Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 17, ch. 17-16 — ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES | Municipal Code of Chicago (2026 S-74, current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026) — City of Chicago

Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-16-0100 Responsibility for enforcement.

17-16-0100 Responsibility for enforcement. It is the duty of the Zoning Administrator to enforce this Zoning Ordinance. (Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-16-0200 Violations.

17-16-0200 Violations. All buildings and land used, and all buildings and structures erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered, must comply with all applicable provisions of this Zoning Ordinance. Failure to comply with applicable provisions constitutes a violation of this Zoning Ordinance. Express violations include, but are not limited to the following: 17-16-0201 using land or buildings in any way not consistent with the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance; 17-16-0202 erecting a building or other structure in any way not consistent with the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance; 17-16-0203 engaging in the development of land in any way not consistent with the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance. 17-16-0204 installation or use of a sign in any way not consistent with the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance. 17-16-0205 engaging in the use of a building or land, the use or installation of a sign, or any other activity requiring one or more permits or approvals under this Zoning Ordinance without obtaining all such permits or approvals; 17-16-0206 failure to comply with any permit or approval granted under this Zoning Ordinance; 17-16-0207 failure to comply with any condition imposed on a permit or approval, specifically including conditions of approval of a planned development, special use, Site Plan, Development Plan, administrative adjustment or variation; 17-16-0208 obscuring, obstructing, removing or destroying any notice required to be posted or otherwise given under this Zoning Ordinance; 17-16-0209 failure to comply with any lawful order issued by the Zoning Administrator; 17-16-0210 disobeying, omitting, neglecting, or refusing to comply with or resist the enforcement of any of the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance; or 17-16-0211 failure to comply with landscaping standards of this Zoning Ordinance. (Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-16-0300 Liability.

17-16-0300 Liability. 17-16-0301 The property owner, tenant or occupant of any land or structure, or part thereof, or any design professional, builder, contractor, vendor, authorized agent or other person who participates in, assists, directs, creates or maintains any situation that is contrary to the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance is jointly and severally liable for the violation and subject to all available penalties and remedies. (Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-16-0400 Reserved. (Deleted Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-16-0500 Remedies and enforcement powers.

17-16-0500 Remedies and enforcement powers. 17-16-0501 Applicability. The City may use any lawful remedy or enforcement powers, expressly including those described in this section. 17-16-0502 Remedies Cumulative. The remedies and enforcement powers established in this Zoning Ordinance are cumulative, and the City may exercise them in any order. 17-16-0503 Withhold Permit. 17-16-0503-A City officials may deny or withhold all permits, certificates or other forms of authorization on any land or structure or improvements thereon upon which there is an uncorrected violation of a provision of this Zoning Ordinance or of a condition or qualification of a permit, certificate, approval or other authorization previously granted by the City. This provision applies regardless of whether the current property owner or applicant is responsible for the violation in question. 17-16-0503-B City officials may deny or withhold all permits, certificates or other forms of authorization on any land or structure or improvements owned or being developed by a person who owns, develops or otherwise causes an uncorrected violation of a provision of this Zoning Ordinance or of a condition or qualification of a permit, certificate, approval or other authorization previously granted by the City. This provision applies regardless of whether the property for which the permit or other approval is sought is the property in violation. For purposes of this section, a "person" is defined as any individual or business entity with more than a 20 percent interest in the subject property. 17-16-0504 Permits with Conditions. Instead of withholding, denying or revoking a permit or other authorization, City officials may grant such authorization subject to the condition that the violation be corrected by a specified time. City officials are also authorized to require adequate financial assurances that such correction will be made. 17-16-0505 Revoke Permit. 17-16-0505-A Any permit or other form of authorization required and issued under this Zoning Ordinance may be revoked when the Zoning Administrator determines that: 1. there is departure from the plans, specifications, or conditions required under terms of the permit; 2. the permit was procured by false representation or was issued by mistake; or 3. any of the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance are being violated. 17-16-0505-B Written notice of revocation must be served upon the property owner, the property owner's agent or contractor, or upon any person employed on the building or structure for which such permit was issued, or posted in a prominent location. Once notice of revocation is provided, all construction must stop. 17-16-0506 Stop Work. Whenever a structure or part thereof is being constructed, reconstructed, altered, or repaired, or other development is occurring, in violation of this Zoning Ordinance, the Zoning Administrator or Commissioner of Buildings may order the work to be immediately stopped. 17-16-0506-A The stop-work order must be in writing and directed to the person doing the work. 17-16-0506-B The stop-work order must state the specific work to be stopped, the specific reasons for the stoppage, and the conditions under which the work may be resumed. 17-16-0507 Forfeiture and Confiscation of Signs. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in compliance with the regulations of Chapter 17-15, will be subject to forfeiture to the public and confiscation. In addition to other remedies and penalties of this section, the city has the right to recover from the sign owner, or person who placed the sign, the full costs of sign removal and disposal. 17-16-0508 Injunctive Relief. The City may seek an injunction or other equitable relief in court to stop any violation of this Zoning Ordinance. 17-16-0509 Abatement. The City may seek a court order in the nature of mandamus, abatement, or other action or proceeding to abate or remove a violation or to otherwise restore the premises in question to the condition in which they existed before the violation. 17-16-0510 Remedial Action. Any person who violates this Zoning Ordinance by alteration or modification of a structure to increase the number of dwelling units or living spaces within the structure, or by allowing any such alteration or modification to continue or to be used, is required to remove all fixtures, electrical and plumbing connections, furnishings, partitions and non-load bearing walls used in the violation. Failure to remove any of the foregoing constitutes a separate violation. 17-16-0511 Penalties. Any violation of Section 17-12-0709 is subject to a fine in the same amount set forth in Section 13-20-520; except that if the violation is for failing to have a public way use permit, the fine shall be in the same amount set forth in Section 10-28-010(h). In all other cases where no specific fine or penalty is provided, any violation of this Zoning Ordinance is punishable by a civil penalty of not less than $500.00 and not more than $1,000.00. Each day such a violation or failure to comply exists after notice constitutes a separate and distinct offense. 17-16-0512 Other Remedies and Enforcement Powers. The City may seek such other remedies and use other enforcement powers, as allowed by law. (Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391; Amend Coun. J. 12-17-08, p. 51294, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-21, p. 42674, § 13)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-16-0600 Continuation of previous enforcement actions.

17-16-0600 Continuation of previous enforcement actions. Nothing in this Zoning Ordinance will be interpreted to prohibit the continuation of previous enforcement actions, undertaken by the city under previous, valid ordinances and laws. (Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)