Frequently Asked Questions


Frequently Asked Questions



DNC General Information


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.


GENERAL IMPACT MAP - SECURITY PLAN FOR THE 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION


  • 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.

CITY OPERATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION


  • 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 SECURITY PLAN AND PUBLIC IMPACT


  • 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. 

PUBLIC WAY PERMITS - CDOT


  • 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:
  •  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.

BUSINESS COMMUNITY - BACP


The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (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.

Business Traffic
  • 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.
Public Vehicles
  • 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.
Business Information
  • 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.
Public Way Use
  • 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.
Business Investigations
  • 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.
Consumers
  • 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.

STAY INFORMED


  • The Chicago OEMC App will send important safety alerts and provide instant access to all available resources.

    Download the app in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store.

  • DNC 2024 is a dedicated alert, especially for the DNC. It provides live traffic, street closures, and emergency updates during the convention and will be live between August 12 and August 26, 2024.

    To opt in, TEXT DNC to 2-2-6-7-8-7 or download the Chicago OEMC app.

  • 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.

    NotifyChicago 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).

    CHIBIZ Emergency Alerts Sign-Up: Text “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 OR visit Chi.gov/BizAlerts (case sensitive) 

  • 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.