The rules governing the parking of special types of vehicles on City of Chicago (“City”) streets are set forth under Section 9-64-170 of the Municipal Code of Chicago. Please reference this section for the specific language, definitions and restrictions, but the following is a summary of the rules.

The rules prohibit the parking of any truck, van, tractor, truck tractor, semi-trailer, trailer, recreational vehicle more than 22 feet in length, self-contained motor home, bus, taxicab, commercial vehicle or livery vehicle on any residential street at any time, except in the following situations:

• Expeditious loading and unloading of vehicles. Any vehicle engaged in the expeditious unloading or loading of passengers, merchandise or other contents.
• Business Use. Vehicles actively conducting business must display the business name and license number on the vehicle. Business use means that the vehicle is being used to perform deliveries, service or repairs.
• Buses. Buses parked or standing in a designated bus stand in accordance with Section 9-48-050
• Areas Designated by Ordinance. Pick-up trucks or vans, not junk vehicles collecting, disposing of, or transporting junk, weighing less than 8,000 pounds may park on residential streets without a special parking permit in the following bounded areas (1) 88th Street on the north, the east side of Western Avenue on the west, 105th Street on the south and Charles Street on the east, (2) 105th Street on the north, the east side of Western Avenue on the west, the city limits on the south and Vincennes Avenue on the east, or (3) 99th Street on the north, Pulaski Road on the west, the city limits on the south and the west side of Western Avenue on the east.
• Taxicabs. Taxicabs displaying a special parking permit obtained through their local alderman may park on a residential street adjacent to the owner’s residence in authorizing wards (5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 23rd, 25th, 35th, 46th, 50th and a portion of 108th Place from South Wentworth Avenue on the east to the perpendicular railway line on the west).

The rules prohibit the parking of any truck, truck tractor, semi-trailer, trailer, self-contained motor home, commercial vehicle or bus on any business street in the city, at any time, except in the following situations:

• Expeditious loading and unloading of vehicles. Any vehicle engaged in the expeditious unloading or loading of passengers, merchandise or other contents.
• Business Use. Vehicles actively conducting business must display the business name and license number on the vehicle. Business use means that the vehicle is being used to perform deliveries, service or repairs.
• Buses. Buses parked or standing in a designated bus stand in accordance with Section 9-48-050
• Taxicabs on Business Streets. Generally, taxicabs are prohibited from parking on business streets between the hours of 2:00AM and 7:00AM for more than 2 hours, but may do so without restriction in authorizing wards (23rd ward; 40th ward only on the (north side) of North Lincoln Avenue, from North California Avenue to West Peterson Avenue, (south side) of North Lincoln Avenue, from North California Avenue to West Foster Avenue, (both sides) of North Western Avenue, from West Glenlake Avenue to West Peterson Avenue, (east side) of North Western Avenue, from West Balmoral Avenue to West Peterson Avenue and (south side) of West Peterson Avenue, from North Lincoln Avenue to North California Avenue; 46th ward; 49th ward; and in the 50th ward on Devon Avenue between Ridge Boulevard and Hoyne Avenue, and on Western Avenue from Granville Avenue to Pratt Boulevard).

Additionally, the law prohibits the standing or parking of any vehicle six feet or greater in height within 20 feet of any crosswalk, alley, commercial driveway or fire lane at any time.

Penalties for violating these rules are set forth under Section 9-100-020. Furthermore, any commercial vehicle found to be in violation may be subject to immobilization and impoundment, without prior notice.