Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 13-20 § 13-20-540
Permit inspection fees (Chicago Building Inspection Code (Chapter 13-20))
Operative Text
The fee for the initial inspection of the signs described in Section 13-20-530 shall be included in the permit fee as set forth in Section 14A-4-412.1 . The inspection fee for the subsequent inspection of the signs described in Section 13-20-530 shall be as follows: (a) Signs or electrical signs projecting over the public way - $40.00 per sign, plus $1.50 per square foot of area of each face in excess of 100 square feet. The area of irregular shaped signs shall be computed using the area of the outer perimeter design of the signs. (b) Signs or electrical signs on private property, illuminated signs flat against a building (flat signs), illuminated painted wall signs and illuminated signboards - $40.00 per sign, plus $1.00 per square foot of area in excess of 100 square feet. (c) Signs or electrical roof signs - $40.00 per sign, plus for each sign over 100 square feet $1.00 per square foot for each square foot over 100 square feet. The fee shall be computed on the actual area of display surface. (d) Signs or electrical ground signs, any part of which projects over the public way - fees shall be the same as computed for projecting signs as specified in subsection (a). Signs or electrical ground signs, entirely over private property - $40.00 per sign, plus $1.00 per square foot of area in excess of 100 square feet. (e) Permits issued for the re-erection or alteration of any sign, electrical sign or illumination of signboards or illumination of flat or wall signs - $40.00 per sign. (f) Permits issued for signs or electrical signs to be erected for a period not to exceed 60 days one-half of the sign permit fee. No fee shall be less than $20.00. (g) The fee for cancellation of any sign permit shall be $20.00 and shall be deducted before the remaining amount is refunded. (h) The fee for the inspection of signs described in Section 13-20-530 that are located at places for eating, as that term is defined in Section 4-8-010 , shall be controlled by Section 4-8-042 . (i) No inspection fee shall be charged for city digital signs. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99931, § 9.2; Amend Coun. J. 9-29-04, p. 32144, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17167, § 32; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44485, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 4-15-15, p. 106130, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 14; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180, Art. IV, § 7)
Chicago Municipal Code § 13-20-540 establishes the fee schedule for subsequent inspections of regulated signs in Chicago. The initial inspection cost is bundled into the permit fee, but follow-up inspections carry separate charges that vary by sign type—projecting, rooftop, ground-mounted, private-property, or temporary—generally starting at $40 per sign with additional per-square-foot charges for signs exceeding 100 square feet. City-owned digital signs are exempt from inspection fees, and signs at food-service establishments follow a different fee structure under a separate code section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers responsible for signage covered under § 13-20-540 generally account for subsequent inspection fees when budgeting for sign maintenance and permit renewals. Compliant operators track the type, size, and location of each sign—whether projecting over a public way, roof-mounted, or flat against a building—because the applicable fee tier and any per-square-foot surcharge depend on those characteristics. Operators seeking to cancel a sign permit should be aware that § 13-20-540(g) specifies a $20.00 cancellation fee deducted before any refund is issued.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 13-20-540 primarily governs sign permit inspection fees rather than residential tenant rights, tenants in buildings with regulated signage may find it useful to understand that these fees are a landlord or property-owner obligation under Chicago's Municipal Code. If a tenant believes improper fees are being passed through or that signage on a property is operating without required permits, they can contact the Chicago Department of Buildings or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Chicago's municipal code. Reviewing § 13-20-540 alongside related provisions can help tenants understand what compliance looks like for the signs described in Section 13-20-530.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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