(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person shall own, maintain, conduct, operate or engage in the business of motor vehicle repair for compensation within the City of Chicago, or hold himself/herself out as being able to engage in such business, or act as an agent for another who is engaged in the motor vehicle repair business, or take custody of a motor vehicle within the City of Chicago for the purpose of repair without first having obtained a motor vehicle repair shop license under this chapter. The license issued to a motor vehicle repair shop under this chapter authorizes the licensee and all of the licensee's bona fide employees to engage in the business of motor vehicle repair shop at the location identified in the license application.
(b) License required for each location. If a person maintains a motor vehicle repair shop at more than one location, a license shall be required for each such location.
(c) Exclusions. The following persons are excluded from the term motor vehicle repair shop:
(1) an employee of a motor vehicle repair shop who engages in the business of repairing motor vehicles solely by reason of his employment; or
(2) any person who is solely engaged in the business of repairing the motor vehicles of a single commercial or industrial establishment, or of the federal, state or local government or any agency thereof; or
(3) any person solely engaged in the business of repairing road building machines, farm machines, lawn machines, garden machines or vehicles registered as special purpose vehicles; or
(4) any person who does not work on the vehicle but only rebuilds or reconditions parts of the vehicle removed by others (i.e., after market manufacturers); or
(5) any person who engages in the business of distributing motor vehicle parts.
(Added Coun. J. 12-9-92, p. 25465; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-93, p. 39429; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 3094; Amend Coun. J. 4-16-97, p. 42621; Amend Coun. J. 7-19-00, p. 38593, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 75777, § 3.2; Amend Coun. J. 7-27-05, p. 53211, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-06, p. 92532, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 1-13-10, p. 83191, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-5-11, p. 8801, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 5-9-12, p. 27485, § 106)