Vehicle and Parking Information
Chicago Vehicle Sticker
All Chicago residents driving and/or parking a vehicle for which they are responsible in the City of Chicago are subject to the Chicago Wheel Tax and must purchase a Chicago City Vehicle Sticker. This includes Chicago residents that maintain their registration outside of the City of Chicago, but use the vehicle in the City. We want motorists to avoid costly tickets: You must purchase a Chicago City Vehicle Sticker within 30 days of moving to the City to avoid late fees and fines.
For more detailed information please visit: Chicago City Vehicle Sticker Website
Residential Zone Parking
Chicago residents living within an established Residential Parking Zone may be eligible to include a Zone Number on their City Sticker, and/or purchase Chicago Residential Parking Daily Permits, which are guest passes that are valid for 24 hours upon the date and time of display. By law, the date and time must be printed in ink, and the Daily Permit must be displayed in the lower passenger corner of the windshield.
For more detailed information please visit: Zone Parking Permit Website.
Zone Parking Map and Street Guide
Residential Zone Parking limits parking on designated streets in densely-populated or highly-trafficked areas to Chicago residents and their guests only, for either all times or for certain days/hours.
Vehicles parked in a Residential Parking Zone during applicable days/hours must display a Chicago City Vehicle Sticker with Residential Zone Parking or a Chicago Residential Parking Daily Permit. The Zone number on either the Chicago City Vehicle Sticker or the Daily Residential Parking Permit must match the Residential Parking Zone permit number posted on the street signs.
The Residential Zone Parking Map was created in partnership with the Smart Chicago Collaborative and is an open source of data for you, as well as technology developers, utilizing the City of Chicago’s Data Portal. Please be advised that the Ward/Zone Lookup App is directly managed by the Office of the City Clerk and provides the most reliable zone record data.
Pickup Trucks Commercial Vehicles
Per Chapters 9-64 and 9-68 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, there are special parking restrictions that apply to certain types of vehicles and certain areas.
City of Chicago’s Office fo the City Clerk Pickup Trucks & Commercial Vehicles website
Commercial and Non-Commercial Residential Truck Parking
In an effort to update an outdated section of Chicago’s parking restrictions which adversely affects small, non-commercial pick-up truck owners and their ability to park on business and residential streets in the City, Section 9-64-170 of the Municipal Code has been revised to insure that non-commercial pick-up trucks weighing less than 8,000 pounds may park in the City of Chicago – provided certain conditions are met:
- If the non-commercial pick-up truck is owned by a City Resident and has a current and valid City Sticker, the owner may park the vehicle on a Residential or Business street.
- If the non-commercial pick-up truck is owned by a Non-Chicago resident, (e.g. a visitor from the suburbs) and does not have a current and valid City Sticker, the owner may park the vehicle on a Business street.
Commercial pick-up trucks, junk vehicles, and any pick-up truck weighing more than 8,000 pounds are still prohibited from parking on ANY residential and business streets.
Contractor Parking Placard
Section 9-64-170(a)(3) and (b)(3) of the Municipal Code of Chicago allows a contractor who is actually engaged in delivery, service or repair work at a particular address for a particular customer to park their vehicle within a reasonable distance of the address where such work is being performed if:
- The vehicle is emblazoned with the business name and business license number of its owner; and
- The customer’s address is clearly displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard; and
- The vehicle is lawfully parked in accordance with the general parking requirements of this Code.
Parking is permitted only while such work is actually being performed and at no other time. If a service vehicle permit is required under Section 9-68-060, such permit must be obtained.