CARRIERS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS (15-24-990 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 15, ch. 15-24, art. X

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-990 Definitions.

15-24-990 Definitions. (a) Tank Truck. Any motor vehicle used for the transportation of flammable liquids and which for such purpose is provided with a tank or tanks mounted on the frame or chassis of such vehicle. (b) Tank Trailer. Any vehicle without its own motive power but drawn by a motor vehicle, used for the transportation of flammable liquids and which for such purpose is provided with a tank or tanks mounted thereon. (c) Tank Semitrailer. A vehicle of the tank trailer type so designed and used in conjunction with a motor vehicle that when in use a part of its own weight and load is supported by the motor vehicle. (d) Fuel Tank. The tank designed to contain only the fuel to be used by the engine of the truck upon which it is mounted. (Prior code § 129.1-90)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1000 General condition of carriers.

15-24-1000 General condition of carriers. Tank trucks, tank trailers and tank semitrailers shall not be operated unless they are in good repair, clean and free of leaks. (Prior code § 129.1-91)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1010 Wheels and tires.

15-24-1010 Wheels and tires. Tank trucks, tank trailers and semitrailers shall be equipped with rubber tires. Tank trucks and tank trailers shall be operated on not less than four wheels. Tank trailers shall have a fifth wheel or equivalent device to prevent dangerous swerving from the path of the towing vehicle. Tank semitrailers shall be operated on not less than two wheels. (Prior code § 129.1-92)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1020 Brakes.

15-24-1020 Brakes. Every trailer or semitrailer shall be equipped with a reliable system of brakes and adequate provision shall be made for its efficient operation from the driver's seat of the vehicle drawing such trailer or semitrailer. (Prior code § 129.1-93)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1030 Grounding.

15-24-1030 Grounding. Tank, chassis, axles and springs shall be electrically interconnected for static electricity control. In addition, adequate provisions shall be made for bonding the container being filled to the tank, chassis, axles and springs. (Prior code § 129.1-94)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1040 Lighting.

15-24-1040 Lighting. Tank trucks, tank trailers and semitrailers shall be equipped with artificial lighting, conforming to the requirements of the state regulations. Lighting circuits shall have suitable over-current protection such as fuses or automatic circuit breakers. The wiring shall be of ample carrying capacity and mechanical strength and shall be substantially secured, insulated and protected against damage. No lighting other than electric lighting shall be permitted on any tank truck, tank trailer or tank semitrailer. Every tank trailer and tank semitrailer shall be provided with side lights and a taillight or lights. (Prior code § 129.1-95)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1050 Fire extinguishers.

15-24-1050 Fire extinguishers. Each tank truck, tank trailer and semitrailer shall be equipped and maintained with at least one hand fire extinguisher of a type suitable for extinguishing flammable liquid fires. Fire extinguishers shall be kept in good operating condition at all times and shall be located in an accessible place on such tank vehicles. (Prior code § 129.1-96)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1060 Exhaust systems.

15-24-1060 Exhaust systems. The exhaust system, including muffler and exhaust line, shall have not less than 12 inches clearance from the fuel system and any combustible material, and shall not be exposed to accumulations of grease or oil, nor to leakage of fuel from faults in the fuel system or from careless filling of fuel tanks. No muffler cutouts shall be permitted. (Prior code § 129.1-97)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1070 Warning signs.

15-24-1070 Warning signs. Every tank motor vehicle used for the transportation of flammable liquids shall have the word "FLAMMABLE" displayed in English on both sides and rear of the tank in letters not less than five inches high by at least a one-inch stroke, and on the front bumper in letters not less than four inches high by at least a one-inch stroke, each on a background of sharply contrasting color, except that the lettering on vehicles used exclusively for local distribution need not exceed five inches in height by at least a three-fourths inch stroke. (Prior code § 129.1-98)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1080 DOT approved trucks.

15-24-1080 DOT approved trucks. Any tank truck, tank trailer or semitrailer constructed in accordance with the Department of Transportation regulations shall be deemed to be in compliance with the regulations given in Section 15-24-1090 of this Code. (Prior code § 129.1-98.1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1090 Tanks.

15-24-1090 Tanks. Tanks other than the fuel tanks of tank trucks shall comply with the following provisions: (a) Material, Capacity and Gauge. Except as hereinafter provided, tanks shall be constructed throughout of open hearth or blue annealed steel, of a thickness and gauge in accordance with the provisions of the following table: Aggregate Capacity (Gallons) | Shell U.S. Standard Gauge | Head U.S. Standard Gauge Up to 600 | 14 | 14 if bilged or corrugated, otherwise 12 601 to 1,200 | 12 | 12 if bilged or corrugated, otherwise 10 Over 1,200 | 10 | 8 Tanks exceeding 1,200 gallons in capacity may be constructed with 12-gauge shells and 10-gauge heads; provided, however, that they are subdivided into compartments of 600 gallons or less capacity, and are mounted on chassis equipped with low-pressure balloon pneumatic tires. Other metals of equivalent strength to the gauge of open hearth or blue annealed steel required by the above table may be used in lieu of open hearth or blue annealed steel. (b) Joints. Shell and head joints shall be welded, riveted and welded, brazed or riveted and brazed, riveted and caulked or made tight by some equally effective process. (c) Test. Each tank or compartment shall be tested and proven tight at a pressure of five pounds or more to the square inch. (d) Tank Outlets. Outlets shall be substantially made and attached so as to prevent breakage at the outlets and shall be attached so as to permit complete drainage. (e) Bulkheads. Tanks with compartments carrying liquids of different classes shall be provided with an air space between compartments. Such air space shall be maintained with drainage facilities. (f) Compartments Required. Tanks for flammable liquids of Class I as specified in Section 15-24-020 in excess of 2,500 gallons each. This requirement shall not apply to tanks for transportation in bulk between cities; provided, however, that such tanks shall not be used for distribution within the city limits. (g) Attachment of Tanks. Tanks shall be adequately supported and shall be securely bolted or clamped to the frame of the vehicle. (h) Vents. Each compartment shall be equipped with a vacuum and pressure operating vent with a minimum effective opening of forty-four hundredths square inches. Each compartment carrying Class I flammable liquids, as specified in Section 15-24-020, shall be provided with a vent equivalent in free opening to that provided by a circular hole one and twenty-nine thirty-seconds inches in diameter. If such vent incorporates a fusible element, the fusing temperature of such element shall not exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit. (i) Draw-off Valves. All draw-off valves or faucets shall have threaded or equally effective connection for fill pipe hose. Such valves or faucets shall be adequately guarded against damage by collision. (j) Emergency Discharge Control. Each compartment of a gravity discharge tank used for the transportation of Class I flammable liquids shall be equipped with a reliable shutoff valve located inside the shell of the tank in the compartment outlet; and, except during delivery operations, such valves shall be kept closed. The operating mechanism for such valves shall be provided with a secondary control, remote from the tank-filling parts and discharge faucets, for use in event of accidents or fire during delivery operations and such control mechanism shall be provided with a fusible section which will cause the valves to close automatically in case of fire. In every case there shall be provided, between the shutoff valve seat and discharge faucet, a shear section which will break under strain, unless the discharge piping is so arranged as to afford the same protection and leave the shutoff valve seat intact. (Prior code § 129.1-99)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1100 Fuel tanks.

15-24-1100 Fuel tanks. The main fuel tank shall not be placed over or adjacent to the engine. Tanks shall be arranged to vent during filling operations and to permit draining without syphonage or removal from their mounting. (Prior code § 129.1-100)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1110 Loading and unloading racks.

15-24-1110 Loading and unloading racks. Tank vehicle loading and unloading racks dispensing Class I liquids hereafter erected shall be separated from structures by a clear distance of not less than 25 feet, measured from the nearest portion of any fill stem. In preordinance and existing installations, tank vehicle loading and unloading racks dispensing Class I flammable liquids shall be separated from lot lines on which buildings may be built by a clear distance of not less than 25 feet, measured from the nearest portion of any fill stem. (Prior code § 129.1-101)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1120 Static electricity protection.

15-24-1120 Static electricity protection. Static electricity protection shall be provided for flammable liquid transfer. Protection shall consist of metallic bonding cables between vehicle and filling stem. Drag chain shall not meet this requirement. (Prior code § 129.1-102)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1130 Drivers or attendants.

15-24-1130 Drivers or attendants. The driver, operator or attendant of any tank vehicle shall not leave the vehicle while it is being filled or discharged. Smoking by truck drivers, helpers or attendants shall not be permitted while driving such vehicles, while filling or discharging any tank or compartment or while making any repairs to such vehicles. Motors of tank trucks shall be shut down during making and breaking of hose connections. If loading or unloading is done without the use of a power pump on the truck, the truck motor shall be shut down throughout such operations. No tank or compartment shall be loaded to a volume in excess of 99 and one- fourth percent of its capacity. (Prior code § 129.1-103)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1140 Inspections.

15-24-1140 Inspections. It shall be the duty of the owner of every vehicle used for the transportation of flammable liquids to cause such vehicle, including any tank mounted on such vehicle's frame or chassis, to be inspected. The vehicle shall be inspected semiannually before January 1st and July 1st of each year, and the vehicle's tank or tanks shall be inspected annually, for the purpose of ascertaining whether such vehicle and its tank or tanks are in the safe condition and repair as required under this chapter. The owner of such vehicle shall file with the fire commissioner on January 1st and July 1st of each year in the case of trucks, and on July 1st of each year in the case of tanks, a report in writing by an agency approved by the fire commissioner certifying that such vehicle and tanks have been inspected and found to be in compliance with all of the structural and safety requirements provided for in this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any such vehicle for which a report has not been filed for any current annual or semiannual period. Whenever any vehicle used to transport flammable liquids is involved in an accident, the owner thereof shall cause such vehicle to be reinspected following such accident. (Prior code § 129.1-104; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 147)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1150 Travel over subway routes prohibited.

15-24-1150 Travel over subway routes prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to transport flammable liquids on any public way within the city under which is constructed any subway used exclusively for local passenger transportation purposes. Such public ways shall include but not be limited to the following: S. and N. State Street from E. 13th Street to E. and W. Division Street. W. Division Street from N. State Street to N. Clybourn Avenue. N. Clybourn Avenue from W. Division Street to W. Willow Street. S. and N. Dearborn Street from W. Harrison Street to W. Lake Street. W. Lake Street from N. Dearborn Street to N. Milwaukee Avenue. N. Milwaukee Avenue from W. Canal Street to W. Division Street. Ida B. Wells Drive from S. Dearborn Street to S. Des Plaines Street. N. Tilden Street from W. Canal Street to W. Des Plaines Street. N. Milwaukee Avenue from N. Albany Street to N. Kimball Avenue. N. Kimball Avenue from W. Diversey Avenue to W. School Street. Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the operator of any authorized motor vehicle used for the transportation of flammable liquids from crossing any such public way at an intersection or from making deliveries in any block, in which case such person shall approach and leave the place of delivery by means of the nearest intersecting street. (Prior code § 129.1-105; Amend Coun. J. 11-20-19, p. 9510, Art. I, § 11)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1160 Restrictions on transportation of Class I liquids.

15-24-1160 Restrictions on transportation of Class I liquids. For purposes of the transportation of Class I flammable liquids by tank vehicles from primary sources of supply, such as refineries, waterway terminals or pipeline terminals, to any wholesale bulk plant or user bulk storage destination within the City of Chicago, route or routes for such transportation are hereby established as follows: Archer Avenue between State Street and west city limits; Ashland Avenue between 95th Street and Peterson Avenue; Brainard Avenue between south city limits and 130th Street; Burley Avenue between 87th Street and 83rd Street; Cermak Road between State Street and west city limits; Chicago Skyway between east city limits and Dan Ryan Expressway; Cicero Avenue between 87th Street and north city limits; Columbus Avenue between Western Avenue and south city limits; Cottage Grove Avenue between 75th Street and 35th Street; Ewing Avenue between Indianapolis Blvd. and 92nd Street; Grand Avenue between Ogden Avenue and west city limits; Halsted Street between 127th Street and 95th Street; Harlem Avenue between Howard Street and 65th Street; Indiana Avenue between 130th Street and 127th Street; Indianapolis Blvd. between 106th Street and Ewing Avenue; Irving Park Road between Ashland Avenue and west city limits; Mackinaw Avenue between 92nd Street and 87th Street; North Avenue between Ogden Avenue and west city limits; Ogden Avenue between North Avenue and west city limits; Pershing Road between Cottage Grove and Archer Avenue; Peterson Avenue between Ashland Avenue and Cicero Avenue; Roosevelt Road between Ashland Avenue and west city limits; South Chicago Avenue between 95th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue; Stony Island Avenue between 103rd Street and 95th Street and between South Chicago Avenue and 75th Street; Torrence Avenue between 106th Street and 103rd Street; Western Avenue between 95th Street and north city limits; 59th Street between Ashland Avenue and Western Avenue; 75th Street between Stony Island Avenue and Cottage Grove Avenue; 79th Street between Ashland Avenue and west city limits; 87th Street between east city limits and west city limits; 95th Street between east city limits and west city limits; 103rd Street between Torrence Avenue and Halsted Street; 106th Street between east city limits and Torrence Avenue; 127th Street between Indiana Avenue and Halsted Street; 130th Street between Brainard Avenue and Indiana Avenue; Certain words and phrases used in this ordinance are defined as follows: (a) "Wholesale bulk plant" means an establishment to which Class I flammable liquids are transported by rail tank cars or motor tank vehicles primarily for storage and for distribution by tank vehicle. (b) "User bulk storage" means the storage of Class I flammable liquids in any storage tank having a capacity in excess of 6,000 gallons, primarily for consumption, packaging or processing or for servicing of aircraft. (Prior code § 129.1-106)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1170 Use of expressways.

15-24-1170 Use of expressways. The following additional routes may be used, in addition to those outlined in Section 15-24-1160: Calumet Expressway between the Dan Ryan Expressway and south city limits; Dan Ryan Expressway between 31st Street and south city limits; Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway between Ashland Avenue and west city limits; John F. Kennedy Expressway between north city limits and Ogden Avenue; Stevenson Expressway between Ashland Avenue and west city limits; If the expressways are closed for repairs, or if truck traffic is banned for some other reason, then the following streets are acceptable alternatives: State Street between 95th Street and Cermak Road; Milwaukee Avenue between north city limits and Elston Avenue and Elston Avenue between Milwaukee Avenue and Ashland Avenue. (Prior code § 129.1-106.1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1180 Applicability.

15-24-1180 Applicability. On and after the 1st day of January, 1952, it shall be unlawful, except as otherwise provided in Section 15-24-1190, to transport Class I flammable liquids by tank vehicle from any primary source of supply to any wholesale bulk plant or user bulk storage within or beyond the City of Chicago on or over any public street, avenue, public way or public place in the city which is not designated in this ordinance as a route or part of a route for such transportation. (Prior code § 129.1-107)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1190 Exceptions.

15-24-1190 Exceptions. (1) Nothing in Sections 15-24-1160 or 15-24-1180 shall be interpreted to prohibit the following: (a) The operation of any tank vehicle upon any officially designated detour from any established flammable liquids route which has been closed to motor vehicle traffic; (b) The delivery of such liquids by tank vehicle from primary supply sources to any wholesale bulk plant or user bulk storage which does not abut on an established route; provided, that in making any such excepted delivery the tank vehicle shall proceed on an established route and shall depart therefrom from an intersecting street which is nearest the destination to which such delivery is to be made and upon completion of such delivery shall return to the nearest established route; provided, however, that nothing contained in Sections 15-24-1160 to 15-24-1210, inclusive, shall authorize the operation of any tank vehicle upon any street, avenue or public place from which such vehicle is barred by any other ordinance of the City of Chicago or any governmental authority. (2) In the event and during the time that any established route or part thereof or any highway outside the city connecting with an established route shall be rendered impassable or unsafe for the transportation of Class I flammable liquids by act of God or by reason of any accident, emergency or occurrence, any tank vehicle which would normally operate over such route may be operated over any other established route which will enable such vehicle most expeditiously to reach its destination, or such tank vehicle may be detoured around the impassable or unsafe portion of said route or highway by the shortest way available on streets, avenues or public ways upon which motor truck traffic is permissible. (Prior code § 129.1-108)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1200 Exceptions.

15-24-1200 Exceptions. Nothing in Sections 15-24-1160 to 15-24-1190, inclusive, shall apply to the transportation of such liquids to any retail service station or to the transportation of such liquids to any user or person not having bulk storage facilities except that tank vehicles while in such service shall so far as is possible without traveling additional mileage proceed to and from points of origin and delivery on or over the routes established by Section 15-24-1160. (Prior code § 129.1-109)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1210 Manifests.

15-24-1210 Manifests. (1) The driver of every tank vehicle en route from any primary source of supply to any wholesale bulk plant or user bulk storage shall carry a manifest stating the point of origin and the destination of the trip which it is then making, the name of the consignor and of the consignee and the kind and quantity of the liquid carried and at any time upon demand of any police officer or authorized representative of the City of Chicago exhibit such manifest. (2) The driver of any tank vehicle not subject to routing at any time upon demand of any police officer or authorized representative of the fire department of the City of Chicago shall bring such vehicle to a stop and shall give to such officer or such representative such information as may reasonably be required under the provisions of this ordinance as to the type of liquid being transported in such tank vehicle, the origin and the destination of the trip in which such tank vehicle is then engaged. (Prior code § 129.1-110)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-24-1220 Retroactivity.

15-24-1220 Retroactivity. The provisions of Sections 15-24-010 to 15-24-980, both inclusive, shall apply to all flammable liquid installations hereafter installed in any existing buildings including preordinance buildings and buildings hereafter constructed and shall also to any flammable liquid installation installed prior to the passage of this ordinance which was not installed in accordance with approved plans and permits. (Prior code § 129.1-111)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2678793Fetched: 10/24/2026