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Chicago Overview
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
CHAPTER 18-11 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-13 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-14 BUILDING ENERGY USE BENCHMARKING
CHAPTER 18-27 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-28 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS*
CHAPTER 18-29 PLUMBING*
Article 1. Administration (18-29-101 et seq.)
Article 2. Definitions (18-29-201 et seq.)
Article 3. General Regulations (18-29-301 et seq.)
Article 4. Fixtures, Faucets and Fixture Fittings (18-29-401 et seq.)
Article 5. Water Heaters (18-29-501 et seq.)
Article 6. Water Supply and Distribution (18-29-601 et seq.)
18-29-601 General.
18-29-601.1 Scope.
18-29-601.2 Inspections and notices.
18-29-601.3 Access for inspections.
18-29-601.4 Solar energy utilization.
18-29-602 Water Required.
18-29-602.1 General.
18-29-602.1.1 Obligations of water consumers.
18-29-602.1.2 Obligations of water consumers - Private water mains on private property.
18-29-602.2 Potable water required.
18-29-602.3 Deliberately omitted.
18-29-602.4 Reserve water supply.
18-29-602.4.1 Installation of line valves or taps.
18-29-602.4.2 Dual meter settings.
18-29-603 Water Service.
18-29-603.1 Size of water service pipe and water meter.
18-29-603.1.1 Meter spreader connection.
18-29-603.1.2 Water service for fire protection systems.
18-29-603.1.3 Permit required.
18-29-603.2 Separation of water service and building sewer/drain.
18-29-603.2.1 Water supply systems installed near a sewer structure.
18-29-603.2.2 Reserved.
18-29-603.2.3 Backfill.
18-29-603.3 Metered service.
18-29-603.3.1 Authority.
18-29-603.3.2 Connection to metered service.
18-29-603.3.3 Licensed and bonded contractor.
18-29-603.3.4 Location.
18-29-603.3.5 Construction of meter vaults.
18-29-603.3.6 Installation of taps.
18-29-603.3.7 Plans accompany permit application.
18-29-603.3.8 Notification of wrecking buildings for terminating water service.
18-29-604 Design of Building Water Distribution System.
18-29-604.1 General.
18-29-604.2 System interconnection.
18-29-604.3 Water distribution system design criteria.
18-29-604.4 Maximum flow and water consumption.
18-29-604.4.1 WaterSense compliance.
18-29-604.4.2 Reserved.
18-29-604.5 Size of fixture supply.
18-29-604.5.1 Minimum size.
18-29-604.6 Variable street pressures.
18-29-604.7 Inadequate water pressure.
18-29-604.8 Water pressure reducing valve or regulator.
18-29-604.8.1 Reserved.
18-29-604.8.2 Repair and removal.
18-29-604.9 Water hammer.
18-29-604.9.1 Air chambers.
18-29-604.10 Size of water supply pipes.
18-29-604.10.1 Minimum sizes of branch distributing pipes for fixtures and appliances.
18-29-604.10.1.1 Demand load.
18-29-604.10.1.2 Size of piping.
18-29-604.10.1.3 Available pressure.
18-29-604.10.2 Procedures for calculating sizing.
18-29-604.11 Individual pressure balancing in-line valves for individual fixture fittings.
18-29-604.11.1 Reserved.
18-29-605 Materials, Joints and Connections.
18-29-605.1 Water compatibility.
18-29-605.2 Soil and ground water.
18-29-605.3 Lead content of water supply pipe and fittings.
18-29-605.3.1 Lead content of drinking water pipe and fittings.*
18-29-605.4 Water service pipe.
18-29-605.4.1 Materials for supply pipes and fittings.
18-29-605.5 Water distribution pipe.
18-29-605.6 Fittings.
18-29-605.7 Valves.
18-29-605.8 Manufactured pipe nipples.
18-29-605.9 Prohibited joints and connections.
18-29-605.10 Flexible water connectors.
18-29-605.11 Deliberately omitted.
18-29-605.12 Brass.
18-29-605.12.1 Brazed joints.
18-29-605.12.2 Mechanical joints.
18-29-605.12.3 Threaded joints.
18-29-605.12.4 Welded joints.
18-29-605.13 Gray iron and ductile iron joints.
18-29-605.14 Reserved.
18-29-605.14.1 Reserved.
18-29-605.14.2 Reserved.
18-29-605.14.3 Reserved.
18-29-605.14.4 Threaded joints.
18-29-605.14.5 Welded joints.
18-29-605.15 Copper tubing.
18-29-605.15.1 Brazed joints.
18-29-605.15.2 Flared joints.
18-29-605.15.3 Grooved and shouldered mechanical joints.
18-29-605.15.4 Mechanical joints.
18-29-605.15.5 Press-connect joints.
18-29-605.15.6 Soldered joints.
18-29-605.15.7 Push-fit fitting joints.
18-29-605.16 CPVC plastic.
18-29-605.16.1 Mechanical joints.
18-29-605.16.2 Solvent cementing.
18-29-605.16.3 Threaded joints.
18-29-605.17 Steel.
18-29-605.17.1 Threaded joints.
18-29-605.17.2 Mechanical joints.
18-29-605.18 Deliberately omitted.
18-29-605.19 Deliberately omitted.
18-29-605.20 Deliberately omitted.
18-29-605.21 Joints between different materials.
18-29-605.21.1 Copper or copper-alloy tubing to galvanized steel pipe.
18-29-605.22 Protection for pipes and fixtures.
18-29-605.23 Hydrants and non-freeze hydrants protection.
18-29-605.24 Water supply pipe protection.
18-29-605.25 Refrigerant condensers.
18-29-605.26 Dead-ends prohibited.
18-29-605.27 Air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
18-29-605.28 Permissible exceptions.
18-29-606 Installation of the Building Water Distribution System.
18-29-606.1 Location of full-open valves.
18-29-606.2 Location of shutoff valves.
18-29-606.3 Access to valves.
18-29-606.4 Valve identification.
18-29-606.5 Water pressure booster systems.
18-29-606.5.1 Hydropneumatic system, booster pump system, gravity tank.
18-29-606.5.1.1 Requirements.
18-29-606.5.1.1.1 Pressure relief valve.
18-29-606.5.1.1.2 Compression tank.
18-29-606.5.1.1.3 Sludge drain pipe.
18-29-606.5.1.2 Booster pump system.
18-29-606.5.1.2.1 Gravity tanks.
18-29-606.5.1.2.2 Total pressure.
18-29-606.5.1.2.3 Low pressure cutoff.
18-29-606.5.2 Surge tank for pumps.
18-29-606.5.3 Check valves required.
18-29-606.5.3.1 Approval required.
18-29-606.5.4 Equipment required for tanks receiving city water.
18-29-606.5.4.1 Sludge drain pipe.
18-29-606.5.4.2 Size.
18-29-606.5.4.3 Covers and support.
18-29-606.5.5 Recycling system for vehicle wash installations.
18-29-606.5.6 Potable water inlet control and location.
18-29-606.5.7 Tank drain pipes.
18-29-606.5.8 Prohibited location of potable supply tanks.
18-29-606.5.9 Pressure relief valve requirements.
18-29-606.5.10 Pressure relief valves for hydropneumatic tanks.
18-29-606.6 Test of distribution pipes.
18-29-607 Hot Water Supply System.
18-29-607.1 Where required.
18-29-607.1.1 Temperature limiting means.
18-29-607.1.2 Tempered water temperature control.
18-29-607.1.2.1 Reserved.
18-29-607.2 Hot or tempered water supply to fixtures.
18-29-607.2.1 Circulation systems and heat trace systems for maintaining heated water temperature in distribution systems.
18-29-607.2.1.1 Pump controls for hot water storage system.
18-29-607.2.1.2 Demand recirculation controls for distribution systems.
18-29-607.2.1A Reserved.
18-29-607.2.2 Piping for recirculation systems having temperature-actuated mixing valves.
18-29-607.3 Thermal expansion control.
18-29-607.3.1 Reserved.
18-29-607.3.2 Reserved.
18-29-607.4 Flow of hot water to fixtures.
18-29-607.5 Insulation of piping.
18-29-607.6 Expansion joints.
18-29-608 Protection of Potable Water Supply.
18-29-608.1 General.
18-29-608.2 Plumbing fixtures.
18-29-608.3 Water supply pipes.
18-29-608.3.1 Special equipment, water supply protection.
18-29-608.4 Deliberately omitted.
18-29-608.5 Secondary water.
18-29-608.6 Prohibited use of secondary water.
18-29-608.6.1 Private water supplies.
18-29-608.7 Stop-and-waste valves prohibited.
18-29-608.8 Identification of potable and nonpotable water.
18-29-608.9 Re-utilization prohibited.
18-29-608.10 Reuse of piping.
18-29-608.11 Painting of water tanks.
18-29-608.12 Pumps and other appliances.
18-29-608.13 Backflow protection.
18-29-608.13.1 Air gap.
18-29-608.13.2 Reduced pressure principle backflow preventers.
18-29-608.13.3 Backflow preventer with intermediate atmospheric vent.
18-29-608.13.4 Barometric loop.
18-29-608.13.5 Atmospheric-type vacuum breakers.
18-29-608.13.6 Double check-valve assemblies.
18-29-608.14 Location of backflow preventers.
18-29-608.15 Protection of potable water outlets.
18-29-608.16 Connections to the potable water system.
18-29-608.16.1 Beverage carbonator.
18-29-608.16.1.1 Backflow preventer.
18-29-608.16.2 High-pressure steam boilers.
18-29-608.16.3 Connections to automatic fire sprinkler systems and standpipe systems.
18-29-608.16.4 Fire protection equipment, risers, standpipes, tanks to be drained and flushed.
18-29-608.16.5 Fire-extinguishing equipment cross-connection.
18-29-608.16.5.1 Prohibitions.
18-29-608.16.6 Chemical or petroleum pressure vessels.
18-29-608.16.6.1 Chemical or petroleum pressure vessels.
18-29-608.16.6.2 Water flushing or cooling.
18-29-608.16.6.3 Chemical, contaminated water, or sewage lines or vessels.
18-29-608.16.7 Deliberately omitted.
18-29-608.16.8 Portable cleaning equipment.
18-29-608.16.9 Dental pump equipment.
18-29-608.17 Private water supplies.
18-29-608.17.1 Well locations.
18-29-608.17.1.1 Distances.
18-29-608.17.1.2 Direct connections.
18-29-609 Health Care Plumbing.
18-29-609.1 General.
18-29-609.1.1 Where required.
18-29-609.2 Water service.
18-29-609.3 Hot water.
18-29-609.4 Vacuum breaker installation.
18-29-609.5 Prohibited water closet and clinical sink supply.
18-29-609.6 Clinical, hydrotherapeutic and radiological equipment.
18-29-609.7 Condensate drain trap seal.
18-29-609.8 Valve leakage diverter.
18-29-610 Disinfection of Potable Water System.
18-29-610.1 Scope.
18-29-611 Water Treatment Units.
18-29-611.1 Design.
18-29-611.2 Reverse osmosis systems.
Article 7. Sanitary Drainage (18-29-701 et seq.)
Article 8. Indirect/Special Waste (18-29-801 et seq.)
Article 9. Vents (18-29-901 et seq.)
Article 10. Traps, Separators and Interceptors (18-29-1001 et seq.)
Article 11. Storm Drainage (18-29-1101 et seq.)
Article 12. Swimming Pools and Other Swimming Facilities* (18-29-1201 et seq.)
Article 13. Referenced Standards
Appendix A Procedures for Calculating the Minimum Sizing of the Water Supply System
CHAPTER 18-30 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-31 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-32 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 18-36 REFERENCE STANDARDS*
APPENDIX TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO (RESERVED)*
TABLES
Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance
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18-29-605.1 Water compatibility.
   Water service pipe and water distribution pipe shall be resistant to corrosive action and degrading action from the potable water supplied by the water purveyor or individual water supply system.
18-29-605.2 Soil and ground water.
   The installation of a water service pipe shall be prohibited in soil and ground water contaminated with solvents, fuels, organic compounds or other detrimental materials causing permeation, corrosion, degradation or structural failure of the piping material. Where detrimental conditions are suspected, a chemical analysis of the soil and ground water conditions shall be required to ascertain the acceptability of the water service material for the specific installation. Where detrimental conditions exist, approved alternative materials or routing shall be required.
18-29-605.3 Lead content of water supply pipe and fittings.
   Pipe and pipe fittings, including valves and faucets, utilized in the water supply system shall have not more than 8-percent lead content.
(Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. IV, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. VI, § 15)
18-29-605.3.1 Lead content of drinking water pipe and fittings.*
   Pipe, pipe fittings, joints, valves, faucets and fixture fittings utilized to supply water for drinking or cooking purposes shall comply with NSF 372 and shall have a weighted average lead content of 0.25 percent or less.
(Added Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. VI, § 15)
* Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. VI, § 15, numbered this section as 605.3.1; renumbered as § 18-29-605.3.1 at the discretion of the editor. Future legislation will correct if needed.
18-29-605.4 Water service pipe.
   Water service pipe shall conform to NSF 61 and to one of the standards listed in Table 18-29-605.4. All water service pipe or tubing, installed underground and outside of the structure, shall have a minimum working pressure rating of 160 psi (1100 kPa) at 73.45°F (23.03°C). Where the water pressure exceeds 160 psi (1100 kPa), piping material shall have a minimum rated working pressure equal to the highest available pressure. All ductile iron water pipe shall be cement mortar lined in accordance with AWWA C104.
Table 18-29-605.4
Water Service Pipe
 
Material
Standard
Copper or copper-alloy tubing (Type K)
ASTM B75; ASTM B88; ASTM B251; ASTM B447
Ductile iron water pipe
AWWA C151; AWWA C115
 
18-29-605.4.1 Materials for supply pipes and fittings.
   All new and replaced water supply pipes and fittings shall be of materials specified in Tables 18-29-605.4, 18-29-605.5 and 18-29-605.6, subject to the restrictions indicated in Column B of the table. Water supply pipe and fittings shall conform to the standards cited in Tables 18-29-605.4, 18-29-605.5 and 18-29-605.6 and to the lead content restrictions specified in Section 18-29-605.3.
(Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. IV, § 8)
18-29-605.5 Water distribution pipe.
   Water distribution pipe shall conform to NSF 61 and shall conform to one of the standards listed in Table 18-29-605.5. All hot water distribution pipe and tubing shall have a minimum pressure rating of 100 psi (690 kPa) at 1805°F (825°C).
Table 18-29-605.5
Water Distribution Pipe
Material
Standard
Material
Standard
Brass pipe
ASTM B43
Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) plastic pipe and tubing a
ASTM D2846; ASTM F441; ASTM F442; CSA B137.6
Polypropylene (PP) plastic pipe and tubing a
ASTM F1412
PVDF plastic pipe and tubing a
ASTM F1412
Copper or copper-alloy pipe
ASTM B42; ASTM B302
Copper or copper-alloy tubing (Type K, L, or M)
ASTM B74; ASTM B88; ASTM B251; ASTM B447
Galvanized steel pipe
ASTM A53
 
a.   For secondary water used in process applications only.
18-29-605.6 Fittings.
   Pipe fittings shall be approved for installation with the piping material installed and shall conform to the respective pipe standards or one of the standards listed in Table 18-29-605.6. All pipe fittings utilized in water supply systems shall also conform to NSF 61. The fittings shall not have ledges, shoulders or reductions capable of retarding or obstructing flow in the piping. Ductile and gray iron pipe fittings shall be cement mortar lined in accordance with AWWA C104.
Table 18-29-605.6
Pipe Fittings
Material
Standard
Material
Standard
Cast iron
ASME B16.4; ASME B16.12
Polypropylene (PP) plastic pipe and tubing a
ASTM F2389; CSA B137.11
PVDF plastic pipe and tubing a
ASTM F1412
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) plastic a
ASSE 1061; ASTM D2846; ASTM F437; ASTM F438; ASTM F439; CSA B137.6
Copper or copper alloy
ASME B16.15; ASME B16.18; ASME B16.22; ASME B16.51; ASSE 1061; ASTM F1476; ASTM F1548; ASTM F3226
Gray iron and ductile iron
ASTM F1476; ASTM F1548; AWWA C110/A21.10; AWWA C153/A21.53
Malleable iron
ASME B16.3
Steel
ASME B16.9; ASME B16.11; ASME B16.28
 
a.   For secondary water used in process applications only.
(Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37722, Art. VI, § 16)
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