The City of Chicago is offering the Sign Amnesty Program to assist businesses that may not have the required permits for signs that hang on or outside their business location.  This voluntary compliance program is for a six month period and begins April 15, 2010. The Sign Amnesty Program will allow existing businesses with existing on-premise signs to apply for building and public way use permits and have all fees waived for one (1) year.

Benefits to the business include:

• Avoid paying a building permit fee, dependant upon size of sign, can range from $50-$100;
• Avoid paying Zoning review fee (as part of the Building permit process) $200;
• Avoid paying first year’s public way use fee, dependant upon size of sign, can range from $100-300;
• Avoid paying Administrative Hearing fines and cost(s) for failure to have the required permits(s).

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This ordinance shall take effect on April 15, 2010.
Telephone: 773.769.1140 for more information.

An ordinance establishing a sign amnesty program (JOINT TRANSPORTATION / LICENSE)

At the request of the Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the Commissioner of TRANSPORTATION / LICENSE, and the Commissioner of Zoning and Land Use Planning, I transmit herewith an ordinance establishing a sign amnesty program.

An ordinance establishing a sign amnesty program (JOINT TRANSPORTATION / LICENSE)

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:

SECTION 1. This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the “City of Chicago On-Premise Sign Amnesty Ordinance of 2009.” To encourage voluntary compliance with the requirements for certain on-premise signs, there is hereby created an amnesty program, as set forth below.

As used in this ordinance:

• “Amnesty period” means the period beginning on April 15, 2010 and ending on October 15, 2010.
• “Awning” has the same meaning ascribed to that term in section 17-17-0215.
• “Canopy” has the same meaning ascribed to that term in section 17-17-0233.
• “City” means the City of Chicago, Illinois.

“Eligible sign” means any on-premise sign, including any on-premise sign located on a marquee, canopy or awning, that: (i) has been installed, erected or maintained without all the necessary permits for such sign prior to the effective date of this ordinance; (ii) is less than 100 square feet; and (iii) is under 24 feet in height, as measured in accordance with section 17-12-0602.

“Marquee” has the same meaning ascribed to that term in section 17-17-0295.

“On-Premise sign” has the same meaning ascribed to that term in section 17-17-02109.

“Owner” means the person or entity that, pursuant to the municipal code, has the responsibility to obtain the necessary permits for an eligible sign.

SECTION 2. There is hereby established an amnesty program for the owners of eligible signs pursuant to this ordinance. The amnesty program shall provide for amnesty as provided in this ordinance only if the owner complies with the applicable requirements of the program during the amnesty period. The Departments of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Buildings, and Zoning and Land Use Planning may jointly promulgate rules and regulations, as are necessary to implement the provisions of this ordinance.

SECTION 3. During the amnesty period, whenever any owner applies for the applicable permits required for the installation, erection, or maintenance of any eligible sign:

1. the city shall waive the building permit sign fee, the zoning review fee, and the first year of the public way use permit fee; and
2. for citations for violations for failure to have the required permits for an eligible sign issued prior to the amnesty period, the city shall: (i) waive the prosecution of any outstanding violation; and (ii) waive the entire amount due for any outstanding fines and penalties due for failure to pay any final determination of such violation.

SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, failure to pay all amounts due to the City under any other ordinance imposing such liability shall invalidate any amnesty granted pursuant to this ordinance. Amnesty shall be granted only if all amnesty conditions set forth in this ordinance are satisfied by the owner.

Amnesty shall not be granted to persons who are a party to any criminal investigation or to any civil or criminal litigation which is pending in any circuit court, appellate court or the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, or the department of administrative hearings, concerning fraudulent conduct in relation to any debt owed to the City of Chicago, or concerning nonpayment or delinquency in relation to any debt, other than the debt that is subject of Section 3 of this ordinance, owed to the City of Chicago.

SECTION 5. Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed as authorizing or otherwise permitting the installation, erection or maintenance of any sign that does not comply with all applicable provisions of the municipal code, including all applicable building and zoning provisions.

SECTION 6. Following due passage and approval, this ordinance shall take effect on April 15, 2010.