Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 15, ch. 15-4, art. XV — OBSTRUCTING EXITS OR OPEN AREAS (15-4-870 et seq.) | Municipal Code of Chicago (2026 S-74, current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026) — City of Chicago

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-870 Locking doors.

15-4-870 Locking doors. It shall be unlawful to lock or fasten any door or other means of exit from any building, room or space, other than individual dwelling units, where persons are gathered during any of the time in which such space is so occupied, in any manner such as will not permit immediate opening from within of such means of exit without the use of a key and without special knowledge. (Prior code § 90-85)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-880 Obstruction of exits.

15-4-880 Obstruction of exits. No person shall at any time place an encumbrance of any kind whatsoever before or in any exit way or before or upon any fire escape, balcony or ladder intended as a means of escape from fire. It shall be the duty of every member of the police and fire departments, who shall discover any fire escapes, balconies or ladders encumbered in any manner, to report forthwith to the fire commissioner and the said fire commissioner shall immediately notify the owner and the tenant to remove such encumbrances. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, store or keep, or permit to be placed, stored or kept under or at the bottom of any stairway, inside or outside, elevator or other shaft in any building, any combustible or flammable materials, fluids or compounds, nor shall any such combustible or flammable materials be placed or stored or kept in any place where ignition or burning would obstruct or render hazardous, egress from a building. No obstruction shall be permitted in hallways of tenement houses or apartment houses. All full width of doors, aisles and passageways within and leading into or out of theaters, churches and all other places of public assemblage shall be kept free from easels, signs, standards, campstools, chairs, sofas, benches, and any other article which would obstruct the width of the exit or delay the exit of the audience, congregation or assemblage during the entire time during which any show, performance, service, exhibition, lecture, concert, ball or other assemblage may be held, and it shall be unlawful for any person to sit or stand or remain seated or standing, or to allow any other person so to remain in any such place of public assemblage in any aisle under any circumstances, or in any exit or passage required for the safe exit of the assemblage. Clear passage from all exits and on all sidewalks must at all times be maintained outside of all theaters and other places of public assemblage. No aisle, passageway or stairway in any store shall be obstructed with tables, showcases, or other obstructions during hours said store is open to the public. It shall be the duty of the superintendent of police to render assistance in the enforcement of the provisions of this section, and to direct and require police officers to enter all places of public assemblage for such purposes. (Prior code § 90-86; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 107)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-881 Hotels and single-room occupancy units - Exit diagram.

15-4-881 Hotels and single-room occupancy units - Exit diagram. In every hotel and every single-room occupancy two stories or more in height, a diagram, drawn to scale, shall be provided on the inside of the door to every unit showing the location of the exists from the floor on which the unit is located. Such diagram shall be made of a durable material and shall measure not less than eight inches high and ten inches long. (Added Coun. J. 5-4-94, p. 49750)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-890 Obstructing safety clearances.

15-4-890 Obstructing safety clearances. Spaces required as safety clearances shall be maintained free of obstruction and encumbrance by any combustible material. (Prior code § 90-87)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-900 Arrangement of stocks and stores.

15-4-900 Arrangement of stocks and stores. Stocks of all kinds shall be so arranged and maintained as not to obstruct any required means of exit and shall in no case extend above a level one foot and six inches below the ceiling of any sprinklered space. (Prior code § 90-88)