SEWER REVENUE FUND

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 3, ch. 3-12

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-010 Fund established.

3-12-010 Fund established. A separate fund is hereby established designated the sewer revenue fund which shall be supported by sewer usage fees established from time to time by the city council. The revenues of the sewer revenue fund shall be reserved and utilized exclusively for the operation, maintenance, rehabilitation or reconstruction of the sewer system of the City of Chicago. For the purposes of this chapter, the sewer system of the City of Chicago includes (a) all city-owned sewers, sewer structures, and drains in any public way or public place in the city; and (b) any private drain, house sewer, or other sewer structure connected to a residential building of four or fewer units, from the point where the private drain, house sewer or other sewer structure crosses the property line to the point where it connects to the city-owned sewer. (Prior code § 185.1-1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 75777, § 6.1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-020 Charge for sewer service and use of sewerage system.

3-12-020 Charge for sewer service and use of sewerage system. (a) A charge for sewer service and use of the sewerage system of the City of Chicago is hereby established. The charge shall be an amount equal to the percentage set forth in the below Table, of the amount charged for water service pursuant to Chapter 11-12 of this Code, whether such water service is metered or otherwise. Provided, however, that: (1) property of the State of Illinois which is exempt from payment of a water service charge pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of Section 11-12-540 shall be exempt from payment of the first $500.00 charge for sewer service per semiannual billing period; (2) property of the City of Chicago which is exempt from payment of a water service charge pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of Section 11-12-540 shall be exempt from payment of 100% of the charge for sewer service; (3) property of the Chicago Public Schools which is exempt from payment of a water service charge pursuant to subsection (a)(3) of Section 11-12-540 shall be exempt from payment of 100% of the charge for sewer service; (4) property of the City Colleges of Chicago which is exempt from payment of a water service charge pursuant to subsection (a)(4) of Section 11-12-540 shall be exempt from payment of the first $500.00 charge for sewer service per semiannual billing period; (5) property of hospitals which is exempt from payment, in whole or in part, from payment of a water service charge pursuant to subsections (a)(5) or (a)(6) of Section 11-12-540 shall be exempt from payment of the first $500.00 charge for sewer service per semiannual billing period; (6) property of public museums which is exempt from payment of a water service charge pursuant to subsection (a)(7) of Section 11-12-540 shall be exempt from payment of the first $500.00 charge for sewer service per semiannual billing period; and (7) Property of not-for-profit organizations which is exempt from payment of a water service charge pursuant to subsection (a)(8) of Section 11-12-540 shall be exempt from payment of the first $500 charge for sewer service per semiannual billing period. 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 86% | 89% | 92% | 96% | 100% A late payment penalty assessed at a monthly rate of one and one-quarter percent shall be imposed on all sewer usage fees billed after November 1, 1991 for which payment in full is not received within 24 calendar days from the date the bill therefor was sent, as shown by the records of the department of finance. Where the correctness of a bill is disputed and where complaint of such incorrectness has been made prior to the time the usual penalty would be imposed, and where the adjusting of such complaint requires additional time, the penalty may be held in abeyance up to and including the tenth day succeeding the resending of such bill. The late payment penalty established pursuant to this section shall not be imposed upon persons who are 65 years or older, who own and reside in their own residence and who have a separate water meter or water assessment. (b) Those furnished with sewer service only and not connected with, or supplied with water from, the city water supply system shall pay an annual sewer service fee based upon a calculated estimate of the volume of use at the rate established in subsection (a) hereof. (c) Those furnished with water service only and not connected with or supplied with sewer service by the city's sewer system shall pay only the water rates and charges established by Chapter 11-12 of this Code. (d) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to limit the authority of the City of Chicago to negotiate or fix rates, by contract, for users of sewer service outside the City of Chicago. (e) The commissioner of water management is authorized to waive any sewer usage fee and accrued late payment penalty assessed or charged against any property owned or leased by the City of Chicago but only to the extent and duration of the city's use of the sewer connection. (Prior code § 185.1-2; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-84, p. 9023; 12-12-84; 7-9-85, p. 18646; 5-11-88, p. 13418; 4-26-89, p. 425; 6-28-91, p. 2475; 6-23-93, p. 34793; 12-15-93, 43732; 11-15-95, p. 11995; Amend Coun. J. 11-10-99, p. 14998, § 5.1; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-99, p. 17487, § 5.1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 75777, § 6.2; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.6; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 15814, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 3; Amend Coun, J, 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. VIII, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. III, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-030 Unified statement of charges.

3-12-030 Unified statement of charges. (a) The rates and charges calculated and applied to the billed party shall be added to and separately recited upon a unified statement of charges. The unified statement of charges shall be prepared and sent to the billed party in such time periods as established by the Comptroller and shall be subject to Section 11-12-480. All revenues received in payment of sewer use rates, charges and penalties shall be deposited to the sewer revenue fund. The Comptroller shall enforce the provisions of this section. Pursuant to Section 2-106-040, the Commissioner of the Department of Water Management shall maintain the power and duties over the sewerage system of the City of Chicago. (b) For purposes of this chapter, "unified statement of charges" has the same definition ascribed to that term in Section 11-12-010. (Prior code § 185.1-3; Amend Coun. J. 11-10-99, p. 14998, § 5.1; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-99, p. 17487, § 5.1; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50569, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-035 Past due accrued charges.

3-12-035 Past due accrued charges. An accrued past due sewer service liability in excess of $10,000.00 may subject the owner of the subject property to an additional penalty, to be imposed in a separate hearing, in an amount not less than $50.00 and not more than $500.00 for the delinquency. Each day that a past due service liability exceeds $10,000.00 shall constitute a separate delinquency. In determining whether to impose this additional penalty, the hearing officer may consider all reasons for the failure to make timely payment. The amount of this additional penalty does not include the delinquent amount owed for sewer service and any applicable late payment penalties, nor does it affect any other remedies, including right to a lien on the subject property. (Added Coun. J. 3-28-01, p. 55444, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 5-2-01, p. 57409, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.6; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-040 Delinquent charges to be lien on premises.

3-12-040 Delinquent charges to be lien on premises. Charges for sewer service shall be a lien upon the premises served pursuant to the law thereto pertaining. When such charges have been delinquent for a period of 60 days the comptroller may cause a statement of lien to be recorded against the premises served and delinquent in the form and manner provided by law. The failure to record such a lien or to mail notice thereof shall not affect the right of the city to foreclose or adjudicate such lien, by an equitable action in accordance with the statutory requirements therefor and in the same manner as provided for water service in Section 11-12-490 et seq. The comptroller shall execute releases of such liens on behalf of the city upon receipt of payment thereof. (Prior code § 185.1-4; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-050 Senior citizens exempted when.

3-12-050 Senior citizens exempted when. (a) Persons aged 65 or over, residing in their own residence with separate metered water service or a separate City water assessment for that residential unit, shall be exempt from payment of the sewer service charge for their residence. This exemption shall apply regardless of whether the person is in arrears in the payment of any refuse collection, water or sewer charges for the subject residence. (b) Persons aged 65 or over who reside in their own residence but do not qualify for an exemption under subsection (a) because their residence is a townhouse, condominium unit or cooperative apartment that does not have separate metered water service or a separate City water assessment for the residential unit may apply for a refund in lieu of exemption pursuant to this subsection. The amount of such refund shall be $50.00 per qualified residence for each calendar year. In order to receive a refund in lieu of exemption, an application shall be made to the City Comptroller. The application shall (i) be given to and received by the Comptroller in the same calendar year for which a refund is requested, (ii) be made in a manner prescribed by the Comptroller, and (iii) include such affidavits or other reasonable proof of qualifications for a refund that the Comptroller may require. If the Comptroller approves the refund, the Comptroller shall promptly pay the applicant a refund in the amount of $50.00. (c) Persons residing in residences qualified for an exemption or refund under this section shall qualify for the exemption or refund by the submission of a copy of the applicant's birth certificate, or the applicant's driver's license, state-issued identification card or the Matricula Consular identification card specified in Section 6-10-065 of the Code, showing the applicant is aged 65 or over; proof of their qualification for homeowners exemption; and proof of residency. The acceptable document to prove residency shall be a copy of a utility bill for the residence. Acceptable documents to prove home ownership shall be a copy of: (i) the deed to the residence, (ii) property tax bill, or (iii) with regard to a residence held in trust, a declaration executed by the trustee, affirming that the residence is held in trust and that the trust gives the named applicant the right to occupy the residence. In lieu of the forms of proof specified in this paragraph (c), the Comptroller is authorized to accept alternative forms of proof that in the Comptroller's judgment are genuine and probative of the information sought. The Comptroller shall provide information regarding the process for obtaining an exemption or refund, and the associated forms, in Spanish as well as English. (d) If the Comptroller’s processing of a full payment certificate for a given property serves to terminate any senior exemption applicable to that property, the Comptroller shall send written notification of such termination to the address at issue. (Prior code § 185.1-5; Amend Coun. J. 11-22-91, p. 9167; 7-29-92, p. 19276; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-14, p. 93548, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-19, p. 11390, Art. X, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 16; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. VIII, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-060 Charges to nonresident users.

3-12-060 Charges to nonresident users. Effective January 1, 2011 and in subsequent years, a monthly charge for sewer service and use of the sewerage system of the city is hereby established for nonresident users at premises located outside of the corporate limits of the city who discharge sewage, by direct or indirect connection, into the city's sewer system. The monthly charge shall be an amount determined as follows, effective January 1 of the year indicated: Size of Connection | 2011 Monthly Rate | 2012 Monthly Rate | 2013 Monthly Rate | 2014 Monthly Rate | 2015 Monthly Rate Size of Connection | 2011 Monthly Rate | 2012 Monthly Rate | 2013 Monthly Rate | 2014 Monthly Rate | 2015 Monthly Rate 6 inches or less | $11.03 | $14.27 | $16.96 | $20.35 | $24.38 8 inches | $41.3* | $53.43 | $63.51 | $76.21 | $91.30 10 inches | $64.24 | $83.10 | $98.79 | $118.55 | $142.01 12 inches | $91.77 | $118.71 | $141.12 | $169.35 | $202.86 15 inches | $144.54 | $186.98 | $222.27 | $266.73 | $319.52 18 inches | $206.48 | $267.10 | $317.52 | $381.03 | $456.44 21 inches | $282.2* | $365.06 | $433.96 | $520.76 | $623.82 24 inches | $367.1* | $474.88 | $564.52 | $677.43 | $811.50 27 inches | $465.75 | $602.50 | $716.23 | $859.47 | $1,029.57 30 inches | $573.58 | $741.99 | $882.05 | $1,058.46 | $1,267.94 33 inches | $695.18 | $899.29 | $1,069.04 | $1,282.85 | $1,536.75 36 inches | $825.96 | $1,068.47 | $1,270.15 | $1,524.18 | $1,825.85 42 inches | $1,124.22 | $1,454.30 | $1,728.82 | $2,074.58 | $2,485.17 48 inches | $1,468.37 | $1,899.49 | $2258.05 | $2,709.65 | $3,245.94 54 inches | $1,858.41 | $2,404.05 | $2,857.85 | $3,429.41 | $4,108.15 60 inches | $2,294.32 | $2,967.94 | $3,528.18 | $4,233.82 | $5,071.76 66 inches | $2,776.14 | $3,591.23 | $4,269.12 | $5,122.95 | $6,136.86 72 inches | $3,303.83 | $4,273.85 | $5,080.60 | $6,096.72 | $7,303.36 * Editor's note – As set forth in Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. III, § 1. Future legislation will correct the provision if needed. Beginning June 1, 2016, and every year thereafter, the annual rates shall be adjusted upwards, if applicable, by applying to the previous year's rates the rate of inflation, calculated based on the Consumer Price Index – Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Chicago All Items) published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 365-day period ending on the most recent January 1. Any such annual increase, however, shall be capped at 105% of the previous year's rate. The above schedule of charges shall apply to direct connections, which directly link the subject property to the city's sewer system, and to indirect connections, which link the subject property to the city's sewer system through an intervening pipe or set of pipes that themselves are not part of the city's sewer system. In applying the above schedule of charges, the amount due for a single connection to the city's sewer system (whether a direct connection or an indirect connection) serving two or more buildings shall be the product of the applicable rate for the size of the pipe at said connection multiplied by the number of individual buildings discharging through said connection. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 75777, § 6.3; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-03, p. 10352, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39833, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39840, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 15814, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. III, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-070 Late payment penalty.

3-12-070 Late payment penalty. (a) A late payment penalty assessed at a monthly rate of one and one-quarter percent shall be imposed on all sewer usage fees billed under Section 3-12-060 for which payment in full is not received within 24 calendar days from the date the bill for such charges was sent as shown by the records of the department of finance and shall be subject to Section 11-12-480. Where the correctness of a rate or charge imposed under this chapter is disputed and where complaint of such incorrectness has been made prior to the time the usual penalty would be imposed, and where the adjusting of such complaint requires additional time, the penalty may be held in abeyance up to and including the tenth day succeeding the resending of such bill. (b) The rates and charges calculated and applied under Section 3-12-060 shall be recited upon a unified statement of charges. The unified statement of charges shall be prepared and sent to the billed party in such time periods as established by the Comptroller. All revenues received in payment of such sewer use rates, charges, and penalties shall be deposited to the sewer revenue fund established under Section 3-12-010. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Comptroller shall enforce the provisions of this section. Pursuant to Section 2-106-040, the Commissioner of the Department of Water Management shall maintain the power and duties over the sewerage system of the City of Chicago. (c) Charges for sewer service hereunder shall be a lien upon the premises served pursuant to the law thereto pertaining. When such charges have been delinquent for a period of 60 days, the Comptroller may cause a statement of lien to be recorded against the premises served and delinquent in the form and manner provided by law. The failure to record such a lien or to send notice thereof shall not affect the right of the city to foreclose or adjudicate such lien, by an equitable action in accordance with the statutory requirements therefor and in the same manner as provided for water service in Section 11-12-490, et seq., of this Code. The Comptroller shall execute releases of such liens on behalf of the city upon receipt of payment thereof. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 75777, § 6.3; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.6; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50569, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 3-12-080 City's authority not limited.

3-12-080 City's authority not limited. Nothing contained in Section 3-12-060 or Chapter 1-25* shall be deemed to limit the authority of the city to negotiate or fix rates, by contract, with other municipalities for users of the city's system residing in such municipalities. (Added Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 75777, § 6.3; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 1) * Editor's note – As set forth in Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 1. There is currently no Chapter 1-25. Future legislation will correct the provision if needed.

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2605945Fetched: 10/24/2026