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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
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16-16-010 Title designated.
   Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970, the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago is hereby amended by adding a new chapter thereto to be numbered Chapter 16-16 and known as the Chicago Adult Use Ordinance, as follows.
(Prior code §  194C-1; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-87, p. 3030)
16-16-020 Intent and purpose.
   To regulate uses which, because of their very nature, are recognized as having serious objectionable operational characteristics, particularly when several of them are concentrated under certain circumstances thereby having a deleterious effect upon the adjacent areas. Special regulation of these uses is necessary to insure that these adverse effects will not contribute to the blighting or downgrading of the surrounding neighborhood. The primary control or regulation is for the purpose of preventing a concentration of these uses in any one area.
(Prior code §  194C-2; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-87, p. 3030)
16-16-030 Definitions.
   "Adult bookstore" means an establishment having as a substantial or significant portion of its sales or stock in trade, books, magazines, films for sale or viewing on premises by use of motion picture devices or any other coin-operated means, and other periodicals which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to "specified sexual activities", or "specified anatomical areas", or an establishment with a segment or section devoted to the sale or display of such material, or an establishment that holds itself out to the public as a purveyor of such materials based upon its signage, advertising, displays, actual sales, presence of video preview or coin operated booths, the exclusion of minors from the establishment's premises, or any other factors showing that the establishment's primary purpose is to purvey such material.
   "Adult motion picture theater" means an enclosed building with a capacity of 50 or more persons used regularly and routinely for presenting material having as a dominant theme material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas", for observation by patrons therein.
   "Adult mini motion picture theater" means an enclosed building with a capacity for less than 50 persons used for presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas", for observation by patrons therein.
   "Adult entertainment cabaret" means a public or private establishment which: (i) features topless dancers or strippers; (ii) not infrequently, features entertainers who display "specified anatomical areas"; or (iii) features entertainers who by reason of their appearance or conduct perform in a manner which is designed primarily to appeal to the prurient interest of the patron or entertainers who engage in, or engage in explicit simulation of, "specified sexual activities."
   "Specified sexual activities" means and is defined as:
      1.   Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal;
      2.   Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy;
      3.   Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock or female breast.
   "Specified anatomical areas" means and is defined as:
      1.   Less than completely and opaquely covered: (a) human genitals, pubic region, (b) buttock and (c) female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and
      2.   Human male genitals in a discernably turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.
(Prior code § 194C-3; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-87, p. 3030; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-93, p. 28689; Amend Coun. J. 5-6-15, p. 109069, § 1)
16-16-040 Regulated uses.
   Regulated uses include all adult uses which include, but are not limited to the following:
   Adult bookstore;
   Adult motion picture theater;
   Adult mini motion picture theater;
   Adult entertainment cabaret.
(Prior code §  194C-4; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-87, p. 3030)
16-16-050 Permitted uses.
   Adult uses shall be permitted subject to zoning restrictions as provided in Title 17.
(Prior code §  194C-4.1; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-87, p. 3030)
16-16-060 Registration.
   The owner of a building or premises, his agent for the purpose of managing, controlling or collecting rents, or any other person managing or controlling a building or premises, any part of which contains an adult use shall register with the department of business affairs and consumer protection of the City of Chicago the following information:
   a.   The address of the premises;
   b.   The name of the owner of the premises and names of the beneficial owners if the property is in a land trust;
   c.   The address of the owner and the beneficial owners;
   d.   The name of the business or the establishment subject to the provisions of Section 16-16-040;
   e.   The name(s) of the owner, beneficial owner or the major stockholders of the business or the establishment subject to the provisions of Section 16-16-040;
   f.   The address of those persons named in paragraph e;
   g.   The date of initiation of the adult use;
   h.   The nature of the adult use;
   i.   If the premises or building is leased, a copy of the said lease must be attached.
(Prior code § 194C-5; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-87, p. 3030; Amend Coun. J. 7-27-05, p. 53211, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. V, § 5)
16-16-070 Registration and certification.
   It is unlawful for the owner or person in control of any property to establish or operate thereon or to permit any person to establish or operate an adult use without first having properly registered and received certification of approved registration.
(Prior code §  194C-5.1; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-87, p. 3030)
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