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 2024 Democratic National Convention is designated a National Special Security Event, and as part of the NSSE structure, the United States Secret Service is the lead agency for the design and implementation of a security plan.

• 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 vehicle and pedestrian screening checkpoints.

• The operational security plan for the 2024 Democratic National Convention can be found here: City of Chicago :: Impacted Areas

• Businesses and residents around McCormick Place should expect security restrictions to take effect on the evening of Friday, Aug. 16. Businesses and residents around United Center should expect security restrictions to start on the evening of Aug. 17. There may be some disruptions before then to allow for necessary construction around the events.

United Center Road Closures:

• West Washington Boulevard from Damen Avenue to South Wood Street.
• Damen Avenue from Jackson Boulevard to West Washington Boulevard.
• West Warren Boulevard from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street.
• West Madison Street from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street.
• West Monroe Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street.
• West Adams Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street.
• South Horner Street from West Monroe Street to West Adams Street.
• South Wood Street from West Washington Boulevard to West Jackson Boulevard.
• South Seeley Avenue from West Madison Street to West Adams Street.

Restricted vehicle traffic: Jackson Boulevard from South Damen Avenue to South Wood Street.

McCormick Place Road Closures:

• Indiana Avenue from 18th to E. 24th Place.
• Michigan Avenue from 21st to 25th Street.
• Cermak Road from Wabash Avenue to MLK Drive.
• 23rd Street from Wabash Avenue to Indiana Avenue.
• Prairie Avenue from Cullerton Street to 24th Place.
• 24th Street from Wabash Avenue to Indiana Avenue.
• Calumet Avenue from Cullerton Street to 24th Place.
• 24th Place from Wabash Avenue to MLK Drive.
• MLK Drive from Cermak Rd. to 25th Street.
• E 21st Street closed from, and inclusive of, S. Michigan Avenue to S. Calumet Avenue.
• E 21st St is open from west of S Michigan Avenue to inclusive of S Wabash Avenue and E 21st

No trucks or anything larger than passenger cars permitted on Interstate 55 / Stevenson Expressway between Dusable Lake Shore Drive and S State Street in both directions.

The MLK Blvd Exit from I-55 northbound lanes (here eastbound), inclusive of the I-55 turnaround lane (northbound to southbound) will be closed except to vehicles specifically authorized by the USSS.

• 6 a.m. No Parking (in curb lanes) in all build areas along the security perimeter.

• 8 a.m.  Fencing staging and install begins, expect rolling curb lane, full street and alley closures as needed.

• United Center street closures begin at 7 p.m. along the restricted perimeter (security enforced).

• Monday – build out on Washington: Damen to Wood, Wolcott between Washington & Warren; Paulina: Monroe to Adams
• Tuesday – build out on Washington: Damen to Wood; Wood: Washington to Warren; Warren between Wood and Paulina
• Wednesday – build out on Damen: Washington to Warren; Warren: Damen to Hoyne; Hoyne: Warren to Madison
• Thursday – build out on Adams: Damen to Wood
• Friday–  build out on Madison: Hoyne to Seeley; Seeley: Madison to Adams; Damen: Adams to Jackson; Monroe: Wood to Paulina.

• 6 a.m. No Parking (in curb lanes) in all build areas along the security perimeter.
• 9 a.m.  Fencing staging begins, expect rolling curb lane full street closures.

• 12:01 a.m. Fencing install begins, expect rolling curb lane, full street and alley closures as needed.

• 10 p.m. McCormick Place Street Closures begin, restricted perimeter (security enforced).

• Tuesday – build out on 24th Place: Michigan to McCormick Place; Indiana: 24th Place to 24th St; 24th St; Michigan to Indiana; Michigan: 24th Place to 25th St.; MLK Drive: McCormick to 25th St.
• Wednesday – build out on Indiana: 24th Place to Cermak; Cermak: Indiana to McCormick; 25th St at MLK Dr & McCormick
• Thursday – build out on McCormick: Cermak to MLK Dr.

• Those who live in the Vehicle Screening Perimeter will be able to access their home as normal, although ID verification may be required. Residents should have a valid government-issued ID. Identification cards issued through the City of Chicago’s CityKey Program also will be accepted.

• If driving a personal vehicle, residents will need to enter the perimeter through a vehicle screening point. Motorists will be directed to the screening points. All affected residents are encouraged to review the public security map so they understand how these security measures could affect them and can plan accordingly.

• Yes, as long as they have valid government –issued ID. Identification cards issued through the City of Chicago’s CityKey Program also will be accepted.
• All residents, guests, deliveries, home health, etc. will need to be scheduled on a list for entry.

• City Services, trash collection, mail and package delivery will continue for all locations in both the Pedestrian and Vehicle Screening Perimeters, though services will shift slightly to occur overnight or in the early morning hours and must be screened at the Remote Delivery/Commercial Vehicle Screening Site before entering the perimeters.

• 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.
• Parking restrictions will be posted and updated as they are available.

• We encourage affected business owners to proactively share the public safety map with 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.

• All personal vehicles will be able to enter the Vehicle Screening Perimeter through a vehicle screening point.
• All residents and visitors are encouraged to review the public security map so they understand how these security measures could affect them and can plan accordingly

• Taxis, rideshares and hot food delivery will be permitted in the Vehicle Screening Perimeter. Drivers will need to enter through a vehicle screening point.
• Taxis, rideshares and hot food delivery generally will not be allowed to enter the Pedestrian Restricted Perimeter.

• All deliveries entering the security perimeters must go through the Commercial Vehicle Screening Site.
• Upon completion of the screening process, all delivery vehicles will be sealed and must proceed to make their deliveries.

• An event of this size will lead to traffic impacts. Public Transportation is encouraged. It’s important to plan ahead, consider alternate routes before heading out, allow extra time and to be patient.

• Residents and visitors should expect parking restrictions in and around the affected areas. For details, visit the Office of Emergency Management & Communications website at Chicago.gov/oemc.

The Secret Service determines the prohibited items list for the inner perimeter. No weapons of any kind are permitted within the inner security perimeter, except for working law enforcement. Below are the USSS prohibited items for public safety and security in the secured area.

• Aerosols
• Ammunition
• Animals (other than service/guide animals)
• Backpacks and bags exceeding size restrictions
• Balloons
• Bicycles
• Coolers
• Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems
• Explosives
• Firearms
• Glass, thermal, or metal containers
• Laser pointers
• Mace/Pepper spray
• Packages
• Signs exceeding size restrictions (20’x3’x1/4”)
• Structures
• Supports for signs and placards
• Toy guns
• Weapons of any kind
• Any other items determined to be a potential safety hazard

Surrendered items will not be returned.

• The removal of barricades and street re-openings will commence as quickly as possible. The public should expect temporary street impacts as security infrastructure is removed

• 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 City of Chicago reaffirms its strong support for the rights of individuals and organizations to safely assemble and lawfully exercise their First Amendment rights during the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC). To honor this commitment, the City, through the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), will provide a speaker’s platform and sound amplification equipment near the United Center from August 19-22, 2024.

CDOT will begin accepting applications for time slots to use the City provided speaking platform, which will be located in or near Park 578 (1919 W Maypole Ave), on Tuesday, August 6th at 9:00 a.m. CST and will close the application window on Saturday, August 10th at 5:00 p.m. CST.

To request a timeslot to use the City provided speaking platform during the DNC, please complete the following  DNC Speakers Platform Request Form form linked here and email it to this address: DNCspeakingrequest@cityofchicago.org.

The speaking slots will be 45 minutes in length and will begin at the top of the hour starting at 11:00 a.m., with the final slot beginning at 6:00 p.m. each day.  Please note applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. However, priority will be given to groups that have previously applied for a parade permit or assembly permit near the United Center on one of the following dates: August 19th 2024, August 20th 2024, August 21st 2024, August 22nd 2024.  Each speaker/organization will receive one time slot.  You may list as many alternate time slots as you like.  Once a time slot is awarded you will be sent confirmation of your approved time slot.  The full list of rules can be found in the following DNC Sound Stage Regulations document. 

In addition to the speaking platform in Park 578, demonstrators will be able to march within sight and sound of the United Center. Route details will be provided once ongoing litigation is resolved.

• BACP ensures a fair and vibrant marketplace for businesses, workers, and consumers in the City of Chicago. BACP licenses businesses and public vehicles, regulates business activity, protects consumers from fraud, enforces Chicago’s labor laws, partners with business service organizations, and provides education and resources for businesses.  For more information, visit Chicago.gov/BACP. 

• The questions and answers below address some of the common concerns related to the Democratic National Convention events.  

• Additionally, we encourage the business community to sign-up for CHIBIZ Emergency Alerts. The 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 Sign-Up: Text “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 OR visit Chi.gov/BizAlerts (case sensitive). 

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

• Those who work in the Vehicle Screening Perimeter will be able to access their place of employment as normal, although ID verification may be required. Residents and workers should have a valid government-issued ID. Identification cards issued through the City of Chicago’s CityKey Program also will be accepted.
• If driving a personal vehicle, employees will need to enter the perimeter through a vehicle screening point. Motorists will be directed to the screening points. All affected residents are encouraged to review the public security map so they understand how these security measures could affect them and can plan accordingly.

• All deliveries entering the security perimeters must go through the Commercial Vehicle Screening Site.
• Upon completion of the screening process, all delivery vehicles will be sealed and must proceed to make their deliveries.

• 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.

•  Any vehicle, including rideshares, taxis, limos, etc., can enter the yellow zone to get to a hotel or residence, but they must go through the checkpoint first. 
• A rideshare and taxi pick and drop-off for McCormick Place is located at Wabash between 23^rd and 24^th St.
• A rideshare and taxi pick and drop-off for the United Center is located at Madison and Paulina.
• People utilizing these designated areas do not have to go through a checkpoint and the rider can walk into the yellow zone, but will be checked if they need to walk into the red zone.
• 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 Chicago.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 Chicago.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 Chicago.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 Chicago.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. 

• Yes. 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.
• Register and College Credit Testing in Person from August 5 to August 23 at the Cadence Apt Bld., 2050 W Ogden Ave in Chicago
• Take Your Adult Education Placement Tests in Person from August 5 to August 23 at the Cadence Apt. Bldg., 2050 W Ogden Avenue in Chicago
• 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 here or visit:  https://colleges.ccc.edu/mxc-fall-semester-2024/

• The CTA is the most convenient and affordable way to travel throughout the Chicagoland area. Operating one of the nation’s largest public transportation systems, CTA serves the City of Chicago and 35 surrounding suburbs providing nearly 1 million daily rides. Our vast transit network, which consists of 128 bus routes and eight rail lines (two of which operate 24/7), also provides numerous connections with regional transit service providers Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban bus. 

• 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.

• CTA’s bus and rail system fare payment readers accept contactless payments directly from mobile devices! You can pay a contactless Pay-As-You-Go fare by touching your phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay—or any contactless bankcard with the contactless symbol—to any Ventra fare payment reader. 
• Looking to save even more money? Consider purchasing an unlimited rides pass, either the 1-Day ($5) or the 3-Day ($15) pass. (More information at: transitchicago.com/fares/ 

• For CTA and Regional Transit Travel get a head start on planning your visit to Chicago by downloading the Ventra app, which features a trip planning tool powered by Google Maps, allows you to manage your Ventra farecard (and passes) for travel on CTA, or regional transit service providers Metra and Pace. For additional CTA travel information for your upcoming trip, please visit: transitchicago.com/visitors

• Stay in the loop on CTA service changes and alerts by following us on X.com (@ctaalert) or by subscribing to CTA Updates. 

• Metra is the Chicago area’s commuter railroad, operating nearly 700 weekday trains on 11 lines radiating from downtown Chicago to communities throughout the six-county region of northeast Illinois. Trains run frequently during rush hour and about every hour during off-peak times. The Metra Electric Line provides direct service between McCormick Place and three stations along Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. In addition, during the convention Metra will be operating special hourly shuttles on its North Central Service Line between the O’Hare Transfer Station and Chicago Union Station downtown (see details below). Riders who are new to the Metra system can view our New Riders Guide here.

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

• Yes, during the convention Metra will be operating special hourly shuttles seven days a week on its North Central Service Line between the O’Hare Transfer Station and Chicago Union Station downtown. The travel time between those stations will be 36-39 minutes. See the schedule here. 
• O’Hare Transfer Station is located by O’Hare’s multimodal rental car facility and can be reached from the airport’s terminals via the Airport Transit System, also known as the people mover. 
• The one-way fare between O’Hare Transfer and Union Station is $3.75. Seats are unreserved but there will be plenty of capacity on the shuttles. 
• Tickets can be purchased before boarding via the Ventra app, which is available for free download from the App Store or Google Play, or from ticket vending machines at Union Station. There are no vending machines at the O’Hare Transfer Station, so customers boarding there must use the app or pay with cash on the train. 
• For more information about the shuttles, click here. 

• 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.