Amendment of Municipal Code Title 4 by modifying various sections regarding Wrigley Field special club fees, alcoholic liquor operation, and adjacent area rooftop hours

Votes › License and Consumer Protection › 44th Ward: Bennett R. Lawson

• Record number: SO2026-0023370
• Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
• Status: Final
• Sponsor: Bennett R. Lawson (44th Ward)
• Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
• Introduction Date: Feb 18, 2026
• Final Action Date: Apr 15, 2026
• Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed Apr 15, 2026

50 yea, 0 nay. On motion of Alderperson Silverstein, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Apr 15, 2026.

Yea (50): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)

Plain-language summary

Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: SO2026-0023370 substitute.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance changes city rules for special club licenses, which cover rooftops in the Wrigley Field Adjacent Area. It lets rooftops open on game days, on days with large Wrigley Field events, and on up to 25 private event days per year, and it sets when alcohol may be served. The rules on rooftop days and hours would end on December 31, 2027, unless the City Council acts again.

• Defines a 'Wrigley Field production' as an event at Wrigley Field expected to draw more than 12,500 people, and creates a 'private event day' category for days with no game or production.
• Rooftops may host up to 25 private event days per calendar year, with only one private event per day, and must email notice to the ward alderman and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at least 7 days ahead.
• On private event days, alcohol may be served from 11:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., and only as part of the private event. On game and production days, it may be served from 2 hours before the start until 1 hour after the end.
• No alcohol may be served on rooftops after 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, after 11:59 p.m. Friday and Saturday, or before 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Rooftops may be open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
• Repeals Section 4-388-040 (its contents are not described). The rules on days and hours sunset on December 31, 2027. The ordinance takes effect upon passage and publication.

Money

• $4,400.00 – special club license fee listed in the city's license fee section
• $1,000.00 – special club license fee listed in the license application section
• $25.00 – non-refundable online application fee for new business licenses, credited toward the license fee

Who: Businesses holding special club licenses for rooftops in the Wrigley Field Adjacent Area, along with their invited guests, are affected.

Where: Wrigley Field Adjacent Area (sponsored by Alderman Bennett R. Lawson, 44th Ward)

Timeline

• Feb 18, 2026: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
• Apr 13, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on License and Consumer Protection. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
• Apr 13, 2026: Substituted, Committee on License and Consumer Protection. The matter was substituted in Committee.
• Apr 15, 2026: Passed, City Council (50 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Silverstein, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.

Documents

• SO2026-0023370 signed letter.pdf (Committee Letter)
• SO2026-0023370 substitute.pdf (Legislation)
• w44 - o23370.pdf (Legislation)

Related legislation

More from Bennett R. Lawson

• Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 17-17 establishing allowances for certain bay windows when calculating floor area ratio (O2026-0028836, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Referred)
• Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-9-0129 allowing lawful cannabis dispensaries to modify operations to include medical cannabis… (SO2026-0028463, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed as Substitute)
• Amendment of Annual Appropriation Ordinance to transfer funds from 44th Ward Wage Allowance Account to Aldermanic Expense Account for Year… (O2026-0028398, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed)

More on Municipal Code Amendments

• Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-24-065 regarding ability to pay pilot program (O2026-0029654, introduced Dec 8, 2026, Council Introduction)
• Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4 and 8 regarding technical and scriveners' corrections (2027 Municipal Code Corrections Ordinance) (O2026-0029649, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred)
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