Permits (13-20-550 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 13, ch. 13-20, art. XIII, pt. C

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-550 Permits required.

13-20-550 Permits required. (a) Unless a valid permit has been obtained from the Department of Buildings, it shall be unlawful for any person: (1) to own, maintain, erect, install, alter, repair or enlarge any sign, City digital sign, or associated sign structure covered by the provisions of this article; (2) to commence to erect, install, alter, repair or enlarge any sign, City digital sign, or associated sign structure covered by the provisions of this article; (3) to cause any sign, City digital sign, or associated sign structure covered by the provisions of this article to be erected, installed, altered, repaired or enlarged; (4) to change a sign from a static image display sign to a dynamic image display sign (or vice versa); or (5) to change from an on-premise sign to an off-premise sign (or vice versa). (b) (1) It shall be the duty of every owner of any real property on which a sign is located to ensure that each sign maintained on the owner's property has a valid permit under this section and, if applicable, under Section 13-20-555, and is otherwise in compliance with this Article. It shall be a violation of this section for the owner of any real property to have or to permit to remain on such property any sign which does not have a valid or required permit(s). (2) It shall be the duty of every lessee of any real property on which a sign is located to ensure that each sign erected or maintained by such lessee on the leased property has a valid permit under this section and, if applicable, under Section 13-20-555, and is otherwise in compliance with this Article. It shall be a violation of this section for the lessee of any real property to have or to permit to remain on such property any sign which does not have a valid or required permit(s). (3) It shall be the duty of every person or entity who offers advertisement space on any sign to ensure that such sign has a valid permit under this section and, if applicable, under Section 13-20-555, and is otherwise in compliance with this Article. It shall be a violation of this section for any person or entity to offer advertisement space on any sign which does not have a valid or required permit(s). (4) It shall be the duty of every person or entity who advertises on a sign to ensure that each sign on which they advertise has a valid permit under this section and, if applicable, under Section 13-20-555, and is otherwise in compliance with this Article. It shall be a violation of this section for any person or entity to advertise on any sign which does not have a valid or required permit(s). (5) It shall be the duty of every general contractor and electrical contractor who works on a sign to ensure that each sign on which they work has a valid permit under this section and, if applicable, under Section 13-20-555, and is otherwise in compliance with this Article. It shall be a violation of this section for any general contractor or electrical contractor to work on any sign which does not have a valid or required permit(s). (c) The owner of the real property, lessee of the real property, person or entity who offers advertisement space, person or entity who advertises, the general contractor and the electrical contractor shall be jointly and severally liable for any violation of this section. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a sign permit is not required to erect, maintain, install, alter, repair or enlarge (i) a fast-track on-premise ground level interior window sign as defined in Section 4-4-100 of this Code, or (ii) an on-premise sign that is: (1) constructed wholly from paper, fabric, vinyl, or similar materials and attached to a window for no more than 60 days; or (2) painted directly onto the window or made of plastic film or similar material and fully adhered to the window by means of adhesive or static cling for any duration provided that the total area of all such signs in a single window does not exceed 25% of the glazing area of that window. Lettering that is painted directly onto the glass of a window and less than 2 inches in height will not be counted in the calculation of the 25% if it is an on- premises sign. For purposes of this subsection, a glazed panel in a door shall be treated as a window. The signs authorized by this subsection (d) shall not be counted in the calculation of the total sign area restrictions imposed by Section 17-12-1003. (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a sign permit is not required to erect, maintain, install, alter, repair or enlarge an art mural that contains no commercial message, as defined in Section 17-17-0236, in the mural itself. If the mural meets the definition of the term "graffiti" in Section 7-28-065(c), it may be registered pursuant to Section 7-28-065. Any art mural that contains a commercial message, as defined in Section 17-17-0236, in the mural itself shall be subject to the provisions of this Code regarding sign permits, provided however that the artist or a partner entity may acknowledge the name of sponsors or partners of the art mural in a single, written, acknowledgement panel, not to exceed two square feet in area, adjoining the bottom edge of the art mural. Such acknowledgement panel shall not be classified as a commercial message, and is therefore exempt from zoning regulation as provided in Section 17-12-0504 of the Code. This subsection does not allow more than one acknowledgment panel in a single art mural or in adjacent art murals located on the same lot. Furthermore, any commercial message, as defined in Section 17-17-0236, that is physically outside of the mural shall be subject to the provisions of this Code regarding sign permits. (f) Signage contained in a signage matrix approved by the City Council within a planned development in which the primary use is a sports stadium or an exhibition or convention center does not require a separate sign permit but shall be subject to the general building permit requirements of Chapter 14A-4, as applicable. (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a sign permit is not required to erect, maintain, install, alter, repair or enlarge a sign that is inside a building and is legible only from the lot on which it is located and is not legible from the public way or adjoining lot. (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a sign permit is not required to erect, maintain, install, alter, repair or enlarge any official sign, public notice sign or warning sign required by law or order of a court of competent jurisdiction. (i) Signage which is exempt from zoning regulation pursuant to Section 17-12-0500 and temporary signage complying with Section 17-12-0804 does not require a separate sign permit but shall be subject to the general building permit requirements of Chapter 14A-4, as applicable. (j) As used in this section, "sign permit" shall mean any type of approval required under Article XIII of Chapter 13-20. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 15814, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. III, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-17-08, p. 51294, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-13-10, p. 83228, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 16; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 10-31-18, p. 87776, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 1-23-19, p. 94952, Art. I, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 1-23-19, p. 94977, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-19, p. 11390, Art. IX, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180, Art. IV, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 7-19-23, p. 1992, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-17-26, p. 45214, Art. IV, § 5)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-555 Public way use permits - Required.

13-20-555 Public way use permits - Required. In addition to any permit required by this Article, a public way use permit is required under Section 10-28-010 for any sign which is on, above or over the public way, excluding a city digital sign. For purposes of this section, the term "sign" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 13-20-510 and shall also include the sign structure, sign mounting device(s), exterior sign illumination lighting, sign monitoring cameras and any other apparatus attached to or relating to the sign. If, in addition to the permit required under Section 13-20-550, a public way use permit is also required to erect alter, repair or maintain a sign, as defined herein, and such public way use permit has not been obtained or renewed in a timely manner, the Commissioner may revoke the permit issued under Section 13-20-550 in accordance with Section 13-20-645. If a general contractor or registered electrical contractor ("contractor") installs, alters, erects, or repairs a sign, as defined herein, without first having obtained any required public way use permit for such sign, the Commissioner may: (1) suspend such contractor's permit privileges, in accordance with Section 14A-3-304, until such time that the contractor comes into compliance with this section and Section 10-28-010, at which time the contractor's permit privileges may be reinstated by the Commissioner in accordance with Section 14A-3-304.4; or (2) suspend or revoke such contractor's license, registration or certification, as applicable, in accordance with Section 14A-3-305. (Added Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 13; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180, Art. IV, § 7)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-560 Permit application.

13-20-560 Permit application. (a) (1) For all permits issued after May 19, 2012, applications for permits to erect, install or alter signs shall be made by the owner or lessee of the real property on which the sign will be located. The application shall be signed by the applicant who shall be the owner or lessee of the real property. If the sign application requires engineered drawings pursuant to section 14E-6-600.28, then the sign must be installed and erected by or under the direction of a general contractor duly licensed in the City of Chicago and the application shall contain the name and license number of the general contractor that will perform or direct the installation and erection of the sign. If the sign is a dynamic image display sign or a static sign which has direct or indirect lighting, the application shall also be signed by a licensed electrical contractor. All such applications shall be made in a form prescribed by the Building Commissioner. For every permit application for a dynamic image display sign submitted on or after April 2, 2014, or for any application for a renewal of such permit, the applicant shall also attach the affidavit required in section 13-20-675(d)(2). (2) Any substantial change in information that is different from the information provided in the application for a permit to erect, install or alter any sign shall be reported to the Commissioner within 10 days of such change, including any change in: (i) the permittee of any permit issued on or before May 19, 2012, or (ii) the owner or lessee of the real property identified in any permit issued after May 19, 2012, or (iii) the name or contact information of the payer of record for a permit. Such change of information shall be submitted to the Commissioner in a form prescribed by the Commissioner in rules. For purposes of this subsection (a)(2), the term "substantial change in information" shall not include any alteration of a sign or sign structure, as defined in Section 13-20-510, which requires a new permit to be obtained for such sign or sign structure. (3) (A) If the Building Commissioner determines that an application or any supporting documentation required for a permit under Section 13-20-550 is incomplete or otherwise deficient, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant or the applicant's agent of such fact in writing. Such notification, which shall be dated, shall explain why the application or supporting documentation is deficient. No further processing of the application shall occur until the deficiencies identified in the notification are corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected within 120 days of the date indicated on the face of the notification, the application shall be deemed, by operation of law, to have been withdrawn. Provided, however, that upon receipt of a written request from the applicant, and for good cause shown, the Building Commissioner may extend, to a date certain, the period to cure the deficiencies identified in the notification required under this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, the terms "in writing" and "notification" shall include any electronic communication or notation in the City's electronic permit application and plan review systems that are available for viewing by the applicant or the applicant's agent. (B) If an applicant disagrees with the Building Commissioner's determination that the application or any supporting document is deficient under this Code, the applicant may file a written petition with the Commissioner to contest the deficiency. The Commissioner may promulgate rules establishing the process for contesting a deficiency. (C) No application for a new sign permit shall be accepted or otherwise processed by the Department of Buildings if any person, including but not limited to any sign company, holds a current and valid sign permit for an existing sign at the location identified in the permit application. (b) Except as provided in section 13-20-565(a), a non-refundable review fee equal to one-half of the permit fee shall be paid at the time the application is submitted. If the permit is issued, the review fee shall be deducted from the amount of the permit fee due. (c) It shall be unlawful for any person to make a false statement of material fact to the City in any sign permit application or supporting document or on any change of information form submitted in connection with any permit. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, such violation may result in revocation of such permit in accordance with Section 13-20-645 and the imposition of other penalties under Chapter 1-21 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-14, p. 98037, § 21; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 17; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 10; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 15)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-565 Permits - Term.

13-20-565 Permits - Term. (a) Any permit required under Section 13-20-550 may be revoked by the Commissioner under Section 13-20-645 under any of the following circumstances: (1) erection or alteration of a sign or sign structure without a valid permit in violation of Section 13-20-550; or (2) erection or alteration of a sign or sign structure contrary to the permit in violation of Section 13-20-590; or (3) abandonment of the sign or sign structure within the meaning of Sections 13-20-760 or 13-96-041; or (4) failure to obtain a public way use permit or to renew a public way use permit as required under Sections 10-28-010 or 13-20-555; or (5) loss of nonconforming status of the sign or sign structure pursuant to Chapter 17-15 of this Code; or (6) failure to display the permit number(s) on or adjacent to an on-premise or off-premise sign in violation of Section 13-20-620; or (7) making a false statement of material fact on a permit application or any supporting document or on a change of information form in violation of Section 13-20-560(c). (b) Any permit that is voluntarily reported as abandoned pursuant to Section 13-96-041(b) of this Code may be revoked by the Commissioner without any further notice or action. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing a change or alteration in a sign without a permit pursuant to Section 13-20-550. (d) For purposes of this section, the term "alteration" shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 13-20-510. (Added Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 11)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-570 Drawings.

13-20-570 Drawings. All required drawings shall comply with Sections 14E-6-600.27 and 14E-6-600.28. Engineered drawings shall bear the architects or engineers name, address, and business telephone number. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 15)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-580 Limitations.

13-20-580 Limitations. Sign permits shall be subject to the limitations in Section 14A-4-413. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 16)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-590 Construction contrary to permit.

13-20-590 Construction contrary to permit. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter, maintain or repair any sign, signboard or sign structure or to illuminate any sign, signboard or sign structure contrary to the approved permit. Any such erection, alteration, maintenance or repair shall invalidate the permit. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-22-17, p. 43876, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. IV, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74459, Art. V, § 6)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-600 Suspension of permit privileges.

13-20-600 Suspension of permit privileges. The commissioner of buildings may suspend the ability of any person licensed, registered or certified, or required to be licensed, registered or certified under this Chapter to submit new applications or complete pending applications for a building permit or other permit issued by the department of buildings for cause as provided in Section 14A-3-304. (Added Coun. J. 2-22-17, p. 43876, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 17) Editor's note – Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 5, repealed former § 13-20-600, which pertained to permit violation penalties.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-601 Unlawful transfer or use of registration or license.

13-20-601 Unlawful transfer or use of registration or license. (a) No registered electrical contractor or general contractor shall allow their name or registration or license number to be used on any permit application for a sign or sign structure, unless such electrical contractor or general contractor is performing or directing the work which the permit application states that such person will perform or direct. (b) No registered electrical contractor named in a permit application for a sign or sign structure shall subcontract or assign any portion of the described electrical work to any other person. (c) Any registered electrical contractor or general contractor who violates this section may have their permit privileges suspended in accordance with Section 14A-3-304. In addition, such contractor's registration or license may be suspended or revoked in accordance with Section 14A-3-305. (d) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a violation of this section may result in revocation of the sign permit in accordance with Section 13-20-645. (Added Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 18)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-605 Suspension or revocation of license, registration or certification.

13-20-605 Suspension or revocation of license, registration or certification. The commissioner of buildings may suspend or revoke the license, registration or certification of any person licensed, registered or certified under this Chapter as provided in Section 14A-3-305. (Added Coun. J. 2-22-17, p. 43876, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 19)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-610 Display of permits.

13-20-610 Display of permits. All permits authorizing the installation of a sign or obstruction of the public way shall be displayed in a conspicuous location at the installation site during any period that such installation takes place. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-620 Display of permit numbers for off-premise signs.

13-20-620 Display of permit numbers for off-premise signs. (a) (1) The permit number shall be permanently displayed on or adjacent to all off-premise signs for which a permit has been issued by the Building Commissioner pursuant to Title 13 or Title 14A of this Code. If a sign has or is required to have a public way use permit, the current public way use permit number shall also be permanently displayed on such sign in accordance with this section. Any letters and numerals of such display shall be readily visible and conspicuous from the public way. The size, location of the permit number relative to the off-premise sign, and other characteristics of such display may be set forth in rules promulgated by the Building Commissioner. This section shall apply to all off-premise signs either now in existence or hereafter constructed. Any person who violates this subsection (a)(1) shall be subject to the fines set forth in Section 14A-3-302.1 and the permit may be revoked under Section 13-20-645. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person to display a false or incomplete permit number on any off-premise sign. Any person who violates this subsection (a)(2) shall be subject to fines set forth in Section 14A-3-302.1 and the permit may be revoked under Section 13-20-645. (b) For purposes of this section, the term "off- premise sign" shall have the definition set forth in Title 17 of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. III, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 13; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 20) Editor's note – Coun. J. 6-4-03, p. 2220, § 1, repealed a former § 13-20-620, which pertained to subsequent reinspection fees. Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. III, § 2, and Art. IX, § 4, establish the effective date of Section 13-20-620 as June 1, 2009.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-625 Additional penalties for continued use of a sign without a permit or where the sign permit has been rescinded or revoked.

13-20-625 Additional penalties for continued use of a sign without a permit or where the sign permit has been rescinded or revoked. In addition to any other penalty, sanction or remedy provided by law, the following additional penalties shall apply for continued use of a sign or sign structure without a permit or in cases where the permit for a sign or sign structure has been rescinded or revoked (for purposes of this section, an "illegal sign" or "illegal sign structure"): (a) No building permit, other than a permit to remove the illegal sign or illegal sign structure, may be issued for a building or lot on which the illegal sign or illegal sign structure is located until such illegal sign or illegal sign structure is removed. Provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to: (1) any permit issued by the Department of Buildings for emergency repairs as determined by the Building Commissioner, or (2) any permit issued by the Department of Buildings if the Building Commissioner determines that immediate issuance of the applicable license or permit is necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare, or is otherwise necessary to comply with mandatory state or federal laws that preempt the City's home rule authority, and all other applicable requirements for issuance of such license or permit have been met. (b) No zoning permit, variance or approval may be issued for a building or lot on which the illegal sign or illegal sign structure is located until such sign and sign structure is removed. (c) No business license may be issued for a building or lot on which the illegal sign or illegal sign structure is located until such sign and sign structure is removed. (Added Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 14)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-630 Permit rescission.

13-20-630 Permit rescission. The Commissioner shall have the power, pursuant to procedures set forth in Section 13-20-645 of this Code, to rescind any sign permit required by this Article that was erroneously approved by any City department as part of the application review process and subsequently issued by the Department of Buildings based on such erroneous approval. (Added Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 15) Editor's note – Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17167, § 33, repealed a former § 13-20-630, which pertained to sign plan examination fees.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-640 Permit revocation - Signs and sign elements.

13-20-640 Permit revocation - Signs and sign elements. The Building Commissioner may, pursuant to procedures established in Section 13-20-645, revoke the permit for any sign or sign element constructed, altered, erected or maintained in violation of this chapter or Article I of Chapter 13-96 of this Code. The permit for any sign element that is voluntarily reported as abandoned, pursuant to Section 13-96-041(b), may be revoked by the Commissioner without any further notice or action. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 16)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 13-20-645 Procedure for revocation or rescission of a permit.

13-20-645 Procedure for revocation or rescission of a permit. The procedures for revoking or rescinding a sign permit shall be established by rules promulgated by the Commissioner pursuant to Sections 14A-1-104.4 and 14A-4-413.8. (Added Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 17; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 21)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2658450Fetched: 10/24/2026