Frequently Asked Questions

Advertising displayed on public passenger vehicles is part of the regulated appearance of the vehicles and, as such, may not be inconsistent with or undermine the City's existing regulatory interests in protecting and serving passengers and prospective passengers, which are expressed through the City's requirement of courteous and nondiscriminatory service and clear visibility of required licensing identification.

1. The following is not permitted and may be grounds for suspension, revocation, rescission, or denial of an advertising display permit:
   1. Advertising that is untruthful, fraudulent, involving illegal activity, or in violation of city, state, or federal law.
   2. Advertising that is sexually explicit, defined as depicting genitals, pubic hair, buttocks, perineum and anal region, pubic hair region, or any portion of the female breast at or below the areola, whether such body parts are depicted as uncovered or less than completely and opaquely covered.
   3. Advertising that portrays graphic violence, such as through the depiction of human or animal bodies, body parts, or fetuses in states of mutilation, dismemberment, disfigurement or decomposition.
   4. Advertisements that contain swear words, obscenities, or racial, ethnic, or sexual slurs or abusive epithets.
2. Additional conditions for an advertising display permit:
   1. Advertising displays must be maintained in a safe, clean, and undamaged condition.
   2. No chauffeur may be required to solicit or otherwise promote the product or service advertised in the display.

Click the back button on your browser to return to the application.

No, you must register by creating a username and password before using the site.

Note one username and password per account and not individual users.

Email the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection for your account number at BACPPV@cityofchicago.org.

You cannot submit an on-line application without a valid email address.

The entered email address will be the email address that permit related notification, payment confirmation, and reminders will be sent.

To retrieve your username, click the "Forgot username/password" link on the login page. The system will email the username(s) associated to the provided email address.

To retrieve a temporary password, click the "Forgot username/password" link on the login page. The system will automatically generate a temporary password and email it to the email address provided when you registered your account.

The permit will expire one year from the date of issuance.

Only active public vehicle licenses are eligible for advertising permits. Please email the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at BACPPV@cityofchicago.org regarding any public vehicle licenses that are not listed.

Application fees are non-refundable. Please email the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at BACPPV@cityofchicago.org to cancel your application.

Your application is saved only after agreeing to the Legal Terms and Conditions. If you exited from the application prior to the Terms and Conditions page, your application was not saved.

The Municipal Code of Chicago requires a safety inspection of advertising equipment that modifies the vehicle manufacturera's shape of the vehicle (rooftop, car topper, or 3D props advertising) or any installed equipment extrinsic to the vehicle.

After you have paid your application fees, e-mail the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Public Vehicle Office at BACPPV@cityofchicago.org to schedule vehicle inspections. Please list the license number(s) of the vehicle(s) that must be scheduled for inspection.

In order to access the account, you must have the username and password. You may e-mail BACPPV@cityofchicago.org to reset the email address associated to the account or reset the password using the Forgot Password functionality.

Permits are non-transferable. The new owner must apply for a permit to continue advertising on the vehicle.

If you have questions about the online application, your account, or your application, please contact the Department via email at BACPPV@cityofchicago.org.