Directly comparable in governance model and preservation-oriented land use policies.
• Village of Buffalo Grove, Illinois: Shares the Vernon Area Public Library District with Riverwoods and serves as a comparable Lake County municipality with similar residential composition, though larger in population. Useful benchmark for service delivery and budget scale for a North Shore suburb.
• Village of Lincolnshire, Illinois: Adjacent Lake County village that shares the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District with Riverwoods and participates in the Federal Life property redevelopment intergovernmental agreement. Same North Shore demographic profile, similar small-village governance model, and directly comparable population scale.
• Village of Deerfield, Illinois: Adjacent municipality sharing the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District and the Lake County stormwater/Dearfield Road widening partnership with Riverwoods. Directly comparable in scale, North Shore Lake County demographics, and small-village service delivery model.
• Village of Long Grove, Illinois: Shares the Vernon Area Public Library District with Riverwoods and is known for its rural/preservation character and tree-canopy protection ordinances. Comparable as a small Lake County village prioritizing ecological preservation over dense development.
• Village of Bannockburn, Illinois: Shares the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District with Riverwoods. Small, affluent Lake County suburb with similar preservation-focused character and limited commercial footprint, making governance and service-delivery models highly comparable.

Others

• Village of Oak Park, Illinois: Where Riverwoods' Director of Community Services previously served. Operates a similar small-village municipal structure with strong civic engagement, though larger and more urban than Riverwoods. Relevant as a comparable for municipal workforce management and community services delivery in the Chicago region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/village-of-riverwoods

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Village of Riverwoods