Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 13-20 § 13-20-770
Removal of sign or structure (Chicago Building Inspection Code (Chapter 13-20))
Operative Text
(a) It shall be the duty of the Building Commissioner to remove or to cause the removal of any sign or sign structure that is not in compliance with this Article or Section 14E-6-600 dealing with signs. In such case, any requisite fee or compensation or inspection fee paid to the City of Chicago for such sign shall not be refunded. (b) The owner of the real property, the lessee of the real property, and the person in control of such sign or sign structure shall be held jointly and severally liable for all expenses incurred by the Building Department in the performance of the Building Commissioner's duty under subsection (a) of this section to remove non- compliant signs and sign structures, and the City shall be entitled to place and record a lien on the real property until the City has been reimbursed for all such expenses in full. (Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. II, § 19; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 23)
Under Chicago Municipal Code § 13-20-770, the Building Commissioner is authorized to remove or order the removal of any sign or sign structure that does not comply with the applicable sign regulations. When a non-compliant sign is removed, any fees previously paid to the City for that sign are forfeited and will not be returned. The property owner, lessee, and whoever controls the sign are all jointly and severally responsible for the City's removal costs, and the City may place a lien on the property until those costs are fully repaid.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Chicago should be aware that under § 13-20-770, a non-compliant sign or sign structure can be removed by the Building Department without any refund of previously paid permit or inspection fees. Because the property owner is jointly and severally liable for all removal expenses, compliant operators generally ensure that every sign on their property meets the requirements of Chapter 13-20 and Section 14E-6-600 before installation and throughout the sign's life. Operators also typically monitor their properties for any signage that may have fallen out of compliance, since a City-placed lien under this section can encumber the real property until all removal costs are reimbursed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who lease real property in Chicago should be aware that § 13-20-770 explicitly includes lessees among those who can be held jointly and severally liable for the City's costs of removing a non-compliant sign or sign structure from the property. This means a lessee who controls a sign could share responsibility for removal expenses, and a lien could be recorded against the property as a result. Tenants in this situation may wish to review their lease terms regarding signage obligations and consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney familiar with Chicago municipal regulations for general guidance on how this provision may apply.
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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