COST RECOVERY - LIABILITY FOR COSTS OF PROVIDING SERVICES

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 1, ch. 1-20

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-010 Definitions.

1-20-010 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter: The word "costs" includes all costs of the city incurred in relation to the provision of services by the city or its agents, regardless of whether the city would have otherwise incurred those costs, including but not limited to wages and benefits of personnel involved in providing such services, reasonable costs of equipment used in the provision of such services, costs of materials expended in providing such services, costs of storing hazardous or any other materials recovered during the course of providing such services, or any other costs allocable to the provision of services. (Added Coun. J. 12-5-90, p. 27507; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32564, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2) Editor's note – Formerly § 8-28-010.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-020 Liability designated - Collection.

1-20-020 Liability designated - Collection. Any person who causes the City or its agents to incur costs in order to provide services reasonably related to such person’s violation of any federal, state or local law, or such person’s failure to correct conditions which violate any federal, state or local law when such person was under a legal duty to do so, shall be liable to the City for those costs. This section’s references to “federal, state or local law” encompass, but are not limited to, codified and common law. This liability shall be collectible in the same manner as any other personal liability. (Added Coun. J. 12-5-90, p. 27507; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32564, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-16-24, p. 22879, Art. IV, § 1) Editor's note – Formerly § 8-28-020.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-030 Liability of employer.

1-20-030 Liability of employer. In any case in which a person is liable for costs pursuant to this chapter, and such liability arises as a result of that person's actions within the scope of his employment by any other person, such other person shall also be liable for such costs. (Added Coun. J. 12-5-90, p. 27507; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32564, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2) Editor's note – Formerly § 8-28-030.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-040 Defenses to violation of law.

1-20-040 Defenses to violation of law. In an action brought under this chapter where the city has issued a written notice of a violation, it shall be a defense that: the defendant undertook reasonable efforts to remedy the existing violation of law within the time prescribed in the city's notice, or if no time is prescribed in the city's notice, a reasonable period of time. (Added Coun. J. 12-5-90, p. 27507; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32564, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2) Editor's note – Formerly § 8-28-040.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-050 Billing - Rules and regulations.

1-20-050 Billing - Rules and regulations. City departments that provide services may promulgate rules and regulations to determine the method of calculating costs recoverable under this chapter, and for billing persons for charges under this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 12-5-90, p. 27507; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32564, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2) Editor's note – Formerly § 8-28-050.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-060 Recovery of court cost and attorney's fees.

1-20-060 Recovery of court cost and attorney's fees. In any action brought under this chapter, the City of Chicago shall also be entitled to recover a penalty in an amount equal to the city's litigation and collection costs and attorney's fees. (Added Coun. J. 12-5-90, p. 27507; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32564, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2) Editor's note – Formerly § 8-28-060.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-070 Remedies not exclusive.

1-20-070 Remedies not exclusive. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impair any cause of action or legal remedy. (Added Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-080 Continuation of prior ordinances.

1-20-080 Continuation of prior ordinances. A provision of this chapter, insofar as it is the same or substantially the same as those of any prior ordinance, shall be construed as a continuation of such prior ordinance and not as a new or different ordinance. (Added Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-20-090 Failure to pay debt due and owing the city.

1-20-090 Failure to pay debt due and owing the city. (a) The failure to pay any debt due the city, including, but not limited to, amounts owed on account of a fee, lease, rent, service, sale of real or personal property, overpayment, administrative or judicial judgment, fine, penalty, restitution, damages, interest, tax, reimbursement, recovery of a cost incurred by the city or other source of indebtedness to the city, after the period granted for payment has expired by any person liable for such debt shall constitute a violation of this Code. Judgment shall be entered against any person who violates this section in the amount of the debt remaining unpaid on the date the judgment is entered plus litigation and collection costs, attorney's fees and an amount representing all fines and penalties assessed pursuant to this section. An administrative penalty of .75 percent of the amount of debt remaining unpaid on the date the judgment is entered shall be assessed for each month or portion thereof in which the debt remained unpaid. (b) In addition to any other means authorized by law, the city may enforce this section by instituting an action with the department of administrative hearings. (c) Nothing in this section shall preclude the city from seeking to collect any debt due the city through the use of any other administrative procedure or court proceeding authorized by law. (Added Coun. J. 12-15-99, p. 21529, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28443, § 3) Editor's note – Formerly § 8-4-355.

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2595688Fetched: 10/24/2026