Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-010 Licenses and permits.
15-24-010 Licenses and permits.
For licensing and permit requirements, see Chapter 15-4. For special exit requirements, see Chapter 13-112 of this Code.
(Prior code § 129.1-1)
GENERAL REGULATIONS (15-24-010 et seq.)
Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 15, ch. 15-24, art. I
in effectMunicipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-020 Definitions.
15-24-020 Definitions.
(a) "Closed container" means a container so sealed by means of a lid or other device that neither liquid nor vapor will escape from it at ordinary temperatures.
(b) "Container" means any can, bucket, barrel or drum intended for portable use.
(c) "Flashpoint of the liquid" means the minimum temperature at which it gives off vapor sufficient to form an ignitable mixture with the air near the surface of the liquid.
For a liquid which has a viscosity of less than 45 Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, does not contain suspended solids, and does not have a tendency to form a surface film while under test, the procedure specified in the Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by Tag Closed Tester (ASTM D-56-70) shall be used.
For a liquid which has a viscosity of 45 SUS or more at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or contains suspended solids, or has a tendency to form a surface film while under test, the Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by Pensky-Martens Closed Tester (ASTM D-93-71) shall be used, except that the methods specified in Note 1 to Section 1.1 of ASTM D-93-71 may be used for the respective materials specified in the Note.
For a liquid that is a mixture of compounds that have different volatilities and flashpoints, its flashpoint shall be determined by using the procedure specified in the above paragraphs on the liquid in the form it is shipped. If the flashpoint as determined by this test is 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, an additional flashpoint determination shall be run on a sample of the liquid evaporated to 90 percent of its original volume, and the lower value of the two tests shall be considered the flashpoint of the material.
(d) Flammable Liquids. All flammable liquids shall be divided into three classes according to flashpoint as follows:
Class I. Liquids with a vapor pressure less than 40 pounds per square inch absolute at 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a flashpoint below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, 38 degrees centigrade as determined by the herein-required test.
Class II. Liquids with a vapor pressure less than 40 pounds per square inch absolute at 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a flashpoint above that for Class I and below 140 degrees Fahrenheit, 60 degrees centigrade, as determined by the herein-required test.
Class III. Liquids with a flashpoint above that for Class II and below 200 degrees Fahrenheit, 93 degrees centigrade. Flammable liquids shall include but not be limited to:
Class I
Ether
Carbon bisulfide
Gasoline
Naphtha
Benzol
Collodion
Acetone
Ethyl alcohol
Amyl acetate
Toluol
Ethyl acetate
Methyl acetate
Amyl alcohol
Turpentine
Class II
Kerosene
Fuel Oil No. 1
Class III
Fuel Oil No. 2
Aniline
Creosole
Any fluid, manufactured liquid or fluid commodity, such as paint, varnish or lacquer, dryer or cleaning solution or polishing liquid which contains flammable liquid, shall be classed in accordance with this section according to the flashpoint of the mixture.
When artificially heated to temperatures equal to or higher than their flashpoints, Class II and III liquids shall be subject to the applicable provisions for Class I liquids. The provisions of this chapter for Class I flammable liquids shall be applied to high flashpoint liquids when heated to temperatures equal to or higher than their flashpoints even though these same liquids would be outside the scope of this chapter when they are not heated.
(e) "Process area" shall mean that location where flammable liquids are processed or stored as a part of current production.
(f) "Safety can" shall mean a container, not over five-gallon capacity, having a spring closing lid and spout cover, tested and approved by a recognized testing agency.
(g) "Anti-syphon valve" shall mean a valve designed to prevent the syphoning of liquid from a tank in the event of an interruption in the discharge pump or pump suction.
(Prior code § 129.1-2; Amend Coun. J. 5-2-95, p. 73)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-030 Warning signs.
15-24-030 Warning signs.
Every building or room or aboveground tank for the use or storage of flammable liquids, shall have the words "Flammable – Keep Fire Away" painted in a conspicuous position on the outside thereof, with letters plainly legible, bright red letters on a white background with letters not less than six inches high and with the principal strokes thereof not less than three-fourths inch in width.
(Prior code § 129.1-3)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-040 No smoking.
15-24-040 No smoking.
No person shall smoke in that part of any premises where flammable liquids are stored, handled or used.
(Prior code § 129.1-4)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-050 Unattended coin-operated dispensing devices.
15-24-050 Unattended coin-operated dispensing devices.
The installation and use of unattended coin- operated or self-service dispensing devices for Class I liquids is prohibited except as permitted by regulations issued by the commissioner of business affairs and consumer protection.
(Prior code § 129.1-4.1; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 5)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-060 Heating.
15-24-060 Heating.
Heating in rooms and buildings used for the storage and handling of Class I flammable liquids shall be by steam, hot water or approved electrical heaters installed in accordance with Title 14E. In such buildings, fire walls shall surround all boiler rooms, furnace rooms and other rooms containing exposed fire, electric dynamos, motors, switches or other spark-producing devices.
(Prior code § 129.1-5; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 52; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 22)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-070 Drains.
15-24-070 Drains.
There shall be no floor drains or other connections to the city sewer system from a tank or tank manhole or any room or compartment in which flammable liquids are stored or used, except where fuel oil is stored having a capacity of 550 gallons or less.
(Prior code § 129.1-5.1)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-080 Use for illumination prohibited.
15-24-080 Use for illumination prohibited.
No system of artificial lighting and no lamp, torch or other device for illumination, which employs any Class I flammable liquid shall be installed in any new or existing building.
(Prior code § 129.1-6)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-090 Portable appliances.
15-24-090 Portable appliances.
It shall be unlawful to use gasoline stoves, portable gasoline lamps, gravity gasoline torches, or stoves inside of any completed building in the city.
(Prior code § 129.1-7)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-100 Oily rags and waste.
15-24-100 Oily rags and waste.
For oily rags and waste disposal, see Section 15-4-960 of this Code.
(Prior code § 129.1-8; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 2841)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-110 Discharge into sewers.
15-24-110 Discharge into sewers.
For sewer discharge restrictions, see Title 14P.
(Prior code § 129.1-9; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 23)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-120 Workmen's clothes lockers.
15-24-120 Workmen's clothes lockers.
For workmen's clothes locker requirements, see Section 15-4-980 of the code.
(Prior code § 129.1-10)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-130 Grounding of equipment.
15-24-130 Grounding of equipment.
In a Group H occupancy, all moving equipment, metal floors and railings, pumps, motors and machinery used for explosive hazard materials shall be permanently and safely grounded to guard against static electricity sparks.
(Prior code § 129.1-11; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 24)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-140 Electrical equipment.
15-24-140 Electrical equipment.
Explosion-Proof Motors. When electric motors are required in any room containing explosive or flammable vapor or atmosphere, such motors shall be of types approved for use in hazardous locations, as required by Title 14E.
Other Motors. Any electrical motor, other than an explosion-proof motor, shall be located in a separate building, or separated by a standard fire wall from any Group H occupancy containing explosive or flammable vapor or atmosphere.
Switches and Control Devices. Every electric switch or other control device in any room required by the first paragraph to have explosion-proof motors, shall be of a type approved for use in the presence of explosive or flammable vapor or atmosphere.
(Prior code § 129.1-12; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 25)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-150 Open flame devices.
15-24-150 Open flame devices.
No open flame or fire, no torch or other open light, no forge, stove, furnace, oven, boiler or similar device in which heat is operated or used and no electrical or similar device producing an exposed spark shall be permitted in any hazardous use building or room containing explosive or flammable vapor or atmosphere.
(Prior code § 129.1-13)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-160 Exemption from safety clearances.
15-24-160 Exemption from safety clearances.
Any building, or group of buildings, used exclusively for the purpose of handling, distributing or storage of flammable liquids shall be exempt from the safety clearance requirements of this chapter with respect to any other building or structure, or storage tank within the same group and used for similar purposes, except as provided by Section 15-24-260 for clearance between tanks.
(Prior code § 129.1-13.1)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2678178Fetched: 10/24/2026