Chicago does not post A/B/C letter grades. CDPH inspects food establishments under MCC 7-38 and Title 7 Sanitation Code, issuing Pass, Pass-with-Conditions, or Fail results posted online via the Food Inspection Dataset.
Unlike Los Angeles or New York, Chicago does not require a letter grade card at the door. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) inspects roughly 16,000 food establishments under Municipal Code Chapter 7-38 and the Sanitation Code in Title 7. Inspectors classify violations as critical, serious, or minor, then issue one of three results: Pass, Pass-with-Conditions (corrected during visit), or Fail. Fail closes the establishment until reinspection. CDPH publishes every inspection on the City of Chicago Food Inspections public dataset and the Chicago Health Atlas. Risk 1 high-volume facilities receive at least two routine inspections per year.
Operating without a current Retail Food license under MCC 4-8 is a misdemeanor with fines from $250 to $1,000 per day. Failed inspections trigger immediate closure; refusing entry to a CDPH inspector is a separate violation under MCC 7-38-025.
Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL
Chicago requires a Mobile Food Vendor License under MCC 4-8-036/037 and health code compliance under MCC 7-38. Mobile Food Preparers pay $1,000 and Food Disp...
See how Chicago's restaurant grade cards rules stack up against other locations.
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