15-4-830 Duties.

   It shall be the duty of the desk clerk daily to see that all exit doors are unfastened and unobstructed and that the corridors and fire escapes are kept clear and free of all obstructions; that all fire appliances in the rooms and throughout the premises are in proper place and in good working order. In the event of a fire, it shall be the desk clerk's duty to first notify the Chicago Fire Department of said fire immediately, and, thereafter, to spread the alarm to all occupants of the premises. The desk clerk shall obey and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by rules and regulations adopted, from time to time, by the fire commissioner.

   Such desk clerk may, at the discretion of the owner or manager of the premises wherein he is employed, perform other duties during his hours of employment, provided the additional duties are not inconsistent with the duties herein set forth.

(Prior code § 90-81; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 106)

15-4-840 Violation – Penalty.

   Any person violating any of the provisions of Sections 15-4-780 to 15-4-830 shall be fined not more than $200.00 for each offense, and each day such violation shall continue shall be regarded as a separate offense. In addition, such violation shall be cause for suspension or revocation of the certificate of the desk clerk.

(Prior code §  90-82)

ARTICLE XIV. THEATER SEATING (15-4-850 et seq.)

15-4-850 Diagram of theater exits and seats.

   The owner, lessee or manager of any theater having a seating capacity of 300 persons or more shall cause to be printed on all programs furnished for any performance, on a page opposite to that on which the cast is printed, a diagram showing conspicuously the place of every exit from such building. This diagram shall be drawn to such a scale that the diagram shall cover the entire page on which it is printed. A diagram of the floor plans, showing the location of every seat on each floor and also the exits leading from each floor drawn to a scale on one-eighth inch to the foot, shall be posted in a conspicuous place outside the box office of such theater so as to be easily seen by the public.

(Prior code §  90-83)

15-4-860 Reserved.

Editor's note – Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029, Art. XXII, § 34, repealed § 15-4-860, which pertained to aisles for seats not permanently fastened.

ARTICLE XV. OBSTRUCTING EXITS OR OPEN AREAS (15-4-870 et seq.)

15-4-870 Locking doors.

   It shall be unlawful to lock or fasten any door or other means of exit from any building, room or space, other than individual dwelling units, where persons are gathered during any of the time in which such space is so occupied, in any manner such as will not permit immediate opening from within of such means of exit without the use of a key and without special knowledge.

(Prior code §  90-85)

15-4-880 Obstruction of exits.

   No person shall at any time place an encumbrance of any kind whatsoever before or in any exit way or before or upon any fire escape, balcony or ladder intended as a means of escape from fire. It shall be the duty of every member of the police and fire departments, who shall discover any fire escapes, balconies or ladders encumbered in any manner, to report forthwith to the fire commissioner and the said fire commissioner shall immediately notify the owner and the tenant to remove such encumbrances.

   It shall be unlawful for any person to place, store or keep, or permit to be placed, stored or kept under or at the bottom of any stairway, inside or outside, elevator or other shaft in any building, any combustible or flammable materials, fluids or compounds, nor shall any such combustible or flammable materials be placed or stored or kept in any place where ignition or burning would obstruct or render hazardous, egress from a building. No obstruction shall be permitted in hallways of tenement houses or apartment houses.

   All full width of doors, aisles and passageways within and leading into or out of theaters, churches and all other places of public assemblage shall be kept free from easels, signs, standards, campstools, chairs, sofas, benches, and any other article which would obstruct the width of the exit or delay the exit of the audience, congregation or assemblage during the entire time during which any show, performance, service, exhibition, lecture, concert, ball or other assemblage may be held, and it shall be unlawful for any person to sit or stand or remain seated or standing, or to allow any other person so to remain in any such place of public assemblage in any aisle under any circumstances, or in any exit or passage required for the safe exit of the assemblage. Clear passage from all exits and on all sidewalks must at all times be maintained outside of all theaters and other places of public assemblage.

   No aisle, passageway or stairway in any store shall be obstructed with tables, showcases, or other obstructions during hours said store is open to the public.

   It shall be the duty of the superintendent of police to render assistance in the enforcement of the provisions of this section, and to direct and require police officers to enter all places of public assemblage for such purposes.

(Prior code § 90-86; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 107)