HELIPORTS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 4, ch. 4-83

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-010 Definitions.

4-83-010 Definitions. As used in this chapter: "ASCE/SEI" means the American Society of Civil Engineers/Structural Engineering Institute. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection or the commissioner's designee, unless otherwise explicitly stated in this chapter. "Department" means the department of business affairs and consumer protection, unless otherwise explicitly stated in this chapter. "Controlling person" means any person who: (1) is a sole proprietor or an officer, director, manager, managing member, partner, general partner or limited partner of an entity seeking or holding a license under this chapter; or (2) owns, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate ownership entities, 25 percent or more of the interest in an entity seeking or holding a license under this chapter. "Heliport" means an area on land or on water or upon a building or structure set aside and used for the landing or takeoff of helicopters or other rotary wing aircraft or tilt rotor aircraft capable of vertical takeoff or landing, including, but not limited to, any heliport, helistop or vertiport as defined in the Chicago Zoning Ordinance. "NFPA" means the National Fire Protection Association. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-020 License - Required.

4-83-020 License - Required. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in control of any property located within the city or for any other person to operate thereon any heliport without first having obtained a heliport license under this chapter. Provided, however, that this chapter shall not apply to any heliport that is (1) located on the property of Chicago O'Hare International Airport or Chicago Midway International Airport; or (2) owned or operated by the City of Chicago. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-030 License - Fee.

4-83-030 License - Fee. The fee for a heliport license shall be as set forth in Section 4-5-010. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-040 License - Application.

4-83-040 License - Application. An application for a license under this chapter shall be made in writing to the commissioner, on a form provided by the department, and shall be accompanied by the following information: (a) If the applicant is an individual: (1) the applicant's full name, residence address, business address, business e-mail address, business telephone number, cell phone number, date of birth and social security number; (2) proof that the applicant is at least 18 years of age; (b) If the applicant is a corporation: (1) the corporate name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of the applicant's principal office or place of business; (2) the date and state of incorporation; (3) the name, residence address, residence telephone number, date of birth and social security number of all controlling persons; (4) proof that all controlling persons are at least 18 years of age; (5) proof that the corporation is in good standing under the laws of the State of Illinois; (c) If the applicant is a partnership or limited liability company: (1) the name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of the applicant's principal office or place of business; (2) the name, residence address, residence telephone number, date of birth and social security number of all partners, if a general partnership; of all general and limited partners, if a limited partnership; of all managers, managing members and members, if a limited liability company; and of all controlling persons; (3) proof that all controlling persons are at least 18 years of age; (d) A copy of the determination of "no hazard to air navigation" issued by the Federal Aviation Administration in accordance with the requirements of Part 157 of Subchapter I of Chapter I of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, codified at 14 C.F.R. § 157.1, et al, or it successor regulation; (e) A copy of the Certificate of Approval issued by the Division of Aeronautics of the Illinois Department of Transportation in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Aeronautics Act, as amended, codified at 620 ILCS 5/1, et al.; (f) Proof of planned development review and approval in accordance with the requirements of Section 17-8-0502 of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance, Title 17 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, or its successor provision; (g) A certificate of commercial general liability insurance, as required under Section 4-83-070; (h) An indemnification agreement, as required under Section 4-83-080; (i) A description of the property used or intended for use as a heliport; (j) A diagram, drawn to scale, showing the intended routes of ingress to and egress from the heliport, including any emergency evacuation routes; (k) The date of birth and social security number of each natural person identified in the license application; (l) The license fee, as required under Section 4-83-030; and (m) Any other information that the commissioner may reasonably require. It is a condition of the license that all information in the license application be kept current. Any change in required information shall be reported to the commissioner, on a form provided by the department, no later than 10 business days after such change has occurred. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, § 99)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-050 Certification of application required - circumstances when license issuance prohibited.

4-83-050 Certification of application required - circumstances when license issuance prohibited. (a) Upon receipt of a completed application for a heliport license, the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection shall (1) notify the commissioner of aviation, the commissioner of buildings, the fire commissioner, the commissioner of planning and development and the corporation counsel of the fact that such application has been received; and (2) refer the application and all accompanying information required under Section 4-83-040 to the commissioner of aviation and to the corporation counsel for review. Upon completion of such review and consultation with the corporation counsel, the commissioner of aviation shall certify in writing whether the requirements set forth in Section 4-83-060 have been met. (b) No heliport license shall be issued under this chapter until the commissioner of aviation certifies that all of the requirements set forth in Section 4-83-060 have been met. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-13, p. 67481, Art. I, § 14)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-060 Federal and state approvals - Required.

4-83-060 Federal and state approvals - Required. No heliport license shall be issued under this chapter, and it shall be unlawful for any owner or person in control of any property located within the city or for any other person to operate a heliport thereon, unless all of the following requirements have been met: (a) A determination of "no hazard to air navigation" has been issued by the Federal Aviation Administration in accordance with the requirements of Part 157 of Subchapter I of Chapter I of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, codified at 14 C.F.R. § 157.1, et al., or its successor regulation; and (b) A Certificate of Approval has been issued by the Division of Aeronautics of the Illinois Department of Transportation in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Aeronautics Act, as amended, codified at 620 ILCS 5/1, et al.; and (c) A planned development review and approval has occurred in accordance with the requirements of Section 17-8-0502 of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance, Title 17 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, or its successor provision; and (d) Commercial general liability insurance has been obtained in accordance with the requirements of Section 4-83-070; and (e) An indemnification agreement has been executed in accordance with the requirements of Section 4-83-080. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-070 Insurance - Required.

4-83-070 Insurance - Required. (a) Any person who owns or operates any heliport within the city, other than a heliport owned or operated by a governmental entity, shall carry or cause to be carried commercial general liability insurance, with limits of not less than $5,000,000.00 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage, insuring against all liabilities, judgments, costs, damages and expenses which may accrue against, be charged to or be recovered from such owner or operator by reason of or on account of damage to the property of any person, and injury to or the death of any person arising in any way from use and occupancy of and operations at such heliport by such owner, operator or other person. The insurance required under this section shall (1) be issued by an insurer authorized to insure in the State of Illinois, (2) 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 (3) include a provision requiring 30 days' advance notice to the commissioner prior to cancellation or lapse of the policy. (b) Any person who owns or operates any heliport within the city shall be required at all times to keep on site at such heliport current and valid proof of insurance meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section. Upon request by any city inspector or authorized city official, such person shall make proof of insurance available for inspection by such inspector or city official. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 11951, Art. VI, § 17; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. II, § 13)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-080 Indemnification agreement - Required.

4-83-080 Indemnification agreement - Required. Each applicant for a heliport license shall agree, in writing, to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the City of Chicago for any loss that results, directly or indirectly, from the issuance or use of such license. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-090 License - Posting - Nontransferability.

4-83-090 License - Posting - Nontransferability. Each license issued under this chapter shall be posted in a conspicuous place near the entrance of the heliport. No transfer of ownership shall be allowed on any license issued under this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-100 Operations and maintenance - Unlawful acts.

4-83-100 Operations and maintenance - Unlawful acts. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use, or to attempt to use, or to cause or permit to be used, any property to land or take off any helicopter or other rotary wing aircraft in violation of subsection (a) of Section 10-36-380. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain a heliport (1) in an unsafe condition, or (2) in violation of any requirement of this Code or any state or federal law pertaining thereto or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder. (c) If a heliport is located upon a building, it shall be unlawful for any person to use such heliport or to allow or otherwise permit the use of such heliport or any area contiguous thereto to fuel, refuel or repair any helicopter or other rotary wing aircraft, except as may be provided by regulation for emergency conditions or for storage of aircraft parts, flammable liquids or other objects. (d) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any heliport in violation of NFPA 418: Standard for Heliports, 2011 edition, or its successor standard. (e) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any heliport in violation of ASCE/SEI 7-10: Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, 2010 edition, or its successor standard. (f) Except in an emergency, it shall be unlawful for any person operating any helicopter or other rotary wing aircraft to use or to attempt to use or to cause or permit to be used any heliport in violation of subsection (b) of Section 10-36-380. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-110 Joint and several liability.

4-83-110 Joint and several liability. The licensee and all controlling persons shall be jointly and severally liable for any violation of the requirements of this chapter. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-120 Inspections.

4-83-120 Inspections. The commissioner of aviation, the commissioner of buildings, the fire commissioner and their respective designees are authorized to conduct periodic inspections of any heliport for the purposes of determining compliance with the requirements of this chapter or any rule and regulation promulgated thereunder. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-130 Orders to cease operations.

4-83-130 Orders to cease operations. The commissioner of aviation, acting solely on his or her own volition or upon the recommendation of the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection, the commissioner of buildings, the fire commissioner or the commissioner of planning and development, may issue an order to cease operations at a heliport, if, after an investigation, the commissioner of aviation determines that such heliport is not being maintained or operated in compliance with the requirements of this chapter or is otherwise unsafe for use as a heliport. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-13, p. 67481, Art. I, § 14)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-140 License suspension or revocation - Authorized.

4-83-140 License suspension or revocation - Authorized. The violation of any provision of this chapter may result in license suspension or revocation in accordance with the requirements of Section 4-4-280. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-150 License revocation - Five year wait for new license.

4-83-150 License revocation - Five year wait for new license. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no person whose license is revoked for cause under this chapter shall be granted another heliport license, under the same or different name, for a period of five years from the date of revocation. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-160 Violation - Penalty.

4-83-160 Violation - Penalty. Any person violating any requirement of this chapter or any rule and regulation promulgated thereunder shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more than $5,000.00 for each offense. Each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-83-170 Rules and regulations.

4-83-170 Rules and regulations. The commissioner of aviation, in consultation with the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection, the commissioner of buildings, the fire commissioner, the commissioner of planning and development and the corporation counsel, is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary or appropriate to implement the requirements of this chapter, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations for the construction, maintenance or operation of heliports. Such duly promulgated rules and regulations shall be posted by the commissioner of aviation on the department of aviation's website. (Added Coun. J. 1-18-12, p. 19185, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-13, p. 67481, Art. I, § 14)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2632833Fetched: 10/24/2026