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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
CHAPTER 13-4 DEFINITIONS
CHAPTER 13-8 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-9 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-10 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-11 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-12 ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING, ELECTRICAL AND FIRE REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 13-14 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-16 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-20 BUILDING INSPECTION
CHAPTER 13-24 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-28 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-32 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-34 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-36 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-40 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-44 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-48 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-52 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-56 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-60 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-64 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-68 BUSINESS UNITS
CHAPTER 13-72 CONDOMINIUMS
CHAPTER 13-76 HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
CHAPTER 13-78 HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS - EMERGENCY PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 13-80 INSTITUTIONAL UNITS
CHAPTER 13-84 ASSEMBLY UNITS
CHAPTER 13-88 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-92 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-96 MISCELLANEOUS BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 13-100 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-104 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-108 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-112 HAZARDOUS OCCUPANCIES*
CHAPTER 13-116 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-120 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-124 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-128 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-132 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-136 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-140 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-144 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-148 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-152 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-156 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-160 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-164 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-168 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-172 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-176 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-180 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-184 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-192 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-196 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-200 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-204 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-206 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 13-208 TEMPORARY OVERNIGHT SHELTERS
CHAPTER 13-212 TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS
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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13-20-450 Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17167, § 28, repealed § 13-20-450, which pertained to inspection fees for exhibitions, carnivals, and temporary installations.
13-20-460 Reserved.
Editor’s note – Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. XXI, § 10, repealed § 13-20-460, which pertained to overtime inspections.
13-20-470 Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17167, § 30, repealed § 13-20-470, which pertained to inspection fees for interior communication systems.
13-20-480 Reserved.
Editor's note – Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17167, § 31, repealed § 13-20-480, which pertained to inspection fees for electrical services.
13-20-490 Reserved.
Editor’s note – Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. XXI, § 10, repealed § 13-20-490, which pertained to electric lamp posts.
ARTICLE XIII. SIGNS, BILLBOARDS, SIGNBOARDS AND RELATED STRUCTURES (13-20-500 et seq.)
Part A. General (13-20-500 et seq.)
13-20-500 Scope.
   This article covers the requirements for approval of applications, issuance of permits, and supervision of all signs, signboards, and supporting structures, as defined below, which are constructed, erected, or being maintained under the provisions of this chapter.
   The installation requirements for this equipment are covered in Section 14E-6-600.
(Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 14)
13-20-510 Definitions.
   For the purposes of this Article, the following additional definitions shall apply:
   "Alter" or "altered" or "alteration" or "change" means any action pertaining to a sign or sign structure that requires the issuance of a new permit under Section 13-20-550, including but not limited to, any modification, relocation, re-erection, conversion from on-premise to off-premise (or vice versa), conversion from static image to dynamic image (or vice versa), conversion in dynamic technology, raising or lowering its height, changing its angle, adding extensions, enlarging its dimensions, deviating from approved permit drawings or supporting documents, or changing the address to which the permit applies.
   "Owner or lessee of the real property" means: (1) the owner of the real property on which any on-premise or off-premise sign is located; or (2) any on-premise tenant of an owner who maintains an on-premise sign on such owner's real property. For purposes of this definition, the term "owner or lessee of the real property" shall not mean the owner or lessee of an off-premise sign asset or account or of an off-premise sign structure asset or account, or the lessee of air space or exterior wall space for an off-premise sign. The definition of "owner or lessee of the real property" added by the amendatory ordinance of 2017, effective January 1, 2018, is intended to clarify, rather than to change, existing law.
   Signs. Sign(s) mean any name, identification, description, display, illustration, or character which: (1) is affixed to, or represented directly or indirectly upon, a building, structure, or piece of land; and (2) directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business. For purposes of this definition, the term "sign(s)" shall also include any item defined as a "sign" in Section 17-17-02159. The language added to this definition by the amendatory ordinance of 2017, effective January 1, 2018, is intended to clarify, rather than to change, existing law.
   Signs (electrical). Electrical signs are signs that are electrically illuminated.
   "Dynamic image display sign" means any sign, or portion thereof, with characteristics that appear to have movement or that appear to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent movement or change is in the display, the sign structure itself, or any other component of the sign. This includes a display that incorporates a technology or method allowing the sign face to change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the sign face or its components. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, blinking, or animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED lights manipulated through digital input, "digital ink" or any other method or technology that allows the sign face to present a series of images or displays.
   "Flat signs" means signs which are placed flat against the building or structure from which they are supported and which run parallel thereto. Signs supported from a canopy are deemed to be flat signs when they are single face.
   "Ground signs" means signs supported by a structure which rests on or in the ground.
   "Luminance" means the photometric measure of luminous intensity per unit area of light travelling in a given direction. Luminance is measured in candelas per square meters or "nits."
   "Motion" or "moving" means the depiction of movement or change of position of text, images or graphics. Motion or moving shall include, but not be limited to, visual effects such as dissolving and fading text and images, travelling, running sequential text, graphic bursts, lighting that resembles zooming, twinkling or sparkling, changes in light or color, transitory bursts of light intensity, moving patterns or bands of light, expanding or contracting shapes, and similar actions.
   "Nits" means a unit of measurement of brightness or luminance. One nit is equivalent to one candela per square meter.
   "Off-premise sign" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 17-17-02108.
   "On-premise sign" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 17-17-02109.
   "Projecting signs" means signs which project obliquely or at right angles from the building or structure from which they are supported.
   "Roof signs." Roof signs are signs which are erected on and supported by the roof of a building or structure.
   "Static sign" means a sign that does not rotate, move, or have any appearance of changing or movement in the sign, sign components or structure. A "static sign" shall not include any sign that has any characteristics of a dynamic image display sign.
   "Twirl time" means the time it takes for static text, images or graphics on a dynamic image display sign to change to different text, images or graphics.
(Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 6)
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