STREETS, CURBS AND SIDEWALKS (10-20-500 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 10, ch. 10-20, art. V

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-500 Curb alignment.

10-20-500 Curb alignment. The curb on each side of the street in each block shall be aligned to a uniform distance from the centerline of the vehicular roadway in said block. There shall be no variation from the established curblines in existing streets, except at street intersections where such deviation may be authorized by ordinance when necessary to remove traffic hazards, and in streets which are redesigned as "culs-de-sac" (short dead-end-streets with vehicular turning areas at their ends). (Prior code § 33-13.1; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 26)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-505 Construction specifications.

10-20-505 Construction specifications. Except where sidewalks are to be laid in accordance with the provisions of special assessment or special taxation ordinances, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, lay or rebuild any sidewalk on any portion of the public ways of the city otherwise than in compliance with specifications that the commissioner of transportation shall promulgate and prescribe in regulations. Each day that such sidewalk shall remain so constructed, laid or rebuilt in violation of such specifications shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (Prior code § 33-24; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 41)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-510 Nonstandard surface material.

10-20-510 Nonstandard surface material. (a) No part of the top or wearing surface of any sidewalk in any public way in the city shall be composed of any nonstandard surface. Provided, however, that the commissioner of transportation may approve the use of a non-standard surface on such sidewalk if the adjacent property owner files with the commissioner of transportation proof of commercial general liability insurance against any liability, loss or claim arising by reason or on account of any defect in the construction or design of a sidewalk incorporating a nonstandard surface, or by reason or on account of the failure to maintain said sidewalk in good condition and repair. Such insurance shall: (1) be issued by an insurer authorized to insure in Illinois, (2) be in an amount no less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage, (3) name the City of Chicago, its officers, employees and agents as additional insured on a primary, noncontributory basis for any liability arising directly or indirectly from the permittee's operations, (4) provide for written notice to the commissioner of transportation within 30 days of any lapse, cancellation or change in coverage by the adjacent property owner or any grantee, successor, assigns or subsequent owner of the property, and (5) be kept in force as long as said sidewalk shall exist in the form described in this section. If at any time while said sidewalk exists in this form such insurance shall not be in full force and effect, the authority and privileges herein granted shall thereupon cease. (b) In addition to the requirements stated above, and apart from and separate from any insurance requirement under this section, as a condition for permitting the installation of a non-standard sidewalk, the applicant, the adjacent property owner, or any grantee, successor, assignee or subsequent owner shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the city against all liabilities, judgments, costs, damages and expenses which may in any way come against said city by reason or on account of such construction or of any defect in the construction of said sidewalk or by reason or on account of the failure to maintain said sidewalk in good condition and repair; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be held to apply to any nonstandard surface approved by the commissioner of transportation. The commissioner of transportation in his or her discretion may require, instead of such insurance, any alternative form of indemnity, protection or security that the commissioner deems necessary to accomplish the above-described purposes. (c) In addition to, and apart from and separate from, the requirements stated above, the initial grantee, and the initial grantee's successors, assignee or subsequent owner of the right to install a non-standard sidewalk surface shall maintain the sidewalk in good condition and repair. (d) The initial grantee, and the initial grantee's successors, assignee or subsequent owner of the right to install a non-standard sidewalk surface shall inform the commissioner of transportation within 30 days of any transfer of the property adjacent to the non-standard sidewalk and shall further inform the commissioner of the name and contact information of the initial grantee's successor. (e) The initial grantee, and the initial grantee's successors, assignee or subsequent owner of the right to install a non-standard sidewalk surface shall inform, in writing with a copy to the commissioner of transportation, the purchaser of the property of the obligation to maintain and insure the nonstandard sidewalk consistent with the provisions of this section. (f) Any nonstandard surface as part of the top or wearing surface of any sidewalk in any public way authorized pursuant to this section shall not require the issuance of a public way use permit pursuant to Section 10-28-010. (Prior code § 33-37; Amend Coun. J. 5-4-94, p. 49718; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 43; Amend Coun. J. 1-13-10, p. 83228, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VI, § 33; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. II, § 33)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-515 Nameplates.

10-20-515 Nameplates. Before the top or finishing of concrete walks has set, the contractor or person building the walk shall place in such walk in front of each lot or parcel of property a stamp or plate giving the name and address of the contractor or person building the walk and the year in which the work was done. The top of said plate or stamp, which must not cover more than 54 square inches of surface, shall be flush and even with the top of the finished walk, and must be of a permanent character plainly stamped or firmly bedded in the concrete in such a manner that it cannot become loose or be easily removed or defaced. Wherever one contractor or person has laid walks in front of three or more adjoining lots or parcels of property in one continuous stretch, one of the above named stamps placed in the walk at each end of said stretch of walk will be sufficient. (Prior code § 33-38; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 44)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-520 Sidewalk line.

10-20-520 Sidewalk line. All walks, except full-width walks, shall be laid on a line one foot from the parallel with the lot line, unless otherwise ordered by special ordinance; provided however, that no ordinance for special sidewalk line shall be passed that does not cause uniform alignment of sidewalks on both sides of the street for a distance of not less than 1,200 lineal feet; provided, further, that where a definite sidewalk line is established in a block by cement sidewalks laid prior to the twenty-third day of March, 1904, such line established by the walks already laid shall be followed for the remainder of the block. (Prior code § 33-39; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 45)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-525 Curbing.

10-20-525 Curbing. Except as provided in the provisions of this chapter relating to sidewalk ramps, wherever it is necessary to construct curbing or monolithic curb and sidewalk, such construction shall be in compliance with applicable regulations. (Prior code § 33-40; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 46)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-530 Width of sidewalk.

10-20-530 Width of sidewalk. The space between the street (lot) line and curb line to be reserved for sidewalks shall be of the width herein specified, unless a different width has been, or shall be, fixed by ordinance of the city council. On all streets which are 100 feet in width and upward, 20 feet; on streets 80 feet and less than 100 feet in width, 16 feet; on streets 66 feet and less than 80 feet in width, 14 feet; on streets 60 feet and less than 66 feet in width, 12 feet; on streets 50 feet and less than 60 feet in width, ten feet; on streets 40 feet and less than 50 feet in width, six feet, and on streets 30 feet and less than 40 feet in width, four feet. The widths herein specified shall be measured from the street (lot) line to the face of the curb nearest the roadway. No person shall extend or build any sidewalk beyond the established width of the sidewalk space; and on all streets where open spaces are allowed for planting trees or for grass plots, the same shall not be covered with plank or other material, except such parts and portions of said space as may be allowed to be used for coal vaults or in front of business houses; provided, however, that sidewalks not to exceed two feet in width may be constructed adjoining the curb to permit access to and from vehicles. (Prior code § 33-41; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 47)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-535 Level of sidewalk.

10-20-535 Level of sidewalk. No part of any sidewalk or sidewalk space shall be taken for private use by lowering or cutting down the same next to the building, or railing off the same by any wooden or iron railing, or by shutting off the public from using the same; and said sidewalk shall not be raised next to the building by constructing a platform of wood, iron, concrete or stone, but said sidewalk shall be built flush up to the building on a uniform grade as herein provided. (Prior code § 33-42; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 48)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-540 Grade.

10-20-540 Grade. The grade for sidewalks shall be established by ordinance of the city council, and a record of the same, accessible to the public, shall be kept on file in the department of transportation. No person shall build or assist in building any sidewalk where no grade has been established by ordinance, or contrary to any grade which may have been or may be established by ordinance, or contrary to any of the provisions of this section. Every day that he shall fail to remove or reconstruct any sidewalk which does not conform to established grade after notice by the commissioner of transportation shall constitute a separate offense. All sidewalks heretofore constructed that do not conform to the grade established by ordinance shall be relaid to the proper grade by the owner of the abutting property. Each day he shall fail to relay or reconstruct such sidewalk after notice by the commissioner of transportation shall constitute a separate offense. No part or portion of any sidewalk, where the grade has been established, shall be laid or relaid at any different grade or any other level than the adjacent portions of such sidewalk, except as provided in the provisions of this chapter relating to driveways and sidewalk ramps. The person violating this provision shall alter said sidewalk so as to make the same conform to the established grade, and in case he neglects and refuses so to do within a reasonable time it shall be lawful for the department of transportation to alter the same, and the cost and expense of the same shall be paid by such owner and may be recovered from him in an action in the name of the city. (Prior code § 33-43; Amend Coun. J. 5-4-94, p. 49718; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 49)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-545 Sidewalk ramps.

10-20-545 Sidewalk ramps. In order to eliminate the barrier that curbs pose to people with disabilities, all new curbs and sidewalks, and all existing curbs or sidewalks which are a part of any new construction or reconstruction at the intersections of sidewalks and streets, sidewalks and alleys, and at other points of major pedestrian flow, shall comply with the following requirement: A ramp with nonslip surface shall be constructed so that the sidewalk and alley, or the sidewalk and street, blend to a common level. Such ramp shall not be less than 36 inches wide and shall not have a slope greater than one inch rise per 12 inches in length. Wherever, because of surrounding buildings or other restrictions, it is impossible to conform the slope with this requirement, the ramp shall contain a slope with as shallow a rise as possible under the circumstances, except however the slope may not exceed a one and one- half inch rise per 12 inches in length. Standard details for placement and construction of the ramped sidewalks shall be established by the commissioner of transportation. No person shall construct, build, establish or maintain any ramped sidewalk without otherwise complying with the licensing and permitting requirements of this chapter. (Prior code § 33-43.1; Amend Coun. J. 5-4-94, p. 49718; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 50; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VII, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-550 Slope.

10-20-550 Slope. All sidewalks shall be so constructed, except as provided in the provisions of this chapter relating to sidewalk ramps, that when completed the top surface shall coincide with the grade of the space between the curblines and the curblines towards the street line, with a rise of one inch in every three feet. (Prior code § 33-44; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 51)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 10-20-555 Violation - Penalty.

10-20-555 Violation - Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter or applicable regulations on sidewalk construction shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. (Prior code § 33-46; Amend Coun. J. 1-14-97, p. 37762, § 53)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2650943Fetched: 10/24/2026