4-156-321 Contingent approval.

   The commissioner is authorized to approve on a contingent basis a public place of amusement license under this Article III for any application that requires the approval of additional city departments. Upon receipt of a license application, the department shall forward the information to the commissioner and to appropriate departments for review. Upon completion of the commissioner's review, which shall be concluded within 90 days of the date the license fee was paid, the commissioner shall notify the applicant whether the applicant is approved to receive the described license for the subject premises contingent upon the applicant receiving the approval of other necessary departments, such as, but not limited to, the fire department, the department of health and the department of buildings. The contingent approval shall be valid for twelve months from the date of issuance, but the license shall not issue until all necessary approvals have been received. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the applicant to produce, present or conduct any amusement until a public place of amusement license under this Article III is issued.

(Added Coun. J. 4-10-13, p. 51217, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74459, Art. V, § 3)

4-156-330 Location restrictions.

   (a)   No public place of amusement license under this Article III shall be issued for any establishment within 200 feet of any church, temple, synagogue or other place of worship, hospital, or building used exclusively for educational purposes (for purposes of this section, collectively "affected institution"), unless the place to be licensed has been established as a public place of amusement under this Article III before the establishment of the affected institution. Said distance shall be measured from the nearest point of the premises for which application for a license has been made and the nearest point of the affected institution. This prohibition shall not apply to: (1) a performing arts venue, as defined in Article V of this chapter, or (2) the Chicago History Museum, or (3) the Bronzeville Children's Museum.

   (b)   The commissioner may grant a reduction of the distance requirement in subsection (a) if, based on a review of relevant factors, the commissioner concludes that such a reduction would not detrimentally impact the affected institution. The grant of a distance reduction shall not exempt the applicant from any application requirement associated with issuance of a public place of amusement license under this Article III.

   (c)   Factors which the commissioner may consider with regard to an application for a distance reduction include, by way of example and not limitation: (i) the type of amusement to be conducted and the days and times during which such activity will take place, (ii) the capacity of the venue, (iii) the availability of adequate parking for potential patrons, (iv) whether the sale or consumption of liquor will be associated with the amusement, (v) a report from the police regarding the location, as well as the history of activity conducted at or in conjunction with the venue and any associated infractions or violations of the municipal code, (vi) the relevant geography, (vii) the legal nature and history of the applicant, (viii) the measures the applicant proposes to implement to maintain quiet and security in conjunction with the amusement, and (ix) whether the affected institution supports or objects to the amusement.

   (d)   A person seeking a distance requirement reduction shall make a written submission to the commissioner, presenting all factors which the applicant believes to be relevant to whether a reduction is appropriate. The applicant shall provide a copy of the written submission to the affected institution. The commissioner shall review the materials and make a written determination within 60 days, which shall set forth the factors used in arriving at the determination. During the 60-day review period, the commissioner shall notify the affected alderman and solicit a recommendation based on the alderman's analysis of relevant factors, and may seek additional information or supplementary proof from the applicant, and may also solicit information from the community, including the affected institution.

   If the commissioner denies the application for a reduction, the applicant, within fourteen days of receiving the denial, may request a hearing from the commissioner. Upon receiving such a request, the commissioner shall schedule and conduct a hearing expeditiously, and shall provide the affected institution with notice of and an opportunity to appear at the hearing. At the hearing the commissioner may receive written submissions, witness testimony, argument and documents regarding the application. The commissioner shall, within thirty days of the conclusion of the hearing, render a decision, which shall constitute a final determination for purposes of judicial review.

   (e)   If the commissioner grants the application for a reduction, those factors that were deemed by her to be relevant to the determination shall be included in a plan of conduct. If the public place of amusement license under this Article III is granted, the plan of conduct shall be deemed a part of the license, and compliance with the plan of conduct shall be a necessary condition to the continued validity of the license. Failure to comply with one or more elements of the plan of conduct shall subject the licensee to suspension or revocation of such public place of amusement license.

(Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 1-12-94, p. 44537; Amend Coun. J. 3-23-94, p. 48165; Amend Coun. J. 7-2-97, p. 48017; Amend Coun. J. 7-9-03, p. 3932, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-30-05, p. 62481, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-9-07, p. 105047, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 2-6-08, p. 20723, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-6-08, p. 20725, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-9-08, p. 32608, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-18-09, p. 56101, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-12-10, p. 91343, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-10, p. 108065, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-14-11, p. 17747, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-13, p. 51227, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 13)

4-156-340 Written guaranty required.

   Before any public place of amusement license under this Article III is issued, the applicant shall execute a written undertaking conditioned that the taxes imposed upon any amusement at the licensed premises will be paid in the manner and at the times provided in Article I of this chapter.

(Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 7-2-97, p. 48017; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 14)

4-156-350 Occupancy enforcement.

   No public place of amusement license under this Article III shall be issued unless the applicant certifies that, since the issuance of the most recent license and the most recent occupancy sign required to be posted on the licensed premises pursuant to Section 14A-8-802 of this Code, neither the applicant nor any other person has made any modifications or alterations affecting the layout, floor plan, doorways, stairways, interior separations, or other features of the subject premises that may affect occupancy limits.

(Added Coun. J. 10-1-03, p. 9163, § 3.1; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 15; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 35)

4-156-355 License – Issuance prohibited.

   No public place of amusement license under this Article III shall be issued to:

   (1)   A person who has been convicted of a felony under any federal or state law (other than a minor cannabis offense) unless the commissioner determines, after investigation and in accordance with duly promulgated rules, that such person has been sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust. The burden of proof of rehabilitation shall be on the person seeking such rehabilitation;

   (2)   A person who knowingly files false or incomplete information on an application for a public place of amusement license under this Article III or any other document required by this Chapter 4-156;

   (3)   A person whose license, issued by the City of Chicago under any chapter of the Municipal Code of Chicago, has been revoked for cause within the past five years;

   (4)   A person who at the time of application for renewal of a public place of amusement license under this Article III would not be eligible for such license upon a first application;

   (5)   A corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability company, if any of the officers, substantial owners, members or other individuals required to be identified in the initial license application by Section 4-156-310(a) would not be eligible to receive a license hereunder;

   (6)   A corporation unless it is incorporated in Illinois, or unless it is a foreign corporation which is qualified under the "Business Corporation Act of 1983" to transact business in Illinois; provided that the corporation is not dissolved and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Illinois;

   (7)   A person who is not a beneficial owner of the business for which a license is sought;

   (8)   A person whose place of business is conducted by a manager or agent unless the person demonstrates that the manager or agent possesses the qualifications required to obtain a license hereunder; or

   (9)   A person whose public place of amusement license under this Article III has not undergone and passed a building inspection as required by Section 14A-6-602 of this Code within the 90 days preceding the date of submission, every two years, of a renewal license application.

(Amend Coun. J. 7-2-97, p. 48017; Amend Coun. J. 10-1-03, p. 9163, § 3.2; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 92532, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 16; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 36; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. IV, § 16)

4-156-360 License – Fees.

   The license fee for each public place of amusement issued under this Article III shall be as set forth in Section 4-5-010.

(Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 7-2-97, p. 48017; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 92532, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-13-10, p. 83191, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 17)

4-156-380 Public place of amusement – Exit diagram.

   The licensee of every public place of amusement issued under this Article III shall post diagrams, drawn to scale, showing the locations of the exits. If such public place of amusement is located in a building or in a part of a building, the diagrams shall be posted in the same locations as the occupancy signs required under Section 14A-8-802. If such public place of amusement is a park or other outdoor venue enclosed by a fence or other enclosure, the diagrams shall be conspicuously posted in the entrance to the park or outdoor venue.

   The diagrams shall be made of a durable material, illuminated, and shall measure not less than 11 inches in width and 17 inches in height.

(Added Coun. J. 10-1-03, p. 9163, § 3.3; Amend Coun. J. 4-19-17, p. 48180, Art. V, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. II, § 37)

4-156-390 Ticket sales.

   It is unlawful for any licensee to sell, or permit any person to sell, any ticket of admission to the licensed premises unless it has conspicuously printed upon its face the price of admission.

(Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 7-2-97, p. 48017)

4-156-400 Reserved.

Editor's note – Coun. J. 11-12-98, p. 81835, repealed § 4-156-400, which pertained to amusement tax statement prohibited.