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Municipal Code of Chicago
MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2 CITY GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
TITLE 4 BUSINESSES, OCCUPATIONS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
TITLE 5 HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 6 HUMAN RIGHTS*
TITLE 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY
CHAPTER 7-4 LEAD-BEARING SUBSTANCES
CHAPTER 7-12 ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
CHAPTER 7-16 BIRTHS AND DEATHS
CHAPTER 7-20 CONTAGIOUS AND EPIDEMIC DISEASES
CHAPTER 7-22 CONCUSSION INJURIES IN STUDENT ATHLETES IN CHICAGO SCHOOLS
CHAPTER 7-24 DRUGS AND NARCOTICS
CHAPTER 7-28 HEALTH NUISANCES
CHAPTER 7-30 PLASTIC BAG AND FILM PLASTIC RECYCLING ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 7-32 CHICAGO CLEAN INDOOR AIR ORDINANCE OF 2008*
CHAPTER 7-36 TOY SAFETY
CHAPTER 7-38 FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS - SANITARY OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
CHAPTER 7-39 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 7-40 FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS - CARE OF FOODS*
CHAPTER 7-42 FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS - INSPECTIONS, VIOLATIONS AND HEARING PROCEDURES*
CHAPTER 7-44 EXTERMINATION BY FUMIGATION*
CHAPTER 7-50 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
CHAPTER 7-51 CHICAGO PREPAID WIRELESS 9-1-1 SURCHARGE
CHAPTER 7-52 HOTEL AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 7-58 EMERGENCY ENERGY PLAN
CHAPTER 7-59 NATURAL GAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
TITLE 8 OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
TITLE 9 VEHICLES, TRAFFIC AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
TITLE 10 STREETS, PUBLIC WAYS, PARKS, AIRPORTS AND HARBORS
TITLE 11 UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TITLE 12 RESERVED
TITLE 13 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE 14 RESERVED*
TITLE 14A ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES*
TITLE 14B BUILDING CODE*
TITLE 14C CONVEYANCE DEVICE CODE*
TITLE 14E ELECTRICAL CODE*
TITLE 14F FIRE PREVENTION CODE*
TITLE 14G FUEL GAS CODE*
TITLE 14M MECHANICAL CODE*
TITLE 14N 2022 ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CODE*
TITLE 14P PLUMBING CODE*
TITLE 14R BUILDING REHABILITATION CODE*
TITLE 14X MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS*
TITLE 15 FIRE PREVENTION
TITLE 16 LAND USE
TITLE 17 CHICAGO ZONING ORDINANCE
TITLE 18 BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
APPENDIX TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO (RESERVED)*
TABLES
Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance
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7-28-715 Composting standards.
   (1)   Any composting operation which meets the qualifications of paragraphs (3), (4) or (5) of this section shall be exempt from the permit requirements of Chapter 11-4 of this Code.
   (2)   General composting standards. All composting operations which meet the qualifications of paragraphs (3), (4) or (5) shall promote proper conditions for composting and shall operate under the following standards, in addition to all applicable local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations:
      (a)   Nuisance. In no event shall any composting activity be conducted in a manner which creates an odor, litter, dust or noise nuisance, or attracts vectors or pests.
      (b)   Rat and other vector control. The presence of insects, rodents, birds and other vectors or pests shall be controlled through specific measures. These specific measures may include grinding the ingredients, providing screens or netting, or conducting the composting operation in-vessel.
      (c)   Surface water. The composting operation shall be located or designed and constructed to prevent the composting material and compost from sitting in ponded surface water. In no event shall any composting activity be conducted in a manner which creates standing water resulting from leachate.
      (d)   Mixing. Composting material shall be mixed or turned at regular intervals as conditions mandate to re-mix ingredients, distribute moisture, rebuild porosity and aid in physical breakdown until composting is complete.
      (e)   [Reserved.]
      (f)   Sewage restriction. The composting material shall not contain sewage, sludge, septage or catch basin waste. For the purposes of this section, "sewage" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11-4-120 of this Code; "sludge" shall mean any solid, semi-solid, or liquid waste generated from a municipal, commercial, or industrial wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility or any other such waste having similar characteristics or effects; "septage" shall mean the waste found in a septic tank; and "catch basin waste" shall mean the waste found in a catch basin.
   (3)   (i)   Tier I garden composting operation. A composting operation that composts only landscape waste, whether or not generated on-site, shall be exempt from the permit requirements of Chapter 11-4 of this Code if it meets the following criteria:
         (a)   Ingredients. The composting operation composts only landscape waste.
         (b)   Noncommercial. The composting operation is not engaged in commercial activities related to composting, the acceptance of landscape waste or commercial landscaping.
         (c)   Size. The composting operation contains no more than a total of 10 cubic yards of landscape waste, composting material and end product compost on-site at any one time, unless express written authorization has been issued by the commissioner of streets and sanitation allowing a greater volume, not to exceed 25 cubic yards.
         (d)   Compost use. All generated compost must be used on-site.
   (3)   (ii)   Tier II garden composting operation. A composting operation that composts only landscape waste and limited organic waste, whether or not generated on-site, shall be exempt from the permit requirements of Chapter 11-4 of this Code if it meets the following criteria:
         (a)   Ingredients. The composting operation composts only landscape waste and limited organic waste. The limited organic waste shall not exceed 10% of the total material in the process of being composted on-site at any one time.
         (b)   Processing. All limited organic waste that constitutes food scrap must be processed into the composting operation by the end of the day it was generated on-site or received from off-site. Other limited organic waste must be processed into the composting operation or be contained in a properly maintained covered steel or rigid plastic container by the end of the day it was generated on-site or received from off-site.
         (c)   Record keeping. The operator shall, in a form prescribed by the commissioners, maintain on site and shall make available for inspection records of all limited organic waste received from off-site.
         (d)   Compost use. All generated compost must be used on-site.
         (e)   Noncommercial. The composting operation is not engaged in commercial activities related to composting, the acceptance of limited organic waste or landscape waste, or commercial landscaping.
         (f)   Size. The composting operation contains no more than a total of 10 cubic yards of landscape waste, limited organic waste, composting material and end product compost on-site at any one time, unless express written authorization has been issued by the commissioner of streets and sanitation allowing a greater volume, not to exceed 25 cubic yards.
   (3)   (iii)   Registration. Any operator shall annually register with the city's on-line or other registration portal, or a third party registration portal approved by the commissioners by rule. Such registration must include the name and contact information of the operator, the name and contact information of the owner, the name and contact information of the individual principally in charge of the site operations (if different from the operator), and any other information that may be required by the commissioners by rule. The operator must keep such information current as provided by the commissioners by rule.
   (4)   On-site organic waste composting operation. A composting operation that composts food scrap and/or non-hazardous carbonaceous waste, whether or not landscape waste is added to the composting mixture, shall be exempt from the permit requirements of Chapter 11-4 of this Code if it meets the following criteria:
      (a)   Ingredients. The composting operation composts only organic waste that is generated on-site.
      (b)   In-vessel requirement. Any composting of food scrap and/or non-hazardous carbonaceous waste is conducted in-vessel. This requirement also applies to mixtures of landscape wastes with these wastes.
      (c)   Size. The composting operation contains no more than a total of 5 cubic yards of landscape waste, composting material and end product compost on-site at any one time, unless express written authorization has been issued by the commissioner of streets and sanitation allowing a greater volume.
      (d)   Compost use. All generated compost is used on-site.
   (5)   In addition to those composting operations described in paragraphs (3) and (4), all composting operations which meet the criteria for a permit-exempt facility pursuant to 35 Illinois Admin. Code Section 830.105 shall meet the standards of paragraph (2)(a) through (f) of this section, in addition to all applicable local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
   (6)   Enforcement provisions. Any person that violates this section or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder and is not operating under a permit under Chapter 11-4 that permits composting shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $600 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. In addition, if any person violates this section, the commissioner of health may issue an emergency or non-emergency cessation or abatement order in accordance with Section 11-4-025 of this Code.
   (7)   The commissioner is authorized to enforce this section and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The commissioners are authorized to administer this section and to jointly adopt and promulgate reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to the administration and enforcement of this section.
(Added Coun. J. 4-11-07, p. 102577, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 4110, § 1)
7-28-720 Accumulation of materials or junk.
   It shall be unlawful for any person to accumulate or permit the accumulation on any open lot, or other premises, any lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks, stones, scrap metal, motor vehicle bodies or parts, or similar materials, or any articles of junk, which provides rat- harborage, unless the same shall be placed on open racks that are elevated not less than 18 inches above the ground, evenly piled or stacked.
   Any person who violates this section shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $5,000 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply.
(Prior code § 99-61.8; Amend Coun. J. 7-31-90, p. 19384; Amend Coun. J. 7-28-10, p. 97912, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-11-17, p. 56894, § 1)
7-28-730 Reserved.
Editor’s note – Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. III, § 7, repealed § 7-28-730, which pertained to rat-stoppage by owner – lien.
7-28-735 Reserved.
Editor’s note – Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. III, § 8, repealed § 7-28-735, which pertained to food establishments.
ARTICLE VI. LOT MAINTENANCE (7-28-740 et seq.)
7-28-740 Lot maintenance – Required.
   It shall be the duty of the owner of any open lot located within the City of Chicago to keep such lot free of garbage, ashes, refuse, trash, rubbish, miscellaneous waste, manure or other substance that may contain disease germs or be scattered by the wind, or decompose, or become filthy, noxious or unhealthful. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $600 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply.
(Prior code § 99-62; Added Coun. J. 2-11-87, p. 39626; Amend 7-31-90, p. 19384; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-09, p. 67509, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-28-10, p. 97912, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. II, § 1)
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