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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
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
CHAPTER 8-24
FIREARMS AND OTHER WEAPONS
8-24-005   Definitions.
8-24-010   Discharging cannons.
8-24-020   Sale or possession of deadly weapons.
8-24-021   Sale, display and use of utility knives.
8-24-025   Reserved.
8-24-026   Reserved.
8-24-027   Reserved.
8-24-030   Sale prohibited – Confiscation.
8-24-040   Discharging toy firearms; Replica air guns.
8-24-045   Noxious gas or liquid.
8-24-050   Hunting.
8-24-060   Violation – Penalty.
8-24-005 Definitions.
   For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions apply:
   "Ballistic knife" means a knife with a detachable blade that can be expelled from the handle or frame as a projectile commonly propelled by a spring-operated mechanism, a coil spring, elastic material or compressed gas.
   "Corrections officers," "firearm,""peace officer, "shooting range patron" and "licensed shooting range facility" have the meaning ascribed to those terms in section 8-20-010.
   "Switchblade knife" means any knife with a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife and commonly referred to as a switchblade knife.
(Added Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3073, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 3)
8-24-010 Discharging cannons.
   No cannon or piece of artillery shall be discharged or fired off in any public way or other public place within the city, except upon the express permission of the city council.
   Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for each offense.
(Prior code § 193-29; Amend Coun. J. 7-7-92, p. 19196; Amend Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3073, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 3)
8-24-020 Sale or possession of deadly weapons.
   (a)   No person shall sell, offer for sale, keep, possess, purchase, loan or give to any person any bludgeon, blackjack, slung shot, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles, or other knuckle weapon regardless of its composition, throwing star, switchblade knife or ballistic knife; provided that this subsection shall not apply to the purchase, possession or carrying of a black- jack or slung shot by a peace officer.
   (b)   No person shall sell, offer for sale, loan or give to any person 18 years of age or under any type or kind of knife with a blade which is two inches in length or longer.
   (c)   No person 18 years of age or under shall carry, possess or conceal on or about his person, any knife, the blade of which is two inches in length or longer.
   (d)   No person shall carry or possess with intent to use unlawfully against another, or carry in a threatening or menacing manner, without authority of law, a dagger, billy, dangerous knife, razor, broken bottle or other piece or glass, stun gun, taser, or other dangerous or deadly weapon of like character.
   (e)   No person shall carry on or about his person or in any vehicle, a tear gas gun projector or bomb or any object containing noxious liquid gas or substance, other than an object containing a non-lethal noxious liquid gas or substance designed solely for personal defense carried by a person 18 years of age or older; provided that this subsection shall not apply to any person listed in section 5/24-2(a)(1)-(14) of the Criminal Code, 720 ILCS 5/24-2(a).
   (f)   No person shall carry concealed on or about his person a dagger, any knife with a blade more than two and one-half inches in length, or other dangerous weapon. Provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to the following officers while engaged in the discharge of their official duties: sheriffs, peace officers, and corrections officers; nor to the following employees or agents while engaged in the discharge of the duties of their employment: conductors, baggagemen, messengers, drivers, watchmen, special agents and policemen employed by railroads or express companies; nor to persons lawfully summoned by an officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace, while so engaged in assisting such officer.
   (g)   Unless the enhanced penalty imposed by subsection 8-4-350(b)(3) or subsection 8-4-355(b)(3) of this Code applies, any person violating this section shall be fined $200.00 for each offense, or shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
   (h)   Any weapons used in violation of this section shall be forfeited to the city.
(Prior code § 193-30; Amend Coun. J. 9-9-09, p. 70526, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 7-17-13, p. 57257, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59905, § 3)
8-24-021 Sale, display and use of utility knives.
   (a)   As used in this section, a "utility knife" is a knife consisting of a grip and single-edged sharp blade of the type typically used to cut such resistant surfaces as rugs, cardboard boxes, linoleum flooring and the like.
   (b)   No person shall display or offer for sale any utility knife except by placing the knife either (1) in an area immediately accessible only to an employee of the establishment, and beyond the reach of any customer less than seven feet tall; or (2) in a locked display cabinet, which can only be opened by an employee of the establishment.
   (c)   No person under the age of 18 shall carry a utility knife on his person, or in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. This prohibition shall not apply to a minor using a utility knife for a lawful purpose (1) in his residence, under the immediate supervision of his parent or legal guardian; or (2) in a classroom, at the direction and under the immediate supervision of his teacher; or (3) in his place of lawful employment, at the direction and under the immediate supervision of his adult employer or an adult supervisor. For purpose of clause (3) of this subsection (c), "place of employment" includes an employer's motor vehicle used to transport the employer's tools and equipment, as well as a site where the employer is performing any lawful work.
   (d)   No person shall sell, offer to sell, give, deliver or offer a utility knife to a person under the age of 18. The prohibition on giving, offering or delivery of a utility knife shall not apply to (1) a parent or legal guardian who gives a utility knife to his minor or ward in the family residence for a lawful use, to be performed within the residence at the direction and under the immediate supervision of parent or legal guardian; or (2) a teacher who gives a utility knife to a minor student, or who allows or directs a minor student to take possession of a utility knife, in a classroom for a lawful use, to be performed in the classroom at the direction and under the immediate supervision of the teacher; or (3) to an adult employer, who gives a utility knife to a minor employee, or who allows or directs a minor employee to take possession of a utility knife, in the place of lawful employment, at the direction and under the immediate supervision of the adult employer or an adult supervisor. For purposes of clause (3) of this subsection (d), "place of employment" includes an employer's motor vehicle used to transport the employer's tools and equipment, as well as a site where the employer is performing any lawful work.
   (e)   Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $1,000.00.
(Added Coun. J. 9-10-97, p. 51559; Amend Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 6)
8-24-025 Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 6, repealed § 8-24-025, which pertained to the sale of assault weapons and ammunition.
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