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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
CHAPTER 11-4 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONTROL
ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS (11-4-010 et seq.)
ARTICLE II. AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (11-4-580 et seq.)
ARTICLE III. RESERVED (11-4-860 et seq.)
ARTICLE IV. CONTROL OF EMISSIONS OF ORGANIC SUBSTANCES (11-4-990 et seq.)
ARTICLE V. RESERVED (11-4-1000 et seq.)
ARTICLE VI. WASTE CONTROL (11-4-1020 et seq.)
ARTICLE VII. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS* (11-4-1100 et seq.)
ARTICLE VIII. POLLUTION OF WATERS* (11-4-1410 et seq.)
ARTICLE IX. SOLID AND LIQUID WASTE CONTROL (11-4-1490 et seq.)
ARTICLE X. PHOSPHORUS CONTROL (11-4-1610 et seq.)
ARTICLE XI. WASTE FACILITY - HEARING (11-4-1640 et seq.)
ARTICLE XII. ELECTRIC UTILITY FRANCHISE CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT (11-4-1680 et seq.)
ARTICLE XIII. RECYCLING (11-4-1820 et seq.)
ARTICLE XIV. REPROCESSABLE CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION MATERIAL (11-4-1905 et seq.)
ARTICLE XV. WASTE PREVENTION (11-4-2070 et seq.)
ARTICLE XVI. FLAMMABLE LIQUID TANK REGULATIONS (11-4-2090 et seq.)
ARTICLE XVII. FUEL AND LUBRICATION FACILITIES (11-4-2140 et seq.)
ARTICLE XVIII. ASBESTOS, SANDBLASTING, AND GRINDING STANDARDS (11-4-2150 et seq.)
ARTICLE XIX. RESERVED (11-4-2230 et seq.)
ARTICLE XX. RECYCLING FACILITY AND URBAN FARM ACCESSORY COMPOSTING PERMITS* (11-4-2510 et seq.)
ARTICLE XXI. RESERVED (11-4-2700 et seq.)
ARTICLE XXII. INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL (11-4-3000 et seq.)
ARTICLE XXIII. RESERVED (11-4-4000 et seq.)
CHAPTER 11-5 REDUCTION AND RECYCLING PROGRAM*
CHAPTER 11-6 GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM
CHAPTER 11-8 WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS*
CHAPTER 11-12 WATER SUPPLY AND SERVICE
CHAPTER 11-16 PUBLIC SEWERS AND DRAINS*
CHAPTER 11-18 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 11-20 GAS SUPPLY AND SERVICE
CHAPTER 11-30 RESERVED*
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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11-4-740 Open fires prohibited.
   It shall be unlawful to burn paper, wood, garbage, leaves, building construction, demolition debris or any other combustible material in open fires or in metal containers.
   The commissioner shall implement the rules and regulations set forth in Part 237.120 of 35 Illinois Administrative Code, Open Burning, as promulgated by the State of Illinois Pollution Control Board and subject to amendment from time to time.
(Added Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. II, § 6)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1, repealed former § 11-4-740, which also prohibited open fires.
11-4-750 Surfacing of lots and roadways.
   No person shall maintain or conduct or cause to be maintained or conducted any parking lot or automobile or truck sales lot or use any real property for a private roadway without taking reasonable precautions to minimize air pollution, including, but not limited to, covering or treating such real property with a surface or substance, and complying with applicable laws.
(Added Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1, repealed former § 11-4-750, which pertained to dilution or concealment of emissions.
11-4-760 Handling and storage of material susceptible to becoming windborne.
   (a)   Material handling: No person shall cause or permit the use, handling, loading, unloading, storing, depositing, or scattering of any substance or material that may become airborne or be scattered by the wind without taking reasonable precautions to minimize windborne particulate matter.
   (b)   Material storage: No person shall operate or maintain, or cause to be operated or maintained, any building, structure, premises, open area, right-of-way or enterprise which contains, uses or involves any substance or material that may become airborne or be scattered by the wind without taking reasonable precautions to minimize windborne particulate matter.
   (c)   Material piles: Owners and operators of, and general contractors and subcontractors working at, sites with material piles shall employ dust control measures to ensure that no visible dust or dirt from material piles migrates off the site. Work with material piles shall be suspended as necessary during high winds (in excess of 15 miles per hour) unless alternate measures are implemented to effectively control dust.
   (d)   Track out onto the public way: Owners and operators of, and any general contractor or subcontractor working at, any property shall ensure that mud, dirt, and other debris is not tracked onto the public way. The Commissioner or the Commissioner of the Department of Streets and Sanitation may require property owners, operators, general contractors and subcontractors to employ a street sweeper, water truck, truck wash, or other device to control the track out of mud, dust, and debris onto the public way.
   (e)   Rules and regulations. The commissioner is authorized to promulgate additional rules and regulations for the proper management of any substance or material that may become airborne or be scattered by the wind.
   (f)   Enforcement. The department of health and the department of streets and sanitation are authorized to enforce the provisions of this section.
(Added Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. II, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. IV, § 3)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1, repealed former § 11-4-760, which pertained to smoke and gases from internal combustion engines of vehicles.
11-4-765 Construction site cleanliness.
   (1)   As used in this section:
      (a)   "Construction and demolition debris" or "debris" has the meaning ascribed to the former term in Section 11-4-120 of this Code.
      (b)   "Construction site" means any or all portion of the real property that is identified as the location of any excavation or of the erection, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of any building, structure or structural part thereof within the City and that requires a permit under Chapter 14A-4 of this Code. However, for purposes of this section, "construction site" does not include a project location where all construction and/or demolition activity, including the staging of construction materials and storing of debris, is conducted within a completely enclosed structure; nor does it include any project location on any property that is, or hereafter becomes, part of Chicago-O'Hare International Airport or Chicago Midway Airport. During the term of any concession and lease agreement between the City of Chicago and a private operator with respect to Chicago Midway Airport, the words "or Chicago Midway Airport" shall be deleted from this paragraph (1)(b).
      (c)   “Contractor” means the general contractor or other person generally responsible for the construction site and shall also include a subcontractor with respect to a violation of this section that is directly attributable to the subcontractor.
      (d)   "Litter" has the meaning ascribed to the term in Section 7-28-200 of this Code.
   (2)   All construction sites shall be governed by the following standards:
      (a)   The contractor shall employ adequate wetting or other abatement measures to prevent the off-site dispersion of dust and debris from a construction site.
      (b)   All construction sites shall be enclosed and secured by a continuous chain link fence at least six feet in height which shall be anchored in a manner sufficient to resist wind loads of 30 pounds per square foot without deflection of more than three inches between the top and bottom of the fence. The contractor may allow one gate to remain open while construction workers are performing construction activities on the construction site. The gate shall be no larger than is reasonably necessary to provide for truck access.
      (c)   Mesh Fabric shall be affixed to the construction site fence face.
         (i)   The mesh fabric shall allow the passage of air but shall contain dust and dirt.
         (ii)   Such mesh fabric shall be the full height of the fence and cover the entire length of the fence including any gated openings.
         (iii)   The mesh fabric and fence shall not display any advertisements or graffiti.
      (d)   The construction site fence shall be placed at the perimeter of the property or, for work in an area substantially smaller than the entire property, around the site of construction large enough to ensure sufficient room for movement of tools and workers, storage of waste receptacles and other items, and the safety of the public.
      (e)   The contractor shall immediately repair any damage to the construction site fence or mesh fabric and maintain the integrity and continuity of the fence for the duration of the project.
      (f)   All dumpsters and debris collection devices shall be stored behind the construction site fence unless specifically permitted for public way use, and shall be regularly serviced to avoid allowing the contents to extend above the top of the dumpster.
      (g)   All construction and demolition debris shall be removed through dust-tight chutes or by lowering it in buckets or containers, and no debris shall be dropped or thrown from any floor.
      (h)   Construction and demolition debris shall be separated from any garbage, litter or landscape wastes that shall be separately contained.
      (i)   Sealed trash containers for litter and garbage shall be provided throughout the site, with at least one container provided for every floor or 4,000 square feet of area, whichever is less. All litter and garbage shall be removed daily or more frequently as needed.
      (j)   Construction materials and construction and demolition debris shall be gathered daily and stored in a neat and orderly manner.
      (k)   The contractor shall take all necessary steps to ensure that dirt and debris from the construction site is not transmitted by vehicles leaving the site to the public way. Mitigation measures shall include, but are not limited to, stoning or paving of haul roads, wheel wash stations and street sweepers.
      (l)   For construction sites that are buildings or structures having four or more floors, the contractor shall enclose with mesh fabric the floor areas where the contractor is conducting construction activities, such as erecting, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing or demolishing on that floor.
         (i)   The mesh fabric shall allow the passage of air but shall contain dust and debris on the enclosed floors.
         (ii)   Fabric enclosures shall be adequately secured.
         (iii)   The mesh fabric shall be installed around the entire floor.
         (iv)   The mesh fabric shall not display any advertisements or graffiti.
      (m)   For tuck pointing operations, the area of grinding shall be enclosed to contain dust and debris from grinding operations.
      (n)   Where materials are stored for use on floors above grade, they shall be secured to prevent movement due to weather conditions or other phenomena.
   (3)   Any person who violates this section shall be fined not less than $750.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for each offense. Any owner, developer or contractor who is responsible for any construction site at which operations are conducted in violation of this section shall be liable for the penalties provided by this section, and shall be jointly and severally liable for such penalties with any subcontractor to which a violation is directly attributable. The Department of Health and the Department of Streets and Sanitation shall each have the power to enforce this section.
   (4)   In addition to any other available penalties and remedies provided for in the Code, one or more citations for any violation of subsection (2) above on each of three or more separate days within a three-month period at the same construction site may result in a stop work order issued by the Department of Health or the Department of Streets and Sanitation, directing that all activity cease for ten days. Any further citation for violation at the same construction site within six months after the initial stop work order may result in the issuance of another 10-day stop work order. The issuing department shall lift a 10-day stop work order only if sufficient evidence of compliance with this chapter is provided to the department.
      (a)   It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly violate a stop work order, or to knowingly cause, permit, encourage, assist, aid, abet or direct another person to violate a stop work order, or to knowingly in any manner be a party to a violation of a stop work order. Any person who violates this subsection shall be fined $5,000.00.
      (b)   It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly destroy, deface, remove, damage, impair, mar, cover or obstruct any stop work order that a city official has posted or affixed at a work site. Any person who violates this subsection shall be fined not less than $200.00 nor more than $500.00.
(Added Coun. J. 10-27-21, p. 40504, Art. II, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. V, § 7)
11-4-770 Commissioner – Jurisdiction and authority.
   The commissioner shall have jurisdiction and authority over the sources of any matter, material or substance likely to be scattered by the wind or susceptible to becoming airborne or a contributing factor to air pollution and shall have authority to issue an emergency or non-emergency cessation order or an emergency or non-emergency abatement order in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4-025 of this Code to any person who caused the windborne nuisance, and to instigate prosecutions for violations of any provision of this chapter or any other chapter of this Code relating to the eradication or control of matter susceptible to being windborne. For the purpose of minimizing air pollution, the commissioner may prescribe, by rules and regulation, reasonable, specific operating and maintenance practices for buildings, structures, premises, open areas, automobiles and/or truck parking and sales lots, private roadways, rights-of-way, storage piles of materials, yards, vessels, vehicles, construction, sandblasting, alteration, building, demolition or wrecking operations and any other enterprise which has or involves any matter, material or substance susceptible to being windborne and for the handling, transportation, disposition or other operation with respect to any material subject to being windborne.
(Added Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1, repealed former § 11-4-770, which pertained to handling of material susceptible to becoming windborne.
11-4-780 Refuse burning, municipal waste- burning equipment and municipal waste burning – Prohibited.
   (a)   It shall be unlawful to burn refuse, garbage or other debris in any boiler or any unit which has not been specifically designed for that purpose and for which an effective certificate of operation has not been issued.
   (b)   It shall be unlawful to install or replace a municipal waste incinerator in the City of Chicago and the burning of municipal waste in any incinerator shall be strictly prohibited except when required by state or federal law; provided, however, the prohibition in this section shall not apply to facilities that convert waste to fuel, steam, electricity, energy, or other resources in a properly-permitted facility.
(Added Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. II, § 6)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73413, § 1, repealed former § 11-4-780, which pertained to storage of materials susceptible to becoming windborne.
Part D. Enforcement and Penalties (11-4-790 et seq.)
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