SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 9, ch. 9-72

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-005 Definitions.

9-72-005 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter only, the following: definitions apply: "Executive director" means the executive director of the office of emergency management and communications. "Operate" or "operation" means to have custody or physical control over a vehicle. "Operator" means any person who has custody or physical control of a vehicle. (Added Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 93351, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3026, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-010 Load restrictions in downtown district.

9-72-010 Load restrictions in downtown district. (a) No operator of a bus or vehicle designed and used for pulling or carrying freight or merchandise shall operate such vehicle in the district bounded on the north by the south line of Lake Street, on the east by the east line of Wabash Avenue, on the south by the north line of Congress Street and on the west by the east line of Franklin Street, unless the operator has deliveries or pick-ups of materials or persons to make in the district. (b) No operator of a vehicle designed and used for pulling or carrying freight or merchandise whose length, including load, is in excess of 33 feet shall operate such vehicle for the purpose of delivering or picking up freight or merchandise in the district bounded on the east by the west line of Michigan Avenue, on the south by the south line of Harrison Street, on the west by the east line of Halsted Street, and on the north by the south line of Chicago Avenue during the hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except on Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that such vehicles may enter the district for the express purpose of making deliveries or pick-ups at loading platforms or docks located wholly within areas not dedicated as public ways and arranged so that the vehicles do not obstruct movement of vehicular traffic on any public way. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3026, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-020 Operation of vehicles restricted.

9-72-020 Operation of vehicles restricted. It shall be unlawful to operate any vehicle upon any boulevard (a) when such vehicle is used for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise for commercial purposes, (b) when such vehicle is designed primarily for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise, and (c) when such vehicle is used for carrying freight or other goods and merchandise on the outside of the vehicle; provided, however, that vehicles carrying freight or other goods from or to any building or premises abutting any boulevard where it is impossible from the location of the building or the character of the freight or other goods to be received or delivered, to receive or deliver the freight or other goods and merchandise from an alley or a side street or a street other than the boulevard, shall be permitted to enter the boulevard at the cross street nearest the building or premises to receive or deliver the freight or other goods, but shall not proceed further on the boulevard than the nearest cross street. Operators of emergency vehicles and such vehicles excepted by permits issued by the executive director are exempt from provisions of this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, it shall not be unlawful to operate any of the vehicles described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) on those portions of Interstate Route 55, and the exit and entrance ramps thereto, which lie between the King Drive Interchange and the north and southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive and the most easterly lane of northbound Lake Shore Drive and the most westerly lane of southbound Lake Shore Drive and the exit and entrance ramps of Lake Shore Drive which lie between Interstate Route 55 and 31st Street; provided that such vehicles are traveling to or from the McCormick Place complex and its support facilities. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 11-28-90, p. 26192; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 93351, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-030 Designation of streets with size and weight limitations.

9-72-030 Designation of streets with size and weight limitations. (a) The executive director is authorized, subject to the approval of the city council, to determine and designate those streets or parts of streets upon which the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles shall be prohibited or upon which the operation of such vehicles shall be restricted by imposing limitations as to the weight of such vehicles, and he shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on such streets or parts of streets giving notice thereof. (b) Whenever official signs are erected prohibiting the operation on any street or part of a street by trucks or other commercial vehicles or imposing weight and size limitations upon such vehicles operating on street, no person shall operate a truck or other commercial vehicle in violation of any such signs except for the purpose of delivering or picking up materials or merchandise and then only by entering such street at the intersection nearest the destination of the vehicle and proceeding thereon no farther than the nearest intersection thereafter. The word "load" when used on official signs erected by authority of this section shall mean the gross weight of the vehicle and its load, if any. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 93351, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3026, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-035 Designation of special routes.

9-72-035 Designation of special routes. Weight limitations computed under subsection (g) of Section 15-111 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, which allows local governments to adopt vehicle weight limitations similar to those imposed by the State of Illinois on portions of streets and highways under local jurisdiction, shall be authorized on arterial streets and industrial access routes designated by the executive director. The executive director shall publish a list or map of designated arterial streets and industrial access routes. (Added Coun. J. 5-4-94, p. 49884; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-98, p. 78566, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 93351, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-040 Maximum width of vehicles.

9-72-040 Maximum width of vehicles. The maximum width of any vehicle and its load shall not exceed eight feet, except that vehicles designed and used for carrying more than seven persons may be eight feet, eight inches in width; provided, however, that required mirrors may project up to six inches beyond each side of a vehicle, and such projection shall not be deemed a violation of the above width restrictions. The width restrictions of this section are subject to the special permit provisions of this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-98, p. 78566, § 6)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-050 Maximum height of vehicles.

9-72-050 Maximum height of vehicles. The height of a vehicle from the underside of the tire to the top of the vehicle, inclusive of load, shall not exceed 13 feet, six inches. The height restrictions of this section are subject to the special permit provisions of this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-98, p. 78566, § 6)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-060 Maximum length of vehicles.

9-72-060 Maximum length of vehicles. (a) No single vehicle, unladen or with load, shall exceed a length of 42 feet extreme overall dimension. (b) No combination of truck tractor and semi- trailer, unladen or with load, shall exceed a length of 55 feet extreme overall dimension. A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one trailer, and a truck in-transit may draw three trucks in-transit coupled together by the triple saddle mount method, and no such combination, unladen or with load, shall exceed a length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension except that such combination when specially designed to transport motor vehicles may have a length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension. (c) No other combination of vehicles coupled together shall consist of more than two vehicles, and no such combination of vehicles, unladen or with load, shall exceed a length of 55 feet extreme overall dimension. (d) Length limitations shall not apply (1) to a vehicle operated in the daytime when transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of a structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered or (2) to a vehicle transporting such objects operated at nighttime by a public utility when required for emergency repair of public service facilities or properties or when operated under special permit as provided in this chapter; provided, however, that during authorized night transportation the vehicle shall be equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on each side and marker lamps upon the extreme ends of any projecting load to mark clearly the dimensions of such load. (e) The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not extend more than three feet beyond the front wheels of such vehicle or the front bumper of such vehicle if it is equipped with such a bumper. (f) The length restrictions of this section are subject to the special permit provisions of this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-98, p. 78566, § 6)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-070 Special permits.

9-72-070 Special permits. (a) (1) The executive director may, upon application in writing and good cause being shown, issue a special permit authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles not in conformity with the size regulations of this chapter or the wheel and axle load and gross weight provisions of Section 15-111 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, to be operated upon any street or highway under the jurisdiction of the city. The fees for permits under this section shall be as provided in Table 9-72-070. All fee payments under this section shall be deposited in an account to be used only for maintenance, repair and upgrading of streets and highways within the city designated under Section 9-72-035. (2) The executive director may, upon application in writing and good cause being shown, issue a special annual permit authorizing a vehicle or combination of vehicles not in conformity with the size regulations of this chapter or the wheel and axle load and gross weight provisions of Section 15-111 of the Illinois Vehicle Code to operate in the following designated industrial truck corridor: Calumet Industrial Corridor Heavy Truck Route. 103rd Street, from Stony Island Avenue to Torrence Avenue; Stony Island Avenue, from 103rd Street to 122nd Street; 122nd Street, from Stony Island Avenue to Torrence Avenue; Torrence Avenue, from 103rd Street to 130th Street; 106th Street, from Torrence Avenue to Burley Avenue; Doty Avenue, from 103rd Street to 130th Street; Burley Avenue, from 106th Street to 126th Place; 116th Street, from Burley Avenue to Avenue O; Avenue O, from 106th Street to 126th Place; Brainard Avenue, from 130th Street to 138th Street; 130th Street, from Indiana Avenue to Brainard Avenue; 127th Street, from Halsted Street to Indiana Avenue; Halsted Street, from 127th Street to 130th Street; 122nd Street, from Carondolet Avenue to Avenue O; Carondolet Avenue, from 122nd Street to 126th Place. The permit shall authorize the operation of a vehicle, whose total gross weight is equal to or less than 160,000 pounds, within the designated industrial truck corridor for the purpose of delivery or pick up of materials. The operation of any vehicle within the designated truck corridor whose: (i) total gross weight is greater than 160,000 pounds; or (ii) operation is for purposes other than for delivery or pick up of materials or merchandise within the designated industrial truck corridor shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (a)(1) of this section. The annual fee shall be $100.00. The annual permit period shall begin on January 1st and end on December 31st of each year. All fee payments under this subsection shall be deposited in an account to be used only for maintenance, repair and upgrading of streets and highways within the city designated under Section 9-72-035. (b) The application for any permit shall specifically describe the vehicle or vehicles and load to be operated and the particular streets or highways for which the permit to operate is requested, and whether such permit is requested for a single trip or for continuous operation. (c) The executive director is authorized to withhold such permit or, if such permit is issued, to limit the number of trips, to establish seasonal or other time limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated on the streets or highways indicated, to require appropriate escort vehicles for the vehicle subject to the permit, or otherwise to prescribe conditions of operation of such vehicle or vehicles, when such action, in the judgment of the executive director, is necessary to assure against undue damage to the road foundations, surfaces or structures. (d) (1) The executive director shall not issue any permit unless the applicant has furnished proof of commercial automobile liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, combined single limit, for bodily injury and property damage that may result from the granting of the permit or that may arise from or on account of any work done thereunder. (2) Apart from and separate from any insurance requirement under this section, the applicant shall indemnify, defend and hold the City of Chicago and its assignees and employees harmless from all losses, damages, injuries, claims, demands and expenses arising from the granting of the permit or that may arise from or on account of any work done thereunder. As a condition of the permit the grantee shall: (i) assume all responsibility for any injury to persons or damage to public or private property; (ii) indemnify, defend and hold the city harmless from all suits, claims, damages, or proceeding of any kind for injury to persons or damage to public or private property caused, in whole or part, by the operation of the vehicle in violation of any term or condition of the permit; and (iii) restore at his own cost, to a condition satisfactory to the executive director, any pavement, subway, tunnel, sewer, pipe, conduits, public utility, or any other public property that may be injured by reason of the operation of the vehicle under such permit. (e) Every permit issued under this section shall be carried in the vehicle to which it refers and shall be produced for inspection upon request by any police officer or any other authorized agent of the city. If a permit is not produced upon request, the person operating the vehicle shall be deemed as operating the vehicle and its load without a permit in violation of this section. (f) It shall be unlawful for any person issued a permit under this section, or any employee or agent of such person, to violate any of the terms or conditions of the permit. The penalty for any such violation shall be a fine of $500.00. Penalties for any violation of this section shall be in addition to any penalties imposed for the violation of any other section of this chapter. Table 9-72-070 Special Permit Fees Single Vehicle Vehicle Weight | Single Trip | Monthly Permit Table 9-72-070 Special Permit Fees Single Vehicle Vehicle Weight | Single Trip | Monthly Permit 80,000 pounds or less, operated on streets and highways other than routes designated under Section 9-72-035 | $50.00 | $500.00 More than 80,000 pounds but less than 100,000 pounds: | | – citywide | | 5 miles or less | $50.00 | $750.00 over 5 miles | $75.00 | $1,125.00 100,000 pounds or more: | | – citywide | | 5 miles or less | $100.00 | $1,500.00 over 5 miles | $150.00 | $2,250.00 Fees listed above are per vehicle. An applicant who owns or leases a fleet of 20 or more vehicles may obtain a monthly fleet permit, authorizing the operation of all the vehicles in the fleet in accordance with Section 9-72-070, subject to all the conditions of Section 9-72-070. The fee for a fleet permit shall be 80 percent of the combined monthly permit fees for individual vehicles in the fleet. The fee for an annual permit issued under subsection (a)(2) shall be as set forth in that subsection. Beginning June 1, 2016 and every year thereafter, the fees set forth in this section shall be adjusted upwards, if applicable, by applying to the previous year's fees 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. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 5-4-94, p. 49884; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-98, p. 78566, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.4; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 93351, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3026, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VI, § 21; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. VI, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. II, § 21)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-080 Weight limitations - Violation - Penalties.

9-72-080 Weight limitations - Violation - Penalties. (a) Except as specifically allowed by statute or other ordinance, no operator shall permit to remain on any public way within the city any motor vehicle whose gross weight exceeds the limits described in Section 15-111 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, 65 ILCS 5/15-111. The weight limitations and formulae contained in Section 15-111 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, 65 ILCS 5/15-111, are hereby incorporated by reference for purposes of calculating permissible weights under this section. (b) Any person who refuses or fails to stop and submit his or her vehicle and load after being directed to do so by an authorized agent of the city, or who removes or causes the removal of any portion of the load prior to weighing, shall be fined not less than $500.00 and not more than $2,000.00. (c) Any person who violates the weight limitations imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a fine according to the following schedule: Pounds Overweight | Amount of Fine Pounds Overweight | Amount of Fine 2,000 or less | $73.00 2,001 through 2,500 | $166.00 2,501 through 3,000 | $200.00 3,001 through 3,500 | $303.00 3,501 through 4,000 | $347.00 4,001 through 4,500 | $484.00 4,501 through 5,000 | $538.00 5,001 through 5,500 | $924.00 5,501 through 6,000 | $1,007.00 6,001 through 6,500 | $1,090.00 6,501 through 7,000 | $1,173.00 7,001 through 7,500 | $1,256.00 7,501 through 8,000 | $1,335.00 8,001 through 8,500 | $1,418.00 8,501 through 9,000 | $1,501.00 9,001 through 9,500 | $1,584.00 9,501 through 10,000 | $1,667.00 10,001 through 10,500 | $1,746.00 10,501 through 11,000 | $1,833.00 11,001 through 11,500 | $1,916.00 11,501 through 12,000 | $1,995.00 12,001 through 12,500 | $2,078.00 12,501 through 13,000 | $2,161.00 13,001 through 13,500 | $2,224.00 13,501 through 14,000 | $2,327.00 14,001 through 14,500 | $2,410.00 14,501 through 15,000 | $2,493.00 15,001 through 15,500 | $2,576.00 15,501 through 16,000 | $2,655.00 16,001 through 16,500 | $2,738.00 16,501 through 17,000 | $2,821.00 17,001 through 17,500 | $2,904.00 17,501 through 18,000 | $2,987.00 18,001 through 18,500 | $3,070.00 18,501 through 19,000 | $3,153.00 19,001 through 19,500 | $3,236.00 19,501 through 20,000 | $3,315.00 20,001 through 20,500 | $3,398.00 20,501 through 21,000 | $3,481.00 21,001 through 21,500 | $3,564.00 21,501 through 22,000 | $3,647.00 22,001 through 22,500 | $3,730.00 22,501 through 23,000 | $3,813.00 23,001 through 23,500 | $3,896.00 23,501 through 24,000 | $3,975.00 more than 24,000 | for the first 24,000 pounds plus $75.00 for each additional increment of 500 pound overweight or fraction thereof, plus $4.00 for each $40.00, or fraction thereof, of the incremental amount. (d) Whenever any vehicle is found to be in violation of the provisions of this section, the owner and operator of the vehicle shall be jointly and severally liable for the violation. (e) Penalties for any violation of this section shall be in addition to any penalties imposed for the violation of any other section of this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 5-29-93, p. 32394; Amend Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.4; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3026, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-20-25, p. 38352, § 10)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-090 Deposits for compliance violations.

9-72-090 Deposits for compliance violations. (a) A person issued a notice for a violation of any weight limitations imposed by this chapter, or any term or condition of a permit issued under 9-72-070, shall, upon issuance of the citation, deposit with the city a bond in the form of a money order issued by a money transfer service company which has been approved by the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection in an amount equal to the minimum fine established for such violation. The money order shall be made payable to the City of Chicago Department of Finance. (b) In lieu of the money order deposit, the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection may promulgate rules and regulations to adopt standards for the acceptance of an individual recognizance bond, when from the totality of the circumstances, it is the opinion of the commissioner, or his or her designee, that the person issued the citation will appear for a hearing. Any individual recognizance bond shall include as a condition of the bond, the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. (c) As a condition of any bond permitted under subsection (b), the owner and operator of the truck shall indemnify and hold the city harmless from all suits, claims, damages, or proceedings of any kind for injury to persons or damage to public or private property caused, in whole or part, by the operation of the vehicle in violation of any weight limitations imposed by this chapter, or any term or condition of a permit issued under 9-72-070. (Added Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.4; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 5; Amend Coun, J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VI, § 22)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-100 Administrative hearings.

9-72-100 Administrative hearings. (a) Within 15 days after the issuance of any citation for a violation of any weight limitations imposed by this chapter, or any term or condition of a permit issued under 9-72-070, the owner or operator may file a written request for a hearing before the department of administrative hearings to challenge whether a violation has occurred. The hearing date must be scheduled no later than 30 days after the request for a hearing is filed. (b) If at the hearing, the administrative law officer determines that the owner or operator violated any weight limitations imposed by this chapter, or any term or condition of a permit issued under 9-72-070, the administrative law officer shall enter an order finding the owner and/or operator liable to the city for the amount of the administrative penalty prescribed for such violation. Any penalty imposed shall first be satisfied from the proceeds of the deposit required in Section 9-72-090. (c) If at the hearing, the administrative law officer determines that the owner or operator did not violate any weight limitations imposed by this chapter, or any term or condition of a permit issued under 9-72-070, the administrative law officer shall enter an order finding the owner and/or operator not liable to the city and order return of the proceeds of the deposit. (d) If the owner or operator fails to request a hearing in a timely manner, or requests a hearing but fails to appear at the hearing, the owner and operator shall be deemed to have waived his or her right to a hearing and if a money order deposit bond was deposited pursuant to Section 9-72-090, the funds so deposited shall be forfeited to the city, or if an individual recognizance bond was granted, the administrative law officer shall enter a order of default in an amount equal to the administrative fines prescribed for such violation. (e) An administrative penalty shall constitute a debt owing to the city which may be enforced pursuant to Section 2-14-103, or in any other manner provided by law. (f) Service of the citation on the operator of the truck shall constitute service of notice of the violation on the owner of the truck. (Added Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-72-110 Owner and operator liable.

9-72-110 Owner and operator liable. The owner and operator of the vehicle shall be jointly and severally liable for any claims, losses, expenses or damages incurred by the city for any injury to persons or damage to public or private property caused, in whole or in part, by the operation of the vehicle in violation of any weight limitations imposed by this chapter, or any term or condition of a permit issued under Section 9-72-070. (Added Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.4)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2646790Fetched: 10/24/2026