CORPORATE SEAL AND EMBLEMS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 1, ch. 1-8

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-010 Corporate seal authorized - Description.

1-8-010 Corporate seal authorized - Description. The seal provided and authorized for the city shall be an obverse side with a diameter of two and three- eighths inches, the impression of which is a representation of a shield (American) gules, argent and azure (in red, white, and blue); with a sheaf of wheat in fess-point (center), or (in gold); a ship in full sail on dexter (as right side supporter) proper; on top an infant proper, in a shell argent (in silver); an Indian chief with a bow and arrow proper, on sinister (as left side supporter) standing on a promontory, vert (in green); with the motto, "Urbs in Horto", or, on scroll, gules (in gold on red flowing ribbon) at bottom of the shield; with the inscription, "CITY OF CHICAGO; INCORPORATED 4TH MARCH, 1837", or (in gold), within an azure (blue) ring around the outer edge of said seal, which seal represented as aforesaid and used with or without colors shall be and is hereby corrected, established, declared to have been, and now to be, the seal of the city. For general use, the plain impression in white containing the figures as given above, as shown herewith, shall be sufficient. [image omitted; see the official code] (Prior code § 2-1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-020 Design of flag, emblems and badges.

1-8-020 Design of flag, emblems and badges. The forms, devices, symbols and colors in this chapter described and set forth, respectively, for the purpose mentioned, shall be and they are hereby adopted for the municipal flag, the municipal standard, the municipal pennant, the municipal device, and the municipal badge of the city. (Prior code § 2-2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-030 Municipal flag - Design requirements.

1-8-030 Municipal flag - Design requirements. The municipal flag shall be white, with two blue bars, each taking up a sixth of its space, and set a little less than one-sixth of the way from the top and bottom of the flag, respectively. There shall be four bright red stars with sharp points, six in number, set side by side, close together, next to the staff in the middle third of the surface of the flag. The said red stars on the municipal flag shall be designated from the hoist outwards as follows: Fort Dearborn; The Great Chicago Fire of October 8 – 10, 1871; The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893; The Century of Progress of 1933. The proportions of the municipal flag and standard shall be preferably two in height to three in breadth, or three in height to five in breadth, in banners to be borne by hand, and as one to two in flags to be flown from masts and staffs, or in any of the dimensions officially prescribed for the national ensign by the government of the United States. When suspended from windows or over a street, the municipal flag may be pointed or notched. The municipal standard shall be made of silk, and be fringed with gold. (Prior code § 2-3)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-040 Municipal flag - Display.

1-8-040 Municipal flag - Display. The municipal flag shall be displayed on the City Hall, and on other municipal buildings and other public places, on all holidays and other occasions when the national flag is ordered to be displayed. Provided, always, however, that such municipal flag shall never be displayed in any position that shall indicate superiority to or precedence over the flag of the United States. Every public building owned by the city shall be equipped with a flagpole mounted on the outside thereof. (Prior code § 2-4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-041 Municipal flag - Display upon line of duty death of an Illinois serviceperson.

1-8-041 Municipal flag - Display upon line of duty death of an Illinois serviceperson. This ordinance shall be known as the Pfc. Daniel Zizumbo Memorial Act. Upon loss of life in the line of duty of any Illinoisan serving in a branch of the national armed forces or in the Illinois National Guard, all municipal flags on display at City Hall, other municipal buildings, and public places shall be hung at half-staff or half-mast from the day of death or notification of the death until the day of interment. (Added Coun. J. 3-14-07, p. 99100, § 2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-050 Pennant.

1-8-050 Pennant. The municipal pennant shall be a long streamer showing the three stars on white at the staff, the fly being equally divided, blue and white. The municipal pennant shall be in the proportions of two in width to 15 in length, or two in width to 20 in length. (Prior code § 2-5)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-060 Badge.

1-8-060 Badge. The municipal badge shall show on a silver ground three red stars with sharp points, six in number, between two blue bars. (Prior code § 2-6)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-070 Municipal device - City vehicle identification.

1-8-070 Municipal device - City vehicle identification. The municipal device, for use by the varied unofficial interests of the city and its people, shall show a Y-shaped figure in a circle, colored and designed to suit individual tastes and needs. All automobiles and other vehicles which are owned by the city, except those used by the commissioner of police, and the detective bureau of the department of police, shall be distinctly marked as the property of the city by painting or placing thereon in a conspicuous place, in such a manner that the same cannot be removed, the municipal device, together with the words "City of Chicago", and the name of the department operating the said automobile or other vehicle. (Prior code § 2-7)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-080 Manufacture and custody of flags and badges.

1-8-080 Manufacture and custody of flags and badges. The Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management shall cause to be made, in accordance with the design fixed in this chapter, such number of flags as the Commissioner may deem proper and necessary, and of suitable size, for use on City Hall and other buildings and structures owned by the City. The City Clerk shall be the custodian of the corporate seal and of the municipal flag, standard and badge, drawn to scale. (Prior code § 2-8; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. III, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-19, p. 11390, Art. III, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. I, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-090 Private use of flags and emblems unlawful.

1-8-090 Private use of flags and emblems unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person to use the municipal flag, standard, pennant, or badge, or any imitation or design thereof, except for the usual and customary purposes of decoration or display. No person shall print or stamp thereon or cause to be displayed thereon any letter, word, legend or device not herein provided for. Any person violating this section shall be fined not less than $5.00 nor more than $25.00 for each offense. (Prior code § 2-9)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-100 Private use of seal unlawful.

1-8-100 Private use of seal unlawful. No person shall fraudulently forge, deface, corrupt, or counterfeit the seal of the city, nor shall any person, other than the duly authorized public official, make use of said seal. Any person violating the provision of this section shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense. (Prior code § 2-10)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 1-8-110 Commemoration of city founder.

1-8-110 Commemoration of city founder. In conjunction with annual celebrations of its date of incorporation, the City of Chicago shall commemorate and promote public awareness of the life and accomplishments of its founder, Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable. (Added Coun. J. 3-1-06, p. 71696, § 2)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2595547Fetched: 10/24/2026