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POSTING REQUIREMENTS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 14A, ch. 14A-8
in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.1 General.

14A-8-802.1 General. Owners of theaters and owners of rooms or spaces that are designed or used for more than 100 people to gather for civic, political, educational, religious, social, athletic, recreational, or similar activities, must apply for and obtain a maximum capacity sign from the building official, and display the maximum capacity sign in accordance with Section 14A-8-802.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.1.1 Conditional requirement.

14A-8-802.1.1 Conditional requirement. The Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the Local Liquor Control Commissioner, the Zoning Administrator, or the Zoning Board of Appeals may require, as a condition of issuing a license or granting an administrative adjustment, special use, or variation, that the owner of a facility, other than a theater, designed or used for less than 100 people to gather must obtain and display a maximum capacity sign in accordance with Section 14A-8-802. (Added Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. I, § 20)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.3 Calculation.

14A-8-802.3 Calculation. For theaters, rooms, or spaces constructed under the Chicago Building Code, altered under the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code, or shown to be in compliance with either of these codes, the building official will determine the maximum occupancy capacity in accordance with Section 1004 of the Chicago Building Code. For other theaters, rooms, or spaces, the maximum occupancy will be calculated in accordance with the requirements in effect at the time of construction or alteration. (Amend Coun. J. 12-14-22, p. 58278, Art. II, § 12)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.4 Sign.

14A-8-802.4 Sign. Maximum capacity signs issued under Section 14A-8-802 will read: OCCUPANCY BY MORE THAN ____ PERSONS IS DANGEROUS AND UNLAWFUL The lettering will be of bold gothic type on a background of white, not less than one inch (25 mm) in height. The numerals will be one and one-quarter inches (31.8 mm) in height. (Amend Coun. J. 12-14-22, p. 58278, Art. II, § 12)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.5 Fee.

14A-8-802.5 Fee. The building official must collect a fee in accordance with Section 14A-12-1208 for the issuance of maximum capacity signs. Fees are to be assessed for each group of connected rooms or spaces operated by the same owner or lessee within a building, referred to as a "location." Where additional or revised maximum capacity signs are required because of the alteration or reconfiguration of a location for which a maximum capacity sign has been previously issued, the fee will be determined based only on the area that has been altered.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.5.1 Review.

14A-8-802.5.1 Review. Where an application is submitted electronically, the building official is authorized to collect a review fee, as provided in Table 14A-12-1208.1, before the application is reviewed. Where applicable, the review fee is in addition to the base fee. (Added Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. I, § 20)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.6 Display.

14A-8-802.6 Display. The owner must post and continuously display the maximum capacity sign at a conspicuous, well-lit location at the main entrance to each theater, room, or space for which a maximum capacity sign is required by Section 14A-8-802. The maximum capacity sign must be securely mounted to a wall or partition.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-802.7 Limitation on occupancy.

14A-8-802.7 Limitation on occupancy. For any theater, room, or space where a maximum capacity sign is displayed or required to be displayed by Section 14A-8-802, it is unlawful to cause or allow the theater, room, or space to be occupied by a number of persons exceeding the maximum capacity stated on the sign issued for the theater, room, or space. The building official, fire code official and Superintendent of Police may issue orders to enforce the limits stated on maximum capacity signs. (Added Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. I, § 21)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-803.1 Mercantile, industrial, and storage uses.

14A-8-803.1 Mercantile, industrial, and storage uses. Where a story, room, or space is used or intended to be used for mercantile, industrial, or storage purposes and has a floor designed for live loads exceeding 100 psf (4.80 kN/m2), the design live load must be conspicuously posted at or near the primary entrance to each story, room, or space, using durable signs supplied by the owner with characters not less than 2 inches (51 mm) in height. Where more than half but less than all of a story, room, or space is designed for live loads exceeding 100 psf (4.80 kN/m2), a durable floor plan indicating areas that are designed for lesser live loads must be posted in a conspicuous place at each exit from the story, room, or space. It is unlawful to remove or deface such signs. Exceptions: 1. Posting of floor loads is not required in buildings or portions thereof used exclusively for the production and distribution of electricity, gas, or steam. 2. Where floor loads are posted in accordance with requirements in effect at the time of construction or alteration.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-803.1.1 Certification.

14A-8-803.1.1 Certification. Before applying for a certificate of occupancy under Section 14A-7-702, the owner of a building subject to Section 14A-8-803.1 must obtain the certification of a registered design professional that the signs required by Section 14A-8-803.1 have been posted and accurately reflect the structural design. The owner must retain this certification. A certificate of occupancy may not be issued until this certification has been shown to the building official.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-803.2 Parking garages.

14A-8-803.2 Parking garages. Where parking garages and parking facilities are designed for the exclusive use of passenger vehicles, a sign stating: "THIS FLOOR TO BE USED FOR THE STORAGE OF PASSENGER VEHICLES ONLY" must be posted in a conspicuous location on each level.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-803.3 Restrictions on loading.

14A-8-803.3 Restrictions on loading. It is unlawful to place, or cause or allow to be placed, a load on the floor or roof of a building or structure that is greater than the load for which the floor or roof is designed.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-804.1 Diagram.

14A-8-804.1 Diagram. Owners of theaters and other assembly occupancies must submit to the building official a diagram indicating the arrangement and number of tables, chairs or seats, and dimensions of dancing space, stages, platforms, aisles, and means of exit, and the total yardage of decorations permitted to hang in the audience room or hall. Where the occupancy contains a stage or platform, the diagram must also show the amount and type of scenery permitted on the stage or platform. One copy of such diagram, which has been approved by the building official, must be kept on the premises for which the approval has been granted and must be conspicuously displayed.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14A-8-804.2 Additional requirements.

14A-8-804.2 Additional requirements. Assembly occupancies must also comply with requirements regarding blocking and obstructing exits, marking of aisles, and printing of exit diagrams in programs in the Chicago Fire Prevention Code.
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2661746Fetched: 10/24/2026

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