13-20-660 Restricted locations.

The procedures for revoking or rescinding a sign permit shall be established by rules promulgated by the Commissioner pursuant to Section 2-22-040(2)(c).

(Added Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 17)

Part D. Limitations to Signs (13-20-650 et seq.)

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 , 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 and 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.

13-20-660 Restricted locations.

The provisions of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinances shall regulate the type and size and the permissibility of signs and their supporting structures.

(Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3)

13-20-670 Dimensions.

Projecting electrical signs shall have a thickness of drum or box not exceeding 24 inches (610 mm) except by special permission.

(a) Vertical type “V” shaped signs, vertical type “V” shaped projecting signs shall not project more than six feet (1.83 m) from the building and shall not exceed six feet (1.83 m) in width along the face of the building. Said signs shall be enclosed at the top and the bottom and an open space of not more than three inches (76.2 mm) shall be allowed between the building and the sign.

(b) Supported from roof structure. Signs supported by a structure from a roof shall have a minimum distance of three feet (914 mm) from the bottom of the structure or the display, whichever is lower, to the roof. The minimum distance from the face of the display to the exterior wall of the building shall be three feet (914 mm), except as provided for in Section 13-20-650.

(c) Supported from the ground. Signs supported by a structure from the ground shall have a minimum distance of nine feet (2.74 m) from the bottom of the structure or display, whichever is lower, to the ground. No exposed live parts (lamps, sockets, neon tubes or sockets, etc.) shall be within nine feet (2.74 m) of the ground.

Exception: Ground signs on private property supplied by branch conductors which are protected by an approved ground-fault circuit-interrupter device may have a distance of less than nine feet (2.74 m) from the bottom of the structure or display if all the electrical components are totally enclosed within the sign assembly. All such signs shall be readily accessible.

(Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3)

13-20-675 Dynamic image display signs – additional standards.

Every dynamic image display sign, including a city digital sign for which a permit application is submitted on or after April 2, 2014, shall comply with the following:

(a) Luminance.

(1) For signs located within a designated expressway corridor, the maximum luminance for any such sign shall not be greater than:

(A) 7,000 nits between 5 a.m. and sunset; and

(B) 300 nits between sunset and midnight.

(2) For all other signs not subject to subsection (a)(1), the maximum luminance for any such sign shall not be greater than:

(A) 7,000 nits between 5 a.m. and sunset; and

(B) 250 nits between sunset and midnight.

(3) No sign shall be illuminated between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.; provided that an entity may keep its on-premise sign illuminated to no greater than 250 nits between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., when the entity is open for business. For purposes of this subsection, “open for business” means an entity that is conducting its normal business or occupation and admits clients, customers or patrons during such time. This subsection shall not apply to any sign that is part of an emergency response network while such sign is displaying emergency information from any federal, state, or unit of local government.

(4) For purposes of this subsection, “designated expressway corridor” means any area within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of a designated expressway or toll road, as that term is defined in section .

(b) Dwell time. The text, image or display on the face of the sign shall not change more than once every 10 seconds. Twirl time shall not exceed 0.25 seconds.

(1) All motion is prohibited on the sign;

(2) During the message transition, the sign shall not display any visible effects, including but not limited to action, motion, fading, dissolving, blinking, or the illusion of such effects; and

(3) No message shall transition from one face to another face.

(d) Control/testing.

(1) All signs shall be equipped with an automatic dimmer control or other mechanism that automatically controls the sign's luminance in compliance with this section. In instances where the sign malfunctions, the sign shall either automatically shut off or turn to a black screen;

(2) Prior to the issuance of any permit for a sign, the applicant shall submit an affidavit that attests that the sign has been tested and complies with the dwell time, luminance, motion and other requirements of this section, and that the luminance intensity, motion and dwell time requirements are protected from manipulation by password-protected software or other method satisfactory to the commissioner, as set forth in rules and regulations; and

(3) The test of the luminance levels required by this section shall be made when the sign is set to full white.

(Added Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3)

Notes

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.

13-20-680 Council approval.

A City Council order for any sign which exceeds 100 feet2 (9.3 m 2) in area or any roof or ground sign, structure or signboard over 24 feet (7.32 m) in height, excluding city digital signs identified in a coordinated city digital sign program agreement entered into pursuant to Section 10-28-046, or identified in an amendment to such a program agreement approved by the City Council, shall be required in addition to the normal permit. When the complete application for a permit for such sign is filed with the Building Commissioner, the applicant shall submit a duplicate of the complete application to the alderman of the ward in which the sign is to be located along with the order template required by the City Council committee. At the time the duplicate is submitted to the alderman, the applicant shall (except as to such excluded city digital signs) submit to the City Clerk an order for the sign on the order template required by the committee for introduction at the next regular meeting of the City Council, and proof that the public notice provided for in this section has been given and a list of all persons who have been given such notice. The Council order, upon being introduced to the Council, shall be forwarded to the appropriate City Council committee for hearing. Prior to filing its order with the City Clerk, the applicant for the permit (except as to such excluded city digital signs) shall give notice to all voters registered at addresses within 250 feet (76.2 m) of the proposed sign location.

Any change to a sign for which a City Council order was issued or required to be issued that changes the sign from a static image display sign to a dynamic image display sign shall require an additional City Council order in compliance with this section and a new sign permit in compliance with the requirements of this Code. The council order shall include text explicitly acknowledging that the sign is being changed from a static image display sign to a dynamic image display sign.

The notice shall be in writing and shall state:

(1) The name of the applicant.

(2) The proposed location of the sign.

(3) The exterior dimensions of the proposed sign.

(4) The means of illumination of the sign.

(5) The height above ground level at which the proposed sign, if approved, will be located.

(6) The date of the application.

(7) Indicate if a current sign will be changed from a static image display sign to a dynamic image display sign.

Such notice shall inform the recipient that the individual will receive notice of the date of a public hearing on the order before the committee, and that the individual has the right to testify before the committee. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, with all costs to be borne by the applicant. No notice need be given under this section, however, of any order seeking a permit for a sign to be erected on the premises of a business only limited to information identifying the business conducted on the premises or with respect to a city digital sign. The committee shall give notice by first class mail to all voters registered at addresses within 250 feet (76.2 m) of the proposed sign location and, after conducting a hearing, shall recommend approval or disapproval of the order. The hearing shall be recorded or transcribed. At the hearing, the applicant shall have the right to offer evidence and comment on or rebut all other evidence placed before the committee. A recommendation of an approval or disapproval of the order shall be passed based on the following considerations:

(1) Whether the size, location, or structural design of the sign is compatible with the aesthetic character of the community in which the sign is located or is to be erected or because of the sign's impact on or proximity to:

(a) Special zones or places as may be designated, established or recognized by the City of Chicago, including but not limited to the Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection District and historical or architectural landmark buildings, areas, places, districts, structures of other object or

(b) Waterways, open space areas, recreational facilities, urban or scenic vistas or residential buildings.

(2) Whether the sign is located in an area where there exists an undue concentration of signs.

(3) Whether the size, location or structural design of the sign presents an unreasonable threat to the health or safety of the public.

Any committee report requesting approval or disapproval of the order must state specific reasons for the recommendation, which reasons shall be consistent with such applicant's constitutional rights contained in the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and Sections 2 and 4 of Article 1 of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. The recommendation of the committee to approve or disapprove the order as provided herein shall not be based on the content of the proposed sign. In determining whether to approve or disapprove a sign order, the City Council shall be bound by the same standards that apply to the committee when it makes its recommendation. The Building Commissioner shall issue a permit for a sign that is subject to this section unless:

(1) The City Council has voted not to approve passage of an order within 60 days after the order for the sign was submitted to the City Clerk, or

(2) The sign for which the application is submitted is not or will not be in compliance with any provision of this chapter and all other applicable Code provisions governing the construction and maintenance of outdoor signs, signboards, and structures.

If the City Council fails to issue an order for a sign within a 60-day period after the order for the sign is submitted to the City Clerk, an order on the sign shall be deemed to have been issued at the end of such period; provided, however, that no time period shall commence until a complete application has been submitted to the Department of Buildings and the alderman of the ward in which the sign is to be located. The City Clerk shall, within two business days, notify the Building Commissioner whenever the City Council issues or is deemed to issue an order pertaining to a permit application for a sign. In any event, the Building Commissioner may not take final action on the application until the City Council issues or is deemed to issue an order pertaining to the application.

Any person aggrieved by the final decision of the Building Commissioner disapproving an application may seek judicial review of the decision in the manner provided by law.

As used in this section:

“Legal voter” means a person who has registered to vote and whose name appears on a poll sheet from the last preceding election, regardless of whether such election is a primary or general election.

“Complete application” means all required documentation, as prescribed by rules promulgated by the Building Commissioner, which are necessary to complete the sign permit license application.

No member of the City Council or other municipal officer shall introduce, and no Committee of the City Council shall consider or recommend, any ordinance or order that is contrary in any way to any of the requirements of this section or of the Code. No member of the City Council shall propose, and no Committee of the City Council shall consider, any amendment to an ordinance which, if passed, would render the ordinance contrary to any of the requirements of this section or Title 17 of the Code. No officer or employee of the City shall enforce any ordinance or order that is contrary to any of the requirements of this section or of the Code. No member of the City Council may recommend action on and no Committee of the City Council shall consider any ordinance or order that authorizes the approval of a sign that does not comply with all applicable provisions of this section, Title 17 of the Code, and all other applicable Code provisions governing the construction and maintenance of outdoor signs, signboards, and structures.

(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. 2-15-12, p. 20904, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 47133, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48241, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 19; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74459, Art. V, § 7)

Notes

Disclaimer: This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. American Legal Publishing provides these documents for informational purposes only. These documents should not be relied upon as the definitive authority for local legislation. Additionally, the formatting and pagination of the posted documents varies from the formatting and pagination of the official copy. The official printed copy of a Code of Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken. For further information regarding the official version of any of this Code of Ordinances or other documents posted on this site, please contact the Municipality directly or contact American Legal Publishing toll-free at 800-445-5588.

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