The DNC stands for the Democratic National Convention. It is the forum at which the Democratic Party officially nominates its candidates for President and Vice President. Party officials also make key decisions about the organization’s political platform. 

The DNC will take place from Aug. 19 – Aug. 22, 2024.

The DNC will take place primarily at the United Center. Other Democratic Party events will take place at McCormick Place.

• The U.S. Secret Service, along with its federal and local partners, is beginning its public outreach efforts to residents and businesses in the areas that may be affected by the DNC’s security footprint. The maps released as part of the public outreach effort outline areas that could be affected during the convention.
• The U. S. Secret Service strives to develop a security plan that minimizes impacts to the public, while also creating a safe environment for the city during this summer’s convention. Once the security plan is fully established, potential impacts to the community, such as road closures and parking restrictions, will be released to the public.
• The comprehensive public impact map will contain information on parking restrictions, road closures, and marked checkpoints where residents, employees and business customers will be able to utilize.

• The U.S. Secret Service and its local partners, including the Chicago Police Department, have begun outreach efforts with those who operate a business that could fall within the perimeter, to develop a security plan that minimizes impacts to the public.
• Once the security plan is finalized, a public impact map will be released. That will communicate road closures, parking restrictions, and entry check points.
• We encourage affected business owners to proactively share this plan with their customers to allow for advance planning. As a business owner, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to develop a plan that minimizes disruptions while still creating a safe and secure environment for all. 

• The operational security plan for the 2024 DNC is currently in development. Potential impacts to the public will be communicated once the security plan is fully established. This will consist of a traffic plan that contains information on road closures, parking restrictions, and checkpoints for perimeter entry.

• While various City departments, including the police and fire department, are dedicating resources to the DNC, there are no plans to limit or reduce services provided to the public.

• Normal parking operations will be maintained outside the security perimeter unless otherwise posted. Please follow all parking rules and times listed on signs.

• The DNC is designated as a National Special Security Event (NSSE). As part of the NSSE structure, the Secret Service leads the design and implementation of the security plan. The operational security plan for the 2024 DNC is currently in development. Potential impacts to the public will be communicated once the security plan is fully established.

• A security perimeter is a multi-layered buffer surrounding a protected venue that is of sufficient size to mitigate a variety of threats. The perimeter typically includes law enforcement officers, physical barriers, and checkpoints.

• The operational security plan for the 2024 DNC is currently in development. The U.S. Secret Service has released a map of the general areas expected to be affected by the operational security plan. This map is tentative and does not contain exact impacts, such as street closures or checkpoints. Once the operational security plan is finalized, a comprehensive public impact map will be released to the public. 

• The City of Chicago strongly supports the rights of individuals and groups to safely assemble and express their First Amendment rights. The Chicago Department of Transportation issues permits for marches, processions, or similar activity taking place on public streets, sidewalks, or other areas of the public right of way.
• Permit applications are reviewed by multiple City departments to identify any potential conflicts, safety issues, and to assess the availability of resources necessary to support the gathering.
• If you’re organizing a procession that requires a street closure or rerouting of vehicular traffic, you must apply for a Parade permit.
• The application, which requires a $50 non-refundable processing fee, is available here:
  • https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/permit/general/2106_CDOT_Parade_Application.pdf
•  If you’re organizing a public assembly taking place on the sidewalk that will impede pedestrian traffic but not require a street closure or traffic reroute, you must notify CDOT so that the city can make any needed preparations to provide personnel or other city services to minimize the obstruction to pedestrian and other traffic.
• The Notification of Public Assembly is available here:  https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/permit/general/2016_Public_Assembly_Notification.pdf
• Applications and notifications should be submitted in person at the Department of Transportation – Division of Infrastructure Management Permit
  office which is located at:

121 North LaSalle Street

City Hall – Room 905

Chicago, Illinois 60602

Permit office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

• Each application that is submitted is evaluated based on the specific details of the proposed routes and any events happening concurrently in the city.
• When a permit is denied, the applicant is given an alternative route per the requirements of city ordinance that allows the parade to proceed while accounting for police resources, security, safety, and other additional factors.

• The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will monitor events in collaboration with public safety partners. OEMC will issue any alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and businesses up to date on street closures and emergencies. For additional information, visit the OEMC website at gov/OEMC.

• The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will monitor events in collaboration with public safety partners. OEMC will issue any alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and businesses up to date on street closures and emergencies. For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC.

• The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will monitor events in collaboration with public safety partners. OEMC will issue any alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and businesses up to date on street closures and emergencies. For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC.

• The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will post the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) traffic management directives for all public passenger vehicles on the BACP Public Vehicles webpage of gov/PublicVehicles.

• The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will post the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) traffic management directives for Transportation Network Provider (TNP/ ride-hail) drivers on the BACP Public Vehicles webpage of gov/PublicVehicles.

• The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and the City of Chicago do not regulate passenger fares for ride-hail, livery/limo, charter bus, and pedicab trips.
• City of Chicago laws require passengers be informed of passenger fares before the passenger agrees and secures/requests a trip.
• The Ride Smart Chicago campaign provides safety and consumer awareness information for passengers of taxicabs, ride-hail, and other public passenger vehicles. Learn more by visiting gov/RideSmart.

• A City of Chicago business license is required for most business activities in Chicago. For business licensing information, visit Chicago.gov/BusinessLicensing

• All business licensees are required to report illegal activity by calling 911 and to cooperate with the Chicago Police Department, according to the Municipal Code of Chicago §4-4-306.

• Businesses need to operate within the regulations of their existing business license(s).For business licensing information, visit gov/BusinessLicensing.

• Yes, however you must secure the proper City of Chicago permits prior to modifying/placing items on your property or the public way. Learn more by visiting gov/PublicWayUse.

• Items associated with a property that are on, over, or under the public way (streets, sidewalks, and parkways) such as signs, canopies, awnings, and lighting require a BACP public way use permit. Learn more by visiting gov/PublicWayUse.

• Yes, however you must obtain a City of Chicago sidewalk sign permit prior to displaying your sign and affix the associated decal on the sign itself. Learn more by visiting Chicago.gov/PublicWayUse.

• BACP is charged with preserving quality of life in our communities by ensuring that businesses comply with Chicago’s Municipal Code through enforcement action taken against unscrupulous and fraudulent businesses and business practices. As part of regular operations, BACP Investigators will be conducting investigations at businesses throughout the City of Chicago to ensure compliance with Chicago’s Municipal Code.

• BACP Investigators will always identify themselves with a City employee identification card, a badge and business cards as an additional form of identification. BACP Investigators will identify themselves upon entry to a business and they never request onsite payment.

• Individuals should submit complaints through the City's 311 system by calling 3-1-1, using the Chi311 mobile app, or visiting 311.chicago.gov

• All businesses are required to post a license placard or, for some businesses such as mobile food trucks and peddlers, a decal or badge, at their place of business or on their vehicle or person. Note that some businesses are regulated by the State and do not require a City license such as attorneys and accountants.

DNC ALERTS are issued for notifications relating to the 2024 DNC traffic impacts and public safety messages during the convention.  These alerts are active August 10 through August 25, 2024.  To sign-up, text DNC to 2-2-6-7-8-7.  These notifications will also appear on the Chicago OEMC App and OEMC's social media pages as well.

The Chicago OEMC App can be downloaded from the Apple app store, the Google Play store or visit the website Chicago.gov/OEMC. The app is a great tool to receive alerts, safety tips, the weather forecast, street closures, event information and more. 

Subscribe to NotifyChicago. NotifyChicago is a city service that supplies residents with text messages and/or e-mail alerts for incidents/conditions such as severe weather emergencies, hazardous materials, traffic impacts, etc. Sign-Up: Chicago.gov/NotifyChicago.

CHIBIZ Emergency Alerts are targeted emergency alerts for the business community through a partnership between the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC).  To sign up for CHIBIZ Emergency Alerts: Text “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 OR visit Chi.gov/BizAlerts (case sensitive). 

For additional information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook (@coemc), X/Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC) and Instagram (chicago_oemc_911).   

OEMC encourages residents and visitors to report any suspicious objects, persons or any unusual activity by calling 9-1-1 immediately or to notify security personnel on site.  Report Suspicious Activity: If you See Something, Say Something. The city reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity.  If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. 

• What you need to know:
• From August 16 – 23, 2024, all buildings at Malcolm X College (including the parking lot) will be closed to visitors.
• This fall, online classes for college credit will start August 22, and in-person classes will start on August 26.
• All classes for adult education (online and in person) will start on August 26. Students can get help registering and take placement tests in person from August 5 – August 23 at a nearby location.
• For more details click hereor visit:  https://colleges.ccc.edu/mxc-fall-semester-2024/

• At this time, there are no planned impacts to CTA’s rail services for the duration of this event. There may be, however, the occasional unplanned event that impacts rail services. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to CTA Updates, which will notify you to any planned or unplanned events impacting service along your preferred route(s).

• Bus reroutes are expected in and around the United Center and McCormick Place, as well as occasional reroutes throughout the downtown area due to rolling street closures during the event. Once the security plan is finalized, and the public impact map is released communicating road closures, parking restrictions, and entry check points, CTA will have more information to share regarding bus reroutes.

At this time, there are no planned impacts to Metra service during the Democratic National Convention.

Service updates are posted at metra.com.

Metra tickets can be purchased from vending machines at downtown stations and the busiest suburban stations. (Go to metra.com/TVM to see a list of stations with vending machines.) Mobile tickets can also be purchased on the free Ventra app from the App Store or Google Play. Go to metra.com/ventra for details. One-way Tickets can also be purchased with cash from the conductor on the train.

Metra sells a variety of tickets and passes, including One-Way Tickets (a single, one-way ride), Day Passes (unlimited travel for a single day between the zones you select), Day Pass 5-Packs (five Day Passes that can be used on any five days within 90 days of purchase, available in the Ventra App only) and Monthly Passes (unlimited rides in a calendar month between your selected zones on weekdays and systemwide on weekends). On weekends, Metra offers a $7 Saturday/Sunday/Holiday Day Pass (unlimited rides on either Saturday or Sunday or Holiday) and a $10 Weekend Pass (unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday, available on the Ventra App only). Go to metra.com/fares for more information.

Metra uses a distance-based fare structure consisting of four fare zones to determine the cost of One-Way Tickets, Day Passes, Day Pass 5-Packs and Monthly Passes. (Riders are charged based on the number of zones they travel through.) Click here to see a system map with fare zones. To determine your fare, you must know your originating station, your destination station, and the type of ticket you wish to buy. Go to metra.com/fares for a fare calculator and chart.

Tickets are checked on board the train by conductors. If you bought a ticket from a machine, show it to the conductor when the conductor checks tickets. If you bought a ticket in the Ventra app, activate the ticket upon boarding, and show the ticket on your smartphone screen when the conductor checks for tickets – you will be asked to tap the screen to verify the ticket is valid.

Schedules for all lines can be found here. You can also call Metra Passenger Services at 312-MY-METRA.

You can use the trip-planning tool on the Ventra app or on Metra’s train-tracking website, metratracker.com. You can also use the RTA Trip Planner. And you can call Metra Passenger Services at 312-MY-METRA.