A Guide to Chicago’s Fire Hydrant Parking Laws

The Rules of Chicago Parking

Understanding Chicago’s Fire Hydrant Parking Rules
As with all cities, Chicago has a parking ordinance that is applicable throughout the city. That parking ordinance is set forth in the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago. More specifically, it’s in title 9 of the code. The regulations that we will be discussing are essentially codified in section 9-64, though there are other relevant sections. These other sections concern issues such as parking over curbs and what time of day these rules are in effect.
For purposes of this article, however, we will only look at section 9-64 and other related sections.
So what are the general parking rules in Chicago? Well, the official numbering of each section does not appear to matter in terms of referencing it.
Section 9-64-010 is titled "Parking prohibited during street cleaning hours." It states the following.
Under the provision above, no person can park or leave their car standing on the street between the hours of 9:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. or the hours of 7:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. if the sign indicates street cleaning use between those times. However , the provision goes on to indicate that no vehicle shall be left unattended overnight, 10:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m. on any day.
The next relevant section is 9-64-020, which is titled "Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in certain places". In it is a rule that states:
(a) No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle anywhere within the City
upon any private road, private driveway or other place where such
stopping, standing, or parking is prohibited by posted signs.
There is a list of the specific prohibitions outlined in this section. Notably, there is a prohibition against stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle "in front of a public or private driveway". The code section states that this prohibition applies everywhere within the city.
Chicago’s parking regulations are quite comprehensive, but in terms of issues such as private driveways and fire hydrants, the parking rules go beyond only the code section outlined above concerning "stopping, standing or parking prohibited in certain places".

Parking by a Fire Hydrant

Fire hydrants are generally off-limits to parked cars in the City of Chicago within a radius of 15 feet from the center of the hydrant. In some areas of the city near firehouses, there is a different restriction: no parking for 25 feet in either direction.
The relevant Chicago Municipal Code Section is 9-76-150. This section establishes no parking zones around fire hydrants (and firehouses) and states, "No vehicle other than official government vehicles or vehicles engaged in the purpose of installing or maintaining fire equipment may stop, stand or park within 15 feet of the center of any fire hydrant, or 25 feet of the center of any fire hydrant located in the vicinity of any fire station." Therefore, nobody can legally park in this zone. Parking here can expose you not only to a $200 ticket but also, more importantly, to liability if someone needs to get to that fire hydrant and cannot because your car is in the way; and, of course, this is a matter of life and death.
I have been engaged by many clients who have been ticketed and/or towed for parking in front of a fire hydrant. Because this is such a specific violation, it is one of the easiest to win. If you have been ticketed and towed (or ticketed in haste and paid the fine) for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, and you were not within 15 feet of that fire hydrant, then the ticket will be vacated.
If you are timely enough to save the signage near to the fire hydrant intended to comply with Chicago Municipal Code Section 9-76-150, even better. That makes your defense bullet-proof.

Why Chicago Has Fire Hydrant Parking Laws

The reason it is important to keep this space clear of vehicles is that fire hydrants are essential to public safety. Without easy access to a hydrant our Fire Department would be unable to quickly extinguish a fire and the loss could be monumental.
Not only are "wait times" important, but so is "access" to the hydrant. The Fire Department has to hook their hoses to the hydrant and need to be able to do so quickly. Without access to the hydrant a fire could quickly grow to enormous proportions and lives could be lost. Moreover, if we were to allow vehicles to park in front of fire hydrants it would potentially give a thief an opportunity to steal a car. People who park in front of hydrants also know that they are breaking the law and, thus, have no regard for their fellows. Allowing this conduct to occur in one area would soon spill over into other areas.

Penalties Associated with Firehydrant Parking Violations

Violating the hydrant rules can have severe consequences as well. Usually, if you violate the fire hydrant parking rule, you will be pulled over and issued a ticket. Usually, you will get a $100 ticket, but depending on the circumstances of your violation, maybe even more. In the worst case scenario, there is the potential that your car will be towed because you parked too close to a fire hydrant. If your car does get towed , in addition to the cost of the towing (on average $150 for a couple hours – this is hearsay), by the time you go to liberal court and the police impound lot, you could be looking at $300-$400 in missed time at work and legal fees to get your car back plus the costs to get it back on the streets, which is at least another $150-$200.

How to Avoid Paying for Firehydrant Parking Tickets

Drivers should be aware of the reserved parking zones in front of fire hydrants to avoid parking fines. The most obvious sign that a space is reserved in front of a fire hydrant is the yellow curb painting. However, if there are no yellow lines present, look for two small signs – one with a No Parking symbol and one with a fire hydrant symbol. One of these signs will be located on the actual pole, while the other will be placed no more than ten feet from the front of the hydrant. If you see either of these signs, do not park in front of them. By law, these signs must stay that way for at least 72 hours. It is unlawful for the city to replace the sign right after it’s knocked down, and signs typically are replaced on the Tuesday after trash day.
If you see the yellow curb painting but no sign, you’ve found an unregulated spot. While the city will paint over the curb space as soon as they can, there is no legal requirement that compels them to do so. You may park in front of the yellow curb until its painted over and be in compliance with the law.
Also remember that when you park near a fire hydrant, you are required by law to leave at least 15 feet of clearance in both directions of the hydrant.

Changes to Chicago Parking Laws

The City of Chicago has made some subtle changes to the original fire hydrant parking rule, which prohibits cars from parking five feet from a fire hydrant. Under the new section in the Municipal Code, the City has clarified what that 5 feet actually means. Where the hydrant has a standard curb, the driver must park 5 feet from the end of the curb next to the hydrant. For example , be careful not to back into a space directly adjacent to the hydrant, as you may still be subject to a ticket for parking 5 feet within the neck of the curb.
In residential areas with parkways, the City has clarified the picture below as additional guidance for where vehicles cannot park. In short, there should be a clear path from the sidewalk to the street for firefighters and other emergency personnel responding to an emergency.