2-14-154 Rights of occupants.

   No action for eviction, abatement of a nuisance, forcible entry and detainer or other similar action, including but not limited to increase of rent, decrease of services and refusal to renew a lease, shall be threatened or instituted against an occupant of a building or other structure because such occupant has in good faith agreed to testify or testified at an administrative hearing before the department of administrative hearings or has complained of a building code violation to the landlord, to a government agency, public official or elected representative, or to a community organization or news medium. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any rights or defenses available to tenants or other occupants under other city ordinances or applicable law.

(Added Coun. J. 4-29-98, p. 66564)

2-14-155 Defenses to building code violations.

   It shall be a defense to a building code violation adjudicated under this article, if the owner, manager, person exercising control, his attorney, or any other agent or representative proves to the administrative law officer that:

   (a)   The building code violation alleged in the notice did not in fact exist at the time of the inspection resulting in the notice;

   (b)   At the time of the hearing on the issue of whether the building code violation does or does not exist, the violation has been remedied or removed. This subsection (b) shall not create a defense to a violation of Section 13-12-135(d)(5)(C), or to a person or entity that is an architect, structural engineer, contractor or builder who has been charged with a violation of Section 13-12-050 or Section 13-12-060 of this Code; nor shall it be a defense for any violation of Section 13-20-550 or Section 17-12-0709 pertaining to any off-premises sign, as that term is defined in Section 17-17-02108 ; nor shall it be a defense to a person or entity that is licensed or required to be licensed as a general contractor under Chapter 4-36 of this Code, or registered or required to be registered as an electrical contractor under Section 4-290-030, for any violation of Section 4-36-110(B) or Section 13-20-550 pertaining to any on-premises sign, as that term is defined in Section 17-17-02109 ; nor shall it be a defense for any violation of Section 4-6-290 (f)(5)(i), Sections 13-64-120 through 13-64-180, Section 13-64-400(m), Section 13-80-030(c), Section 13-84-350, Sections 13-196-100 through 13-196-160, Sections 13-196-240(d), Section 13-196-240(f) or Section 13-208-130 pertaining to smoke alarms or smoke detectors; nor shall it be a defense for any violation of Sections 13-64-190 through 13-64-280 or Section 13-196-165 pertaining to carbon monoxide detectors. However, for violations of Sections 13-196-400 through 13-196-440 of this Code, it shall be a defense under this subsection only where the violation has been remedied or removed within seven days of service of notice of the building code violations as provided under Section 2-14-152;

   (c)   The building code violation has been caused by the current building occupants, or the most recent occupants who have been evicted within 30 days of the date of the notice of building code violations, and that in spite of reasonable attempts by the owner, manager, or person exercising control to maintain the building free of such violations, the current or evicted occupants caused the violations;

   (d)   An occupant or resident of the building has refused entry to the owner or his agent to all or a part of the building for the purpose of correcting the building code violation.

   This section does not create a defense to a person who has been charged with encouraging or permitting illegal activity on any premises in violation of Section 8-4-090 of this Code, or with a violation of Section 10-28-281.6, 10-28-281.7 or 10-28-281.8 of this Code.

(Added Coun. J. 4-29-98, p. 66564; Amend Coun. J. 4-21-99, p. 92160, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-01, p. 64897, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 7.5; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 100455, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-26-06, p. 81367, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 15814, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 7-39-08, p. 36080, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-14, p. 96194, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VI, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-31-18, p. 87774, § 1)

 

Notes

17-12-0709	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.
17-17-02108	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.
17-17-02109	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.
4-6-290	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.

2-14-156 Separate hearings on the imposition of fines and other sanctions.

   If the administrative law officer issues a final determination of liability as to a violation of the building code but finds that the liable party has already begun to correct the violation proved, the administrative law officer may, in his or her discretion, schedule a separate hearing on the imposition of fines or other sanctions for a date no later than 30 days from the date of issuance of the final determination of liability, unless the administrative law officer finds that good cause has been shown that a longer period is necessary. The administrative law officer may order a reinspection of the property to verify code compliance and the extent of any corrective measures prior to hearing on the fines or other sanctions.

(Added Coun. J. 4-29-98, p. 66564)

ARTICLE IV. ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS HEARINGS DIVISION (2-14-160 et seq.)

2-14-160 Environmental safety and consumer affairs hearings division.

   (a)   The department of administrative hearings shall operate a system of administrative adjudication of violations of ordinances, and similar matters pursuant to Section 2-14-030(6), regulating business affairs and consumer protection, public health and safety, streets and sanitation, transportation, aviation and the environment.

   (b)   The system shall be operated within an environmental safety and consumer affairs hearings division created within the department of administrative hearings.

   (c)   [Reserved.]

   (d)   [Reserved.]

   (e)   If the administrative law officer issues a final determination of liability as to a violation of the sanitation code but finds that the liable party has already begun to correct the violation proved, the administrative law officer may, in his or her discretion, schedule a separate hearing on the imposition of fines or other sanctions for a date no less than 30 days from the date of issuance of the final determination of liability, unless the administrative law officer finds that good cause has been shown that a longer period is necessary. The administrative law officer may order a reinspection of the property to verify code compliance and the extent of any corrective measures prior to hearing on the fines or other sanctions.

(Added Coun. J. 7-10-96, p. 24982; Amend Coun. J. 11-12-97, p. 56813; Amend Coun. J. 4-29-98, p. 66564; Amend Coun. J. 3-27-02, p. 82086, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. V, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-15-12, p. 20496, § 4)