Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
Words used in the singular include the plural. The reverse is also true. Words used in the present tense include the future tense. The reverse is also true. The words "must," "will," "shall," and "may not" are mandatory. The word "may" is permissive. The word "should" is advisory, not mandatory or required.
Wherever the terms building, outdoor area, facility, premises, or structure are used in this code, those terms also include any part of the building, outdoor area, facility, premises, or structure less than the whole unless the word "entire" appears before the term.
The definitions in Section 14X-2-202 apply to italicized words throughout this code.
Where a nonitalicized word is not defined in Section 14X-2-202 and is defined in the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions, Chicago Building Code, Chicago Conveyance Device Code, Chicago Electrical Code, Chicago Fire Prevention Code, Chicago Fuel Gas Code, Chicago Mechanical Code, Chicago Energy Conservation Code, Chicago Plumbing Code, or Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code the definition in that other code applies to this code.
A non-italicized word that is not defined in Section 14X-2-202 or in any of the codes referenced in Section 14X-2-201.4 has the meaning given in the latest edition of Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
Amended Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
Amended Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791.
ACCESSIBLE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
ALTERATION. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code.
ANCHORED. Secured in a manner that provides positive connection.
APPROVED. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
BATHROOM. A room containing plumbing fixtures including a bathtub or shower.
Bathroom, community. A bathroom that is accessed from a common hall or passageway and provided for the occupants of more than one sleeping unit without a private bathroom or shared bathroom.
Bathroom, private. A bathroom that is entirely within and exclusively for the occupants of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit.
Bathroom, shared. A bathroom that is accessed from and used exclusively by the occupants of two adjacent sleeping units.
Bathroom, private. A bathroom that is entirely within and exclusively for the occupants of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit.
Bathroom, shared. A bathroom that is accessed from and used exclusively by the occupants of two adjacent sleeping units.
BEDROOM. Any room or space used or intended to be used for sleeping purposes within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit.
BUILDING OFFICIAL. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO BUILDING CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO BUILDING REHABILITATION CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. Title 14A of the Municipal Code of Chicago.
CHICAGO CONVEYANCE DEVICE CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO ELECTRICAL CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO FIRE PREVENTION CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO FUEL GAS CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO LANDMARK. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO MECHANICAL CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO PLUMBING CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CHICAGO ZONING ORDINANCE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
CITY. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
DANGEROUS. A building or structure that meets either of the conditions described below:
- The building or structure has collapsed, has partially collapsed, has moved off its foundation, or lacks the necessary support of the ground.
- There exists a significant risk of collapse, detachment, or dislodgement of any portion, member, appurtenance, or ornamentation of the building or structure under service loads.
DEFAULT. With respect to a building containing between one and four dwelling units, when the mortgagor is 60 days past due on the mortgagor's obligation to make a scheduled payment under a mortgage or a mortgage note. With respect to all other structures, when the mortgagor is 90 days past due on the mortgagor's obligation to make a scheduled payment under a mortgage or a mortgage note.
Editor's Note—The defined term "Detached" has been deleted from this section by the ordinance adopted February 19, 2020.
DETERIORATION. To weaken, disintegrate, corrode, rust, or decay and lose effectiveness.
EASEMENT. That portion of land or property reserved for present or future use by a person other than the legal fee owner of the property. An easement may be for use under, on, or above the surface.
EQUIPMENT SUPPORT. Those structural members, assemblies of members, or manufactured elements, including braces, frames, lugs, snuggers, hangers, and saddles, that transmit gravity loads, lateral loads, or operating loads between the equipment and the structure.
EXISTING BUILDING. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code.
EXISTING STRUCTURE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code.
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
GARBAGE. The animal or vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, or consumption of food.
HISTORIC BUILDING. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code.
IMMINENT DANGER. A condition that could cause serious or life-threatening injury or death at any time.
INFESTATION. The presence within or contiguous to a structure of a number or concentration of insects, rodents, or similar pests likely to cause damage or disease.
LIMIT STATE. A condition of a building element beyond which the building element no longer fulfills the applicable criteria for its performance, deflection, deformation, cracking, vibration, structural integrity, durability, or fitness for use.
MORTGAGE. Any consensual lien created by a written instrument which grants or retains an interest in real estate to secure a debt or other obligation. The term includes, without limitation: mortgages securing reverse mortgage loans; mortgages securing revolving credit loans; every deed conveying real estate, although an absolute conveyance in its terms, which is intended only as a security in the nature of a mortgage; and equitable mortgages.
MORTGAGEE. The holder of an indebtedness or obligee of a non-monetary obligation secured by a mortgage or any person designated or authorized to act on behalf of such holder; any person claiming through a mortgagee as successor; and any person identified as such in a recorded document which has not been released, assigned, or superseded of record.
MORTGAGOR. The person whose interest in the real estate is the subject of the mortgage and any person claiming through a mortgagor as successor. Where a mortgage is executed by a trustee of a land trust, the mortgagor is the trustee and not the beneficiary or beneficiaries.
MUNICIPAL CODE. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
OCCUPANCY. The purpose for which a building or portion of a building is utilized or occupied. Occupancy classification is determined in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Chicago Building Code.
OCCUPANT. Any individual who resides in a building and any person having possession of a space within a building.
OPENABLE AREA. That part of a window, skylight, or door which is available for unobstructed ventilation and which opens directly to the outdoors.
OUTDOOR AREA. The open space on the premises and on adjoining property under the control of the owner of the premises.
OWNER. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
OWNER-OCCUPANT. Any individual residing in a building of residential occupancy who also holds a recorded legal ownership interest in the building, is the beneficiary of a trust that holds a recorded legal ownership interest in the building, is the owner of more than 25% of a corporate entity that holds a recorded legal ownership interest in the building, or is the holder of a proprietary lease in a cooperative apartment building or is a first-degree or second-degree relative of such an individual.
PERMIT. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions.
PERSON. As defined in Section 1-4-090 of the Municipal Code.
PEST CONTROL. The control and elimination of insects, rodents, and similar pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that serve as their food or water; and by other methods.
REPAIR. As defined in Chapter 2 of the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code.
ROOMING UNIT. Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit occupied or intended to be occupied for sleeping or living, but not for cooking purposes. All rooming units are sleeping units.
RUBBISH. Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, other than garbage; the term includes inoperable motor vehicles, ashes, paper, plastic, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, metal, mineral matter, glass, crockery, and other similar materials.
TOILET ROOM. A room containing a water closet or urinal but not a bathtub or shower.
Toilet room, community. A toilet room that is accessed from a common hall or passageway and provided for the occupants of more than one sleeping unit without a private toilet room or shared toilet room.
Toilet room, private. A toilet room that is entirely within and exclusively for the occupants of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit.
Toilet room, shared. A toilet room that is accessed from and used exclusively by the occupants of two adjacent sleeping units.
ULTIMATE DEFORMATION. The deformation at which failure occurs and that will be deemed to occur if the sustainable load reduces to 80 percent or less of the maximum strength.
UNSAFE. Buildings, structures or equipment that are unsanitary, or that are deficient due to inadequate means of egress facilities, inadequate light and ventilation, or that constitute a fire hazard, or in which the structure or individual structural members meet the definition of "dangerous," or that are otherwise hazardous to human life or the public welfare, or that involve illegal or improper occupancy or inadequate maintenance, including vacant structures that are not properly secured against entry.
VACANT. A structure that is lacking habitual presence of human beings who have a legal right to be on the premises, or located on premises at which substantially all lawful business or construction operations or occupancy has ceased, or that is substantially devoid of contents. In determining whether a structure is vacant, it is relevant to consider, among other factors, the overall floor area of the structure or floor relative to floor area of occupied portions, the condition and value of any personal property at the premises, and the presence of rental or for sale signs on the premises. A residential building is not vacant if it has been used as a residence by an individual entitled to possession for a period of at least three months within the previous nine months and an individual entitled to possession intends to resume residing at the building. A building containing ten or more dwelling units or sleeping units is vacant when at least 90% of the units are unoccupied. A structure is vacant if it has been declared unfit for occupancy by the building official, fire code official, Department of Public Health, Police Department, or a court or administrative agency and that official or agency has ordered that the structure remain unoccupied.