Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-010 Scope.
14C-7-010 Scope.
This chapter regulates the design, construction, installation, alteration and maintenance of automotive lifts, hereinafter referred to as "equipment."
AUTOMOTIVE LIFTS
Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 14C, ch. 14C-7
in effectMunicipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-020 Reserved.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-030 Existing installations.
14C-7-030 Existing installations.
Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, no provision in this chapter shall require the removal, alteration or abandonment of, nor prevent the continued use and maintenance of, an existing installation.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-040 Definitions.
14C-7-040 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings indicated in this section.
"ALCTV" means ALI ALCTV-2016: Standard for Automotive Lifts – Safety Requirements for Construction, Testing, and Validation, published by Automotive Lift Institute, Inc.
"Automotive lift" or "equipment" means equipment designed to deposit a motor vehicle in a parking space by moving the motor vehicle vertically above floor level on a pallet or platform equipped with tracks, channels or similar devices to hold the vehicle’s wheels, not the vehicle frame or designated support points, in place while the vehicle is being moved vertically.
"Critical operating control" means any electric or hydraulic control the purpose of which is to prevent the unintended movement of equipment.
"Eligible user" means any person trained by the manufacturer or owner of the equipment to operate the equipment in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s written instructions. The term includes qualified personnel and the authority having jurisdiction.
"Existing installation" means any equipment lawfully in existence on June 8, 2005.
"Manual operating" means any equipment or device where continuous pressure on an operating control is required to cause the equipment to move vertically.
"Pallet" means any part of the equipment where vehicles are placed for parking.
"Qualified personnel" means any person authorized by Section 14C-7-160 to install, alter, repair, test, maintain or otherwise work on equipment.
"Safety switch" means an electrical switch having normally closed contact(s) which are positively opened by the action of a switch actuator and where the opening of the contact(s) is not dependent upon springs.
"Vehicle" means a motor vehicle with not more than four wheels.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-050 Reserved.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-060 Equipment - General design requirements.
14C-7-060 Equipment - General design requirements.
(1) All equipment shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of ALCTV, and shall be certified by the manufacturer for compliance with ALCTV.
(2) All equipment shall be designed in such a manner that it is unnecessary for any person to be in the vehicle or on any pallet in order for the equipment to operate as intended.
(3) All equipment shall be designed to move a vehicle above floor level only.
(4) All equipment operating devices intended for eligible users shall be designed to minimize the possibility of unauthorized persons using the equipment.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-070 Electrical control equipment - General design requirements.
14C-7-070 Electrical control equipment - General design requirements.
(1) All electrical control equipment and wiring shall comply with the requirements of Title 14E.
(2) All electrical control equipment shall be listed, certified, labeled and marked as required by CSA-C22.2 Number 14 or UL 508. All other electrical equipment, if not listed, certified, labeled and marked to an applicable product standard, shall be listed, certified, labeled and marked as required by CSA-C22.2 Number 14 or UL 508.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-080 Safety switches - General design requirements.
14C-7-080 Safety switches - General design requirements.
(1) All electrically operated equipment, including electro-hydraulic equipment, shall be equipped with fused disconnect switches or circuit breakers capable of being locked in the "off" position. If, in order to service, repair or maintain the equipment, it is necessary for qualified personnel to move or operate the equipment while qualified personnel remain within the overall perimeter of the equipment, the equipment shall be equipped with electrical safety switches to prevent or stop the equipment from moving. All switches required by this subsection shall be: (i) capable of being manually reset by eligible users and qualified personnel; and (ii) located in an accessible place in all areas where it is reasonably anticipated that qualified personnel will work to service, repair or maintain the equipment.
(2) All hydraulically operated equipment, where the hydraulics are not electrically controlled, shall be equipped with shut off valves capable of being locked in a position that prevents or stops the equipment from moving. Such valves shall be: (i) manually operated hydraulic valves or manually operated hydraulic pilot valves; and (ii) located in an accessible place in all areas where it is reasonably anticipated that qualified personnel will work to service, repair or maintain the equipment.
(3) All operating devices intended for eligible users shall be: (i) designed, installed and maintained in a manner such that the operating device is clearly visible to eligible users; (ii) marked with clear, legible, conspicuously-placed and understandable operating instructions; and (iii) designed to minimize the possibility of unauthorized persons using the equipment.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-090 Installation requirements.
14C-7-090 Installation requirements.
(1) All equipment shall be installed in a manner that includes all structural elements necessary to provide safe and adequate support for the equipment and for all vehicles of all design sizes and weights to be moved by the equipment.
(2) Each equipment installation shall accommodate one four-wheeled vehicle or its equivalent only. Multiple vehicles shall be accommodated with multiple automotive lifts.
(3) All equipment shall be installed in such a manner that it is unnecessary for any person to be in the vehicle or on any pallet in order for the equipment to operate as intended.
(4) The installation of equipment designed to move a vehicle below floor level shall be prohibited.
(5) All equipment shall be installed on floors that are within ± five degrees of level.
(6) All mechanical, electrical and hydraulic parts of the equipment shall be installed in a manner such that the parts are: (i) protected against damage other than damage caused by normal wear and tear; and (ii) readily accessible for maintenance.
(7) All equipment shall be installed wholly within an enclosed building and shall not be visible from outside the building. For purposes of this subsection, an enclosed building shall include a parking facility as defined in Chapter 14B-2.
(8) All equipment shall be installed in conformity with the requirements of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance.
(Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. V, § 7)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-100 User and use requirements.
14C-7-100 User and use requirements.
(1) All equipment shall be operated by eligible users only. It shall be unlawful for members of the general public and for persons other than eligible users to operate the equipment. If the equipment is installed within a residential building as defined in Section 17-17-02146 or within a detached garage located on the same lot as a residential building, the equipment shall be operated by a valet or an attendant employed by the equipment’s owner or owned and operated by an owner or resident of a dwelling unit within the residential building. If the equipment is installed within a non-residential building, the equipment shall be operated by a valet or an attendant employed by the equipment’s owner.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy any vehicle or pallet located on any equipment if the equipment is moving or is causing a vehicle or pallet to move, except as necessary for maintenance, repair, installation or inspection.
(3) All equipment shall be used to move vehicles only; provided, however, that manual operating equipment may be used to move pallets, with or without vehicles, vertically above the floor level position of the pallet and to return the pallet to floor level.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-110 Safety-related control devices.
14C-7-110 Safety-related control devices.
(1) All equipment shall be equipped with a sensing device, located under the pallet, which prevents the pallet from being lowered when the device senses a person or object located beneath the pallet.
(2) All equipment shall be equipped with electrical or hydraulic protective devices which shall cut off the supply of electrical or hydraulic power to the equipment’s drive and motor when the device is deactivated.
(3) All equipment shall operate only when a manual operating device is actively engaged. If pressure is removed from the device, the equipment shall immediately cease to move.
(4) All equipment shall be equipped with an emergency safety device capable of preventing the unintentional movement of equipment.
(5) If any critical operating control requires the use of a spring to prevent or stop equipment from moving, the spring shall be of the compression type and shall be restrained to prevent dislocation.
(6) The use of a continuing flow of electrical or hydraulic power to initiate or interrupt power to the equipment’s driving machine or brake is prohibited.
(7) All operating systems shall be designed such that a single short circuit or other single failure shall not allow the equipment to move in an unintended manner.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-120 Warning labels, alarm systems and signs.
14C-7-120 Warning labels, alarm systems and signs.
(1) Warning labels, meeting the requirements of ALCTV for automotive lifts, shall be clearly visible to eligible users and other persons standing in close proximity to the equipment.
(2) An audible alarm system shall be installed at each location where equipment is located to indicate to the eligible users and other persons standing in close proximity to the equipment any time the equipment is in motion. The audible alarm shall be capable of generating a minimum sound pressure of 15 dB(A) above the ambient noise level when measured at a distance of 10 feet from the alarm. The equipment shall be designed to enable the installation of visual signals at the request of the owner to indicate any time the equipment is in motion.
(3) The entrance to the equipment shall be equipped with an overhead flexible member or warning sign informing eligible users that if the vehicle is touched by the overhead flexible member or warning sign, the vehicle exceeds the maximum height of vehicles permitted to use the equipment.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-130 Vehicle size and weight - Requirements and prohibitions.
14C-7-130 Vehicle size and weight - Requirements and prohibitions.
(1) All equipment and pallets may be designed, installed and rated for specific vehicle sizes and maximum loading weight; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall equipment or pallets be used to move vehicles with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 7,000 pounds, including the vehicle’s contents.
(2) All equipment shall be equipped with a device that prevents the equipment from operating if a loading on the pallet exceeds the maximum loading weight identified in this section.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-140 Maintenance.
14C-7-140 Maintenance.
(1) All equipment, devices and safeguards shall be examined, lubricated, cleaned, adjusted, repaired, replaced with new parts and otherwise maintained: (i) in proper operating condition; (ii) in safe and sanitary condition; (iii) in accordance with the original design; (iv) at intervals recommended by the manufacturer; and (v) in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended procedures; provided, however, that if the manufacturer fails to recommend intervals or procedures for maintaining the equipment, devices and safeguards, the equipment, devices and safeguards shall be maintained on a regular basis using reasonable maintenance practices. If the authority having jurisdiction determines that site conditions warrant the adoption of maintenance procedures more stringent than what the manufacturer requires, or at intervals more frequent than what the manufacturer requires, the equipment, devices and safeguards shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements established by the authority having jurisdiction.
(2) Written records shall be kept: (i) documenting the date on which any maintenance work was performed on any equipment, device or safeguard; and (ii) describing the type of maintenance performed on that date. Such records shall be kept on the premises where the equipment is located and shall be made available, upon request, for inspection by the authority having jurisdiction.
(3) If equipment or any part thereof is suspended by: (i) wire ropes and the sheaves over which the ropes pass have a minimum diameter of less than 30 times the diameter of the wire rope; or (ii) aramid ropes and the sheaves over which the ropes pass have a minimum diameter of less than 15 times the diameter of the aramid rope, the ropes shall be replaced at least once a year.
(4) For purposes of this section, the term "equipment, devices and safeguards" means all equipment, safety- related control devices, other safeguards required by this chapter and all parts thereof.
(5) This section shall apply to all new equipment and existing installations.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-150 Installation - Permit and plans required.
14C-7-150 Installation - Permit and plans required.
(1) No person shall install, reconstruct, alter or add to any equipment without first having obtained a permit from the authority having jurisdiction or install, reconstruct, alter or add to any equipment contrary to a valid permit. All applications for such a permit shall be: (i) made on a designated form; (ii) accompanied by a complete set of drawings detailing the installation prepared by and bearing the seal of an architect or structural engineer licensed by the state of Illinois; and (iii) accompanied by an equipment certification issued by the manufacturer in conformity with the requirements of Section 14C-7-060(1).
(2) No person shall reconstruct, add to or alter any equipment unless the reconstruction, addition to or alteration is done in conformity with the drawings, plans and specifications upon which the permit authorizing installation of the equipment was issued.
(3) Fees for the issuance of any permit required by this section shall be assessed according to the general provisions of Chapter 14A-4 of the Municipal Code.
(4) This section shall apply to all new equipment and existing installations.
(Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. V, § 8)
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14C-7-160 Qualified personnel - Requirements.
14C-7-160 Qualified personnel - Requirements.
(1) No person shall install, alter, repair, test, maintain or otherwise work on the equipment unless the person: (i) holds a valid certificate of registration, issued under Section 4-298-040, authorizing the person to engage in the business of elevator mechanic contractor; or (ii) has been trained and certified by the manufacturer of a specific type of equipment to install, alter, repair, test, maintain or otherwise work on the specific type of equipment and has a city of Chicago limited business license or any other license required by law.
(2) No person shall construct, install, alter, repair, test, maintain or otherwise work on the electrical components connecting the equipment to the electrical service unless the person holds a valid certificate of registration, issued under Chapter 4-290, authorizing the person to engage in the business of electrical contractor.
(3) This section shall apply to all new equipment and existing installations.
(Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. V, § 9)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2669235Fetched: 10/24/2026