(a) No property owner shall allow any person to operate on such owner's property any business for which a license is required under this Code without a license first having been obtained for such business.
(b) Any property owner who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be notified in writing by the department of the fact of such violation and of the property's duty to correct such violation of this section. If the property owner fails to correct such violation by the date certain set forth in the written notice required under this section, the property owner shall be subject to a fine of up to $500.00 for the first offense of subsection (a) within any five year period; of up to $5,000.00 for the second offense of subsection (a) within any five year period; and of up to $10,000.00 for the third or any subsequent offense of subsection (a) within any five year period. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. Mitigating factors that may be considered in determining the amount of the fine to be imposed against the property owner shall include the following: (1) proof that the property owner has initiated eviction proceedings against the tenant engaged in the unlicensed business activity; (2) proof that the property owner called 311 in a timely manner to report the unlicensed business activity; (3) proof that the property owner filed a timely complaint with 311 online through www.cityofchicago.org to report the unlicensed business activity; or (4) any other mitigating factor set forth in regulations duly promulgated by the commissioner.
(Added Coun. J. 5-9-12, p. 27485, § 14)