COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VESSELS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 4, ch. 4-250

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-010 Definitions.

4-250-010 Definitions. As used in this section: “Commercial Passenger Vessel” means any boat operated by an individual with a current United States Coast Guard issued Merchant Mariner Credential that carries passengers for hire, including but not limited to: charter, cruise, dinner, excursion, ferry, harbor tender, taxi, and tour boats. "Licensee" means any person licensed or required to be licensed under this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. II, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-020 License - Required.

4-250-020 License - Required. No person shall engage in the business of operating one or more commercial passenger vessels on any public or private property within the City without first having obtained a commercial passenger vessel license from the Commissioner. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. II, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-025 Qualifications for license.

4-250-025 Qualifications for license. (a) In order to qualify for a commercial passenger vessel license, whether upon initial application or upon application for renewal of a license: (1) an applicant shall make its application to the Department according to procedures set by the Commissioner; (2) an applicant shall be in compliance with all applicable City, County, State, and federal laws; (3) an applicant shall provide all reasonable information required for the issuance of the application as requested by the Commissioner, which shall include, but not be limited to, identifying information for all commercial passenger vessels the applicant operates, regular business contact information, emergency contact information, ownership information, and an affidavit or similar legal instrument attesting that the applicant, its vessels, and its pilots are currently and shall remain in compliance with all applicable State and federal laws; (4) an applicant, if applicable to its operations, shall secure legal authority to use City docks or to access City property; (5) with respect to any corporate or limited liability company applicant, the applicant shall be organized or qualified to do business under the laws of the State; (6) an applicant does not owe debt to the City as the term “debt” is defined in Section 4-4-150 of this Code; and (7) obtain commercial general liability insurance, with limits of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage arising in any way from the issuance of the license or activities conducted pursuant to the license. The policy of insurance required under this section shall: (i) be issued by an insurer authorized to insure in Illinois; (ii) name the City of Chicago as additional insured on a primary, noncontributory basis for any liability arising directly or indirectly from the licensee’s operations; and (iii) include a provision requiring 30 days’ advance notice to the commissioner prior to cancellation or lapse of the policy. The licensee shall maintain the insurance required under this subsection in full force and effect throughout the duration of the license period. Proof of insurance shall be kept on the licensed commercial passenger vessel, and, upon request by any authorized city official, shall be made available for inspection by such authorized city official. (b) It is a condition of the license that all information in the license application be kept current. An applicant shall notify the Department of any changes in information provided as part of its initial application or renewal application or changes to attestations the applicant made in its application or those which make the applicant no longer in compliance with this chapter with ten business days of the occurrence of such change. (Added Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. II, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-030 License - Fee.

4-250-030 License - Fee. The fee for an annual commercial passenger vessel license, and for any renewal of such license, shall be $600, regardless of the number or type of commercial passenger vessels the licensee operates. The license term shall be from May 1 of each year through April 30 of the following year. Requirements for issuance and renewals of such license shall be payment of the required fee and compliance with this chapter and any rules pertaining to commercial passenger vessels promulgated by the Department. Such license shall be in addition to any other license required by law. Provided, however, that any commercial passenger vessel licensee licensed under this chapter shall not be required to obtain a public place of amusement license under Article III of Chapter 4-156 of this Code. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 38; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. II, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-040 Duties.

4-250-040 Duties. Any licensee under this chapter who cancels a commercial passenger vessel excursion or event without proper cause shall refund to all customers the full amount of any funds advanced by such customers for such excursion or event. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-050 Penalty for violation.

4-250-050 Penalty for violation. (a) Any person who violates any requirement of this chapter or any rule promulgated thereunder shall be subject to a fine of not less than $250.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. In addition to such fine, any one or more of the following penalties may be imposed for any violation of this chapter or rule promulgated thereunder: (1) suspension or revocation of the commercial passenger vessel license; (2) restitution, and (3) injunctive or other equitable relief. (b) In addition to any fine or other penalty set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the commercial passenger vessel of any person who requires but has failed to obtain a commercial passenger vessel license under this chapter shall be subject to impoundment, at the commissioner's direction, if such commercial passenger vessel is used in unlicensed operation. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, § 129; Amend Coun. J. 12-19-25, p. 38125, Art. II, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-060 Enforcement.

4-250-060 Enforcement. This chapter shall be enforced by the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection. In addition, the commissioner of transportation, or his or her designee, may take all necessary steps, including the coordination of activities by other city departments and agencies, to ensure that provisions of the Municipal Code applicable to commercial passenger vessels are enforced. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-070 Rule-making authority.

4-250-070 Rule-making authority. The commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations applicable to public passenger vessels. Such rules and regulations shall be designed to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of passengers who embark on and disembark from commercial passenger vessels in the City of Chicago. Such rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) provisions applicable to the commercial passenger vehicle license required by this section, (ii) penalties, including impoundment, for unlicensed operation of a commercial passenger vessel, (iii) limitations on customer solicitation; and (iv) fines, not to exceed $750.00 per offense, for any violation of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. The commissioner shall give public notice of any proposed rule or regulation or amendment to any existing rule or regulation a minimum of 10 business days prior to its effective date in one or more newspapers of general circulation. Such public notice shall include information concerning where the rule or regulation can be reviewed and where comments may be directed. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-250-080 Commercial passenger vessels - Responsibility for auditing and use agreements.

4-250-080 Commercial passenger vessels - Responsibility for auditing and use agreements. Upon a referral by the commissioner of transportation, the department of finance shall conduct audits to ensure that taxes, fees and other accounts payable by commercial passenger vessel operators to the city are collected in a timely fashion. Notwithstanding any provision of the Municipal Code to the contrary, the department of transportation may, subject to approval of the city council, negotiate and enter into one or more agreements for the use and occupancy of the city-owned real estate along any waterway if such real estate is used exclusively for the purpose of conducting a commercial passenger vessel business. Any agreement entered into in accordance with this section shall be pursuant to a request for proposal. The commissioner of transportation may promulgate and enforce rules or regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section. (Added Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 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/0-0-0-2636216Fetched: 10/24/2026