13-20-650 Height and location.

   Sign size and location shall be limited as follows:

   (a)   Except for high rise building signs permitted pursuant to section 17-12-1005-D , the overall vertical height of a sign shall not exceed 75 feet (22.9 m) above ground, or grade, level.

   (b)   Signs which project over the public way more than 12 inches (305 mm) shall clear such public way (sidewalk) by nine feet (2.74 m) and 16 feet (4.88 m) in alleys.

   (c)   Signs flat against the building shall not project more than 12 inches (305 mm). Flat signs complying with this subsection shall be permitted to be erected at entrance door height.

   (d)   Flat signs shall not project above the parapet of the building unless in accordance with all of the following conditions:

      (1)   The erection of the sign does not prohibit access to the roof from the exterior of the building without passing over the sign.

      (2)   The sign shall not extend more than two feet (0.61 m) above the roof line as required by Sections 17-12-0702 and 17-17-02150 of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance. The language added by the amendatory ordinance of 2017, effective January 1, 2018, is intended to clarify, rather than to change, existing law.

      (3)   A sign shall not be permitted to be supported from the parapet.

      (4)   Special permission is obtained in writing from the Building Commissioner before the permit application is submitted.

   (e)   A sign may be erected at the edge of a roof on a building which has no parapet walls provided:

      (1)   The building is no more than one story in height, and

      (2)   No sign section is more than four feet (1.22 m) in height and

      (3)   No sign section has an area of more than 40 feet (12.19 m 2 ).

      All such signs, where there is no parapet, shall be erected independently of each other.

   (f)   Projecting signs shall be supported by a structure anchored wholly within the lot line.

   (g)   Projecting signs shall not extend into the public way a greater distance than within 18 inches (457 mm) of the curb line.

   (h)   Projecting signs shall have that portion of the sign nearest the supporting structure not more than two feet (610 mm) from the lot line.

   (i)   No sign shall be attached to or supported by a chimney unless special permission has been obtained in writing from the Building Commissioner before the permit is issued.

   Notwithstanding the above, city digital signs shall not be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 13-20-650 or the drum or box thickness restrictions set forth in Section 13-20-670.

   If a street is widened after a sign has been installed and such sign thereby becomes in violation of one of the provisions of this section, the owner or user of said sign shall immediately take such steps as are necessary to bring the sign into conformance with all applicable provisions of this chapter.

(Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 7-30-14, p. 86203, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 18)

 

Notes

17-12-1005-D	The hyper-linked material is not part of the Chicago Building Code infobase and therefore is not included herein.  The material is included in other provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code.  The complete Chicago Municipal Code is available for purchase from American Legal Publishing in both print and Folio® versions.  Please click here for the appropriate American Legal order form in printable Adobe® PDF format.  For additional information, you may visit American Legal's website by clicking here.
17-12-0702	The hyper-linked material is not part of the Chicago Building Code infobase and therefore is not included herein.  The material is included in other provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code.  The complete Chicago Municipal Code is available for purchase from American Legal Publishing in both print and Folio® versions.  Please click here for the appropriate American Legal order form in printable Adobe® PDF format.  For additional information, you may visit American Legal's website by clicking here.
17-17-02150	The hyper-linked material is not part of the Chicago Building Code infobase and therefore is not included herein.  The material is included in other provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code.  The complete Chicago Municipal Code is available for purchase from American Legal Publishing in both print and Folio® versions.  Please click here for the appropriate American Legal order form in printable Adobe® PDF format.  For additional information, you may visit American Legal's website by clicking here.