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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
CHAPTER 10-4 ARRANGEMENT OF CITY STREETS
CHAPTER 10-8 USE OF PUBLIC WAYS AND PLACES
CHAPTER 10-12 STREET IMPROVEMENTS
CHAPTER 10-14 RESERVED
CHAPTER 10-16 UNDERGROUND WORK
CHAPTER 10-20 WORK ON AND UNDER PUBLIC WAYS
CHAPTER 10-21 CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FACILITIES DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 10-24 SIGNS EXTENDING OVER AND UPON CERTAIN PUBLIC PROPERTY
CHAPTER 10-28 STRUCTURES ON AND UNDER PUBLIC WAYS
ARTICLE I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (10-28-010 et seq.)
ARTICLE II. CARTS BELONGING TO RETAIL STORES (10-28-080 et seq.)
ARTICLE II-A. RESERVED* (10-28-121 et seq.)
ARTICLE III. NEWSPAPER STANDS (10-28-130 et seq.)
ARTICLE IV. CANOPIES AND MARQUEES (10-28-200 et seq.)
ARTICLE IV-A. PLACEMENT OF PAY TELEPHONES IN PUBLIC WAY (10-28-265 et seq.)
ARTICLE V. AWNINGS (10-28-270 et seq.)
ARTICLE V-A. OBSTRUCTION OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE PURPOSES (10-28-281 et seq.)
ARTICLE V-B. PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC WAY AND PUBLIC PLACES (10-28-281.6 et seq.)
ARTICLE V-C. CONSTRUCTION CANOPIES (10-28-282 et seq.)
ARTICLE VI. LAMPPOSTS AND LAMPS (10-28-290 et seq.)
ARTICLE VII. SIDEWALK SIGNS* (10-28-360 et seq.)
ARTICLE VIII. LAWN SPRINKLING SYSTEMS IN PUBLIC PARKWAYS (10-28-440 et seq.)
ARTICLE IX. USE OF SUBSIDEWALK SPACE (10-28-450 et seq.)
ARTICLE X. OUTDOOR DINING STREET* (10-28-590 et seq.)
ARTICLE XI. BENCHES ON PUBLIC WAYS* (10-28-640 et seq.)
ARTICLE XI-A. NEWSRACKS (10-28-750 et seq.)
ARTICLE XI-B. REFUSE COMPACTORS/GREASE CONTAINERS* (10-28-791 et seq.)
ARTICLE XI-C. DUMPSTERS/ROLL OFF BOXES ON THE PUBLIC WAY* (10-28-799 et seq.)
ARTICLE XII. SIDEWALK CAFES (10-28-800 et seq.)
ARTICLE XIII. VIOLATION OF CHAPTER PROVISIONS (10-28-990 et seq.)
ARTICLE XIV. RESERVED (10-28-1000 et seq.)
CHAPTER 10-29 WIRES, PIPES, CABLES AND CONDUITS ON, UNDER OR OVER PUBLIC PROPERTY
CHAPTER 10-30 TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT ON, OVER OR UNDER PUBLIC WAYS
CHAPTER 10-32 TREES, PLANTS AND SHRUBS
CHAPTER 10-36 PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND AIRPORTS
CHAPTER 10-40 CHICAGO HARBOR
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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10-28-825 Compliance with plan and other components of application.
   (A)   Each sidewalk café shall comply in all respects with the specifications set out in the plan submitted to the commissioner, and with the other components of the application.
   (B)   In the event that the application, including the plan, becomes inaccurate or incomplete in any respect as a result of circumstances or events outside the control of the permittee, the permittee shall notify the commissioner within three business days of such circumstances or events.
   (C)   Before taking any action that would result in the application, including the plan, becoming inaccurate or incomplete in any respect, the permittee shall seek the prior approval of the commissioner.
   (D)   Upon being notified of an actual or contemplated change pursuant to either subsection (B) or (C) of this section, the commissioner shall review the change to determine if such change is insubstantial or substantial, using the same criteria as relevant to the commissioner's consideration of an initial application. If such change is insubstantial and if the application, as so changed, meets the criteria for an initial application, the commissioner shall approve the change. If such change is insubstantial and if the application, as so changed, does not meet the criteria for an initial application, the commissioner shall disapprove the change. If such change is substantial, a new permit application shall be required.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-11, p. 113789, § 1)
10-28-830 Permit – Assignment or transfer prohibited.
   No permittee shall assign or transfer a sidewalk café permit.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4)
10-28-835 Permit for one retail food establishment only.
   A sidewalk café shall be for the exclusive use of the licensed retail food establishment or licensed tavern stated on the application. Sharing or other joint use of a sidewalk café location by more than one retail food establishment or tavern shall not be permitted. The foregoing prohibition shall not apply to an owner or manager of an indoor retail market, who is allowed to operate a sidewalk café which can be shared by multiple retail food establishments which occupy space within the indoor retail market.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-11, p. 113789, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-31-23, p. 427, Art. II, § 1)
10-28-840 Permit for food and alcoholic beverage service only.
   A sidewalk café permit shall only authorize food and alcoholic beverage service at the sidewalk café. Regardless of what other activity may take place inside the establishment pursuant to license or permit, such activity shall not be allowed at the sidewalk café by virtue of the sidewalk café permit.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4)
10-28-845 Operational conditions.
   (A)   Sidewalk cafés permitted under this article shall not operate earlier than 7:00 a.m. nor later than 12:00 midnight.
   (B)   Sidewalk cafés permitted under this article shall not play music, whether live or recorded, nor allow music to be played at the sidewalk café, other than through headphones.
   (C)   The operator of a sidewalk café shall install and maintain a physical boundary separating the permitted outdoor seating from the remainder of the public way. The operator shall leave six feet of public way unobstructed for pedestrian passage; the commissioner may alter this requirement by regulation in a situation where adherence to the requirement would make operation of a sidewalk café impossible and reduction of the unobstructed portion of the public way would not compromise pedestrian safety. The construction, configuration and other characteristics of the boundary, including landscaping, shall be set forth by regulation.
   (D)   Sidewalk cafés that are taverns shall allow for food service on the premises of the sidewalk café.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-11, p. 113789, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31925, Art. IV, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 5-31-23, p. 427, Art. II, § 1)
10-28-846 Extension in front of neighboring property.
   If a permit application is made for a sidewalk café that would extend to any portion of a public right-of-way in front of a neighboring property, in addition to all other applicable requirements, the following requirements shall apply and shall be required for continued operation:
   (A)   The insurance coverages furnished in compliance with Section 10-28-815 of the Code shall apply to the entire footprint of the sidewalk café as set forth in the approved plan;
   (B)   The sidewalk café shall extend to the public right-of-way in front of the neighboring property without interruption;
   (C)   The sidewalk café may not obstruct the view of any of the occupied neighboring property's windows from the street, or block the door of the neighboring property;
   (D)   The sidewalk café may not extend to a public right-of-way in front of a neighboring property that is used for the operation of a retail food establishment or retail liquor establishment;
   (E)   The extension shall be limited to the public right-of-way in front of a single neighboring property; and
   (F)   If the sidewalk café extends on the property side of the public right-of-way in front of the neighboring property, the applicant shall notify, in writing, the owner and occupant, if any, of such property of the applicant's plan to apply for a sidewalk café permit that would extend on the property side of the public right-of-way in front of the neighboring property. A copy of such notice shall be included with the sidewalk café permit application. No such notice shall be required if the sidewalk café extension is entirely on the curb side of the public right-of-way in front of the neighboring property.
(Added Coun. J. 5-31-23, p. 427, Art. II, § 1)
10-28-850 Alcoholic beverage service – Requirements.
   If alcoholic beverages are served at the sidewalk café, the operator must be validly licensed under this code for such sales; provided, however, an owner or manager of an indoor retail market operating a sidewalk café is not required to be licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages. If alcoholic beverages are served at a sidewalk café operated by an indoor retail market, (i) the retail food establishment selling the alcoholic beverages must be validly licensed under this code for such sales; (ii) the retail food establishment serving the alcoholic beverage must maintain its liquor liability (dramshop) insurance when serving the alcoholic beverages; and (iii) the alcoholic beverages must be served in plastic cups which shall clearly identify the retail food establishment from which each alcoholic beverage was purchased. Alcoholic beverages supplied by the customer or by any person other than the permittee will not be allowed at sidewalk cafés.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-11, p. 113789, § 1)
10-28-855 Compliance with code and rules and regulations required.
   All holders of a sidewalk café permit, retail food establishments selling food or alcoholic beverages in a sidewalk café operated by an owner or manager of an indoor retail market, and their employees shall be subject to and comply with all applicable requirements and standards for retail food establishments and taverns contained in the Code, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder, and all laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the sale of alcoholic beverages.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-11, p. 113789, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-31-23, p. 427, Art. II, § 1)
10-28-860 Promulgation of regulations; force and effect.
   (A)   The commissioner is authorized to promulgate regulations to carry out the purposes of this article, including without limitation regulations governing:
      (1)   The location, arrangement and design of sidewalk cafés to ensure the flow of pedestrian traffic, the safety of pedestrians and auto traffic, the access to buildings and transportation facilities, the prevention of an excessive number of cafés, and the best service to the public;
      (2)   The size, design and other specifications for tables and serving equipment to be used by operators, and the design of enclosures or partial enclosures;
      (3)   The types of food and beverages that may be served at sidewalk cafés;
      (4)   The time periods during which application can be made for a sidewalk café permit;
      (5)   Landscaping and other aesthetic components of the sidewalk café; and
      (6)   Any other matter pertaining to this article.
   (B)   A permittee shall comply with the regulations promulgated pursuant to this article, which shall have the force and effect of law.
(Added Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27687, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-11, p. 113789, § 1)
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