13-96-470 General requirements.

   (a)   No person shall erect, occupy or use any tent having a surface area greater than 240 square feet without first obtaining a permit therefor from the department of buildings; provided that no building permit shall be required for a tent or similar temporary structure having a surface area of 400 feet or less, if the tent or similar temporary structure will be erected, occupied or used for no more than 60 consecutive days. Application for a tent permit shall be made to the building commissioner upon such form as shall be provided by him, and shall contain the name and address of the applicant, the proposed location where such tent shall be erected, the length of time the tent shall be in use, the dimensions of the tent and a statement that the permit will be accepted subject to the conditions and provisions thereof and subject to the conditions and provisions of all laws and ordinances affecting the erection, maintenance and use of such tent now or hereafter in effect. Such application shall be signed by the applicant.

   (b)   Within three business days after an application for a tent permit is filed, the building commissioner shall deliver a duplicate of the application to the alderman of the ward in which the tent is to be erected. Within five days of receipt of such application, the alderman may refer the application to the city council committee on zoning, landmarks and building standards for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on the proposed permit application. The alderman shall give notice of the referral for hearing to the building commissioner. The committee chairman shall convene a meeting within seven days from the date the permit application was referred for hearing, during which all interested persons, including the applicant, shall be given an opportunity to present testimony. After conducting the hearing, the committee may issue a report summarizing the issues that were addressed at the hearing and recommending approval or denial of the application. If the committee issues a report it shall be submitted to the building commissioner no later than 30 days after the date on which the permit application was filed.

   (c)   If the committee's report recommends disapproval of the permit application, it shall be based upon a determination that the size, location or structural design of the tent presents an unreasonable threat to the health, safety and welfare of the public. Any committee report recommending disapproval of a permit application must state the specific reasons for the recommendation, which reasons shall be consistent with an applicant's constitutional rights contained in the First, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, and Sections 2 and 4 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. In acting on all applications, the building commissioner shall give due consideration to the committee's report, if any, and shall be bound by the same standards as apply to the committee in approving or denying a permit.

   (d)   The committee's report shall be submitted to the building commissioner for final action to be taken on the tent permit application. The building commissioner shall issue a permit for the erection of a tent if he determines that the requirements of this section and Sections 13-96-490 and 13-96-500 have been met.

   (e)   In the event that a hearing is convened pursuant to subsection (b), the building commissioner shall approve or deny a tent permit application no sooner than 30 days and no later than 45 days after the date the application was filed. If the application is not referred for a hearing pursuant to subsection (b), the building commissioner shall approve or deny a tent permit application no later than 15 days after the application was filed. If the building commissioner denies the application, he shall mail a notification to the applicant in writing specifying the reasons for his decision. Any applicant may seek review of the decision of the building commissioner denying a tent permit application in the manner provided by law.

   (f)   All references to tents in this section shall apply with equal force to canopies as defined in Section 13-96-480.

(Prior code § 61-14; Amend Coun. J. 7-9-84, p. 8218; Amend Coun. J. 4-12-91, p. 32351; Amend Coun. J. 7-13-94, p. 53234; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 24; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 9, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, § 226; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74459, Art. V, § 9)

13-96-480 Definitions.

   (a)   For purposes of this article, a “tent” is defined as a portable structure covered or enclosed with canvas or similar materials, and supported by poles, stakes, beams, ropes or cables.

   (b)   For purposes of this article, a “canopy” is defined as a portable structure covered with canvas or similar materials, supported by poles, stakes, beams, ropes or cables, and open on the sides.

(Prior code § 61-14.1; Amend Coun. J. 4-12-91, p. 32351; Amend Coun. J. 7-13-94, p. 53234)

13-96-490 Tents and canopies – Permit application requirements.

   Tents and canopies exceeding 240 square feet in area shall require a building permit based on plans submitted to the Building Commissioner, and must be erected by a general contractor licensed by the City; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to a tent having a surface area of 400 feet or less if the tent will be erected, occupied or used for no more than 60 consecutive days. Plans for tents and canopies exceeding 600 square feet in area shall be certified by a licensed architect or engineer. Permit applications for tents and canopies exceeding 4,000 square feet in area shall list a general contractor licensed pursuant to Chapter 4-36 of this Code and said general contractor shall be physically present on-site during the erection of the tent or canopy and shall ensure that the work is performed in compliance with all applicable requirements of this Code. All tents and canopies shall comply with rules issued by the Building Commissioner and with the following requirements:

   (a)   Application for permit shall be accompanied by:

      (1)   A certificate of fire resistance executed by an approved recognized testing laboratory filed with the Building Commissioner certifying that such tent is flameproofed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard N.F.P.A. 701. If the flameproofing as indicated on the certificate is not of the permanent type, the certificate must be dated within 360 days preceding the last date of intended use. If the tent fabric is certified as having been rendered permanently fire resistant during manufacture, or is made of an inherently fire resistant fabric, then the certificate may be dated no earlier than seven years prior to the last date of intended use. The certificate shall indicate the type of fabric, compliance with N.F.P.A. 701, and each tent's unique registration number. Each tent placed in service after the effective date of this amendment shall bear permanent identification of its fabric type, compliance with N.F.P.A. 701 and its unique registration number.

      (2)   A plan showing the fabric type, construction of the tent or canopy and the location and width of aisles and exits, the number of rows and the maximum seating capacity in each section.

      (3)   Calculations demonstrating compliance with the wind resistance requirements of Chapter 13-52.

   (b)   Exit facilities shall comply with all applicable requirements for assembly units. Exit capacity shall be calculated at 70 persons per unit of exit width.

   (c)   Standard fire extinguishers, as defined in Chapter 15-16, shall be conspicuously located at each exit.

   (d)   Tents and canopies shall be located not less than 12 feet from any other building or structure excepting, however, where a covered passageway is desired, a tent or canopy may be connected to a permanent building by means of a canopy.

   (e)   Temporary toilet facilities shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18-29 of this Code.

   (f)   Permits for all electrical wiring shall be secured in accordance with the electrical regulations of this Code.

   (g)   Exit and emergency lighting shall be provided for all tents exceeding 600 square feet in area that will be in use for 48 hours or longer or have interior partitions. Such tents shall be provided with the appropriate emergency lighting system, as described in Section 14E-7-700. Exit and emergency plans for tents and canopies exceeding 600 square feet in area shall be provided to the Department of Buildings for review, and shall be approved prior to occupancy and use of the tent or canopy structure.

   (h)   Liquefied petroleum gas tanks shall not be permitted in tents or canopies, or within ten feet of either.

   (i)   The Building Commissioner may issue a conditional permit for a structure not fully meeting the wind resistance requirements, allowing the structure to be used up to a specified maximum wind velocity.

   (j)   Notwithstanding any certificate of fire resistance, the Fire Commissioner may at any time submit tent or canopy fabric to the field test specified in Chapter ten of N.F.P.A. Standard 701 (1989). Fabric that fails the field test shall not be used in the construction or erection of a tent or canopy.

(Prior code § 61-14.2; Amend Coun. J. 7-9-84, p. 8218; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-89, p. 4604; Amend Coun. J. 4-12-91, p. 32351; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 24; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 9, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 42; Amend Coun. J. 11-9-16, p. 36266, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 33; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 30; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74459, Art. V, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 11-7-18, p. 88803, § 33)

13-96-500 Permits for tents and canopies – Limitation on duration.

   Permits for tents and canopies shall be limited to a period of 60 days.

(Prior code § 61-14.3; Amend Coun. J. 7-9-84, p. 8218; Amend Coun. J. 4-12-91, p. 32351; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-93, p. 42192; Amend Coun. J. 7-13-94, p. 53234; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17167, § 48)

ARTICLE XIV. GASOLINE FILLING STATIONS (13-96-510 et seq.)

13-96-510 General requirements.

   Every gasoline filling station hereafter erected shall comply with all applicable provisions of this Code and with the special provisions of Sections 13-96-520 to 13-96-560, inclusive.

(Prior code § 61-15)

13-96-520 Definition.

   A “gasoline filling station” is defined as a structure, building or premises, or a portion thereof, where volatile flammable oil for retail supply to motor vehicles is stored or sold.

(Prior code § 61-15.1)

13-96-530 Pumps and tanks.

   The installation of pumps and tanks shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 15-24 of this Code.

(Prior code § 61-15.2)