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PLUMBING SYSTEMS AND FIXTURES

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 14X, ch. 14X-9
in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-902.1 Dwelling units.

14X-9-902.1 Dwelling units. Every dwelling unit must contain its own bathtub or shower, lavatory, water closet, and kitchen sink. These required fixtures must be maintained in a sanitary, safe, and operational condition. The lavatory must be located in the same room as the water closet or in close proximity to the door leading into the room in which the water closet is located.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-902.2 Congregate living facilities and dormitories.

14X-9-902.2 Congregate living facilities and dormitories. Not less than one water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower must be supplied for each 10 occupants, or fraction thereof, in a congregate living facility, dormitory, or similar occupancy where sleeping units are not provided with private bathrooms. In a facility where sleeping rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for no more than one third of the required water closets. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 39)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-902.2.3 Shared toilet rooms.

14X-9-902.2.3 Shared toilet rooms. Every shared toilet room must contain a lavatory unless both adjoining sleeping rooms contain a lavatory or kitchen sink.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-902.3 Employees’ facilities.

14X-9-902.3 Employees’ facilities. Not less than one water closet, one lavatory, and one drinking facility must be available to employees.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-902.3.1 Drinking facilities.

14X-9-902.3.1 Drinking facilities. Acceptable drinking facilities include a drinking fountain, water cooler, bottled water cooler, bottled drinking water, or disposable cups next to a sink or water dispenser. Drinking facilities may not be located in toilet rooms or bathrooms.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-902.4 Public toilet facilities.

14X-9-902.4 Public toilet facilities. Public toilet facilities must be maintained in a safe, sanitary, and operational condition in accordance with the Chicago Plumbing Code. Except for periodic maintenance or cleaning, such toilet facilities must be available at all times when the building is open.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-903.1 Privacy.

14X-9-903.1 Privacy. Toilet rooms and bathrooms must provide privacy and may not constitute the only passageway to an occupiable space, a corridor, or the exterior. A door with a locking mechanism controlled by the user must be provided for the room or for each individual toilet stall in all common or shared bathrooms and toilet rooms. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 40)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-903.2.1 Shared residential facilities.

14X-9-903.2.1 Shared residential facilities. Toilet rooms serving sleeping units that are not provided with private toilet rooms or shared toilet rooms must be accessed from a common corridor and may not be more than one story above or below the sleeping unit of any occupant intended to share the facilities. Bathrooms serving sleeping units that are not provided with private bathrooms or shared bathrooms must be accessed from a common corridor and may not be more than one story above or below the sleeping unit of any occupant intended to share the facilities. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 41; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. V, § 14)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-903.2.2 Employee facilities.

14X-9-903.2.2 Employee facilities. Toilet facilities for employees must be located within the building containing the employee’s work area, not more than one story above or below the employee’s work area. The path of travel to such facilities may not exceed 500 feet (152 m). Exception: Facilities that are required for employees working in storage structures or kiosks may be located in adjacent buildings under the same ownership, lease, or control where the path of travel from the employee’s work area to such facilities does not exceed 500 feet (152 m).

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-903.3 Floor surface.

14X-9-903.3 Floor surface. Floor finish materials in bathrooms and toilet rooms must have an easily-cleaned surface that is substantially impervious to water.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-904.1 General.

14X-9-904.1 General. Plumbing systems must be maintained in a safe, sanitary, and operational condition. Plumbing fixtures must be properly installed and maintained in working order, and must be kept free from obstructions, leaks, and defects, and capable of performing the function for which such plumbing fixtures are designed.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-904.3 Plumbing system hazards.

14X-9-904.3 Plumbing system hazards. Where the plumbing system in a structure constitutes a hazard to the occupants, the structure, or the public by reason of inadequate service, inadequate venting, cross connection, backsiphonage, improper installation, deterioration, damage, or for similar reasons, the owner must make repairs or alterations to the plumbing facilities sufficient to eliminate the hazard.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-905.1 General.

14X-9-905.1 General. Every sink, lavatory, bathtub or shower, drinking fountain, water closet, and other plumbing fixture must be properly connected to either the Chicago Waterworks System or to an approved source of potable water. Exception: Where non-potable water is allowed by the Chicago Plumbing Code.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-905.2 Hot or tempered water.

14X-9-905.2 Hot or tempered water. Kitchen sinks, lavatories, laundry facilities, bathtubs, and showers must be provided with hot or tempered and cold running water in accordance with the Chicago Plumbing Code. Water exceeding 140ºF (60ºC) may not discharge into any lavatory, bathtub, or shower.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-905.2.1 Showers.

14X-9-905.2.1 Showers. Showers and shower-bath combinations must be provided with an automatic safety mixing device to prevent sudden unanticipated changes in water temperature and water temperatures in excess of 120ºF (48.9ºC). A hot water heater thermostat is not an acceptable safety device. (Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. V, § 15)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-905.3 Contamination.

14X-9-905.3 Contamination. The water supply must be kept free from contamination, and all water inlets for plumbing fixtures must be located above the flood-level rim of the fixture. Shampoo basin faucets, janitor sink faucets, and other hose bibs or faucets to which hose bibs are attached and left in place must be protected by an atmospheric-type vacuum breaker or a permanently attached hose connection vacuum breaker.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-905.4 Supply.

14X-9-905.4 Supply. The water supply system must be installed and maintained to provide a supply of water to plumbing fixtures in sufficient volume and at pressures adequate to enable the fixtures to function properly, safely, and free from defects and leaks.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-905.5 Water heating equipment.

14X-9-905.5 Water heating equipment. Water heating equipment must be properly installed and maintained and capable of providing an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required sink, lavatory, bathtub, shower, and laundry facility at a minimum temperature of 110ºF (43ºC). Adequate combustion air must be provided for all gas-fired water heaters. All water heaters must be equipped and maintained with a combination temperature and pressure-relief valve and a relief valve discharge pipe.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-905.5.1 Hot water to be provided.

14X-9-905.5.1 Hot water to be provided. Plumbing fixtures to which hot water is furnished from water heating facilities used in common must be supplied with hot water throughout the year.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-906.2 Maintenance.

14X-9-906.2 Maintenance. Every plumbing stack, vent, waste line, and sewer line must function properly and be kept free from obstructions, leaks, and defects.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-906.3 Grease interceptors.

14X-9-906.3 Grease interceptors. Grease interceptors and automatic grease removal devices must be maintained in accordance with this code and the manufacturer’s instructions. Grease interceptors and automatic grease removal devices must be regularly serviced and cleaned to prevent the discharge of oil, grease, and other substances harmful or hazardous to the building drainage system, the public sewer, the private sewage disposal system, or the sewage treatment plant or processes. Records of maintenance, cleaning, and repairs must be available for inspection by the building official.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-907.1 General.

14X-9-907.1 General. Drainage of roofs, balconies, and paved areas, yards and courts, and other outdoor areas may not be discharged in a manner that creates a nuisance or discharge onto adjoining lots.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-9-908.2 Private residential swimming pools.

14X-9-908.2 Private residential swimming pools. Private residential swimming pools must comply with the Chicago Plumbing Code. (Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. V, § 16)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2676265Fetched: 10/24/2026

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