Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 13-20 § 13-20-625
Additional penalties for continued use of a sign without a permit or where the sign permit has been rescinded or revoked (Chicago Building Inspection Code (Chapter 13-20))
Operative Text
In addition to any other penalty, sanction or remedy provided by law, the following additional penalties shall apply for continued use of a sign or sign structure without a permit or in cases where the permit for a sign or sign structure has been rescinded or revoked (for purposes of this section, an "illegal sign" or "illegal sign structure"): (a) No building permit, other than a permit to remove the illegal sign or illegal sign structure, may be issued for a building or lot on which the illegal sign or illegal sign structure is located until such illegal sign or illegal sign structure is removed. Provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to: (1) any permit issued by the Department of Buildings for emergency repairs as determined by the Building Commissioner, or (2) any permit issued by the Department of Buildings if the Building Commissioner determines that immediate issuance of the applicable license or permit is necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare, or is otherwise necessary to comply with mandatory state or federal laws that preempt the City's home rule authority, and all other applicable requirements for issuance of such license or permit have been met. (b) No zoning permit, variance or approval may be issued for a building or lot on which the illegal sign or illegal sign structure is located until such sign and sign structure is removed. (c) No business license may be issued for a building or lot on which the illegal sign or illegal sign structure is located until such sign and sign structure is removed. (Added Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 14)
Chicago Municipal Code § 13-20-625 establishes a set of cascading permit and license freezes that take effect when a sign or sign structure is being used without a valid permit, or when its permit has been rescinded or revoked. Until the offending sign or structure is physically removed, the property where it sits becomes ineligible for new building permits (with narrow emergency exceptions), zoning approvals or variances, and business licenses. These restrictions stack on top of any other penalties that may already apply under other provisions of law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Chicago should be aware that under § 13-20-625, an unpermitted or permit-revoked sign can effectively freeze all permitting and licensing activity on the affected building or lot. Compliant operators generally audit their signage inventory to confirm that every sign and sign structure carries a current, valid permit, and they promptly remove any sign whose permit has lapsed, been rescinded, or been revoked. Keeping sign permits current avoids the risk of being unable to obtain building permits, zoning approvals, or business licenses needed for ongoing or future operations at the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 13-20-625 primarily targets property owners, tenants occupying space in a building with an illegal sign or sign structure may find that the freeze on business licenses and building permits affects their ability to open or operate a business at that location. Tenants who discover that a landlord's unpermitted signage is blocking a required permit or license can document the issue and raise it with the Chicago Department of Buildings or other relevant city agencies. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or attorney familiar with Chicago municipal regulations can help clarify what options may be available when a landlord's code violation affects a tenant's use of the premises.
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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