ORDINANCE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. Section 3-12-050 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting the language underscored and by deleting the language struck through, as follows:
3-12-050 Senior citizens exempted when.
(a) Persons aged 65 or over, residing in their own residence with separate metered
water service or a separate city water assessment for that residential unit, shall be exempt from
payment of the sewer service charge for their primary residence r, if:
- they are the titleholder to the residence: or
- their spouse is the titleholder to the residence: or
- following the death of a spouse qualifying under paragraph (a)(1). they continue to reside primarily in the residence, even if not as titleholder to the residence.
(b) Persons aged 65 or over who reside in their own residence but who do not
qualify for an exemption under subsection (a) solely because their residence is a townhouse,
condominium unit or cooperative apartment that does not have separate metered water service
or a separate city water assessment for the residential unit may apply for a refund in lieu of
exemption pursuant to this subsection. The amount of such refund shall be $50.00 per qualified
residence for each calendar year.
Application for a refund in lieu of exemption shall be made to the alderman of the ward in which the applicant resides no later than August 1st of the calendar year for which a refund is requested. The application shall be made on a form prescribed by the city council committee on finance, and shall include such affidavits or other reasonable proof of qualifications for a refund that the committee may require. An alderman receiving a complete application under this subsection shall introduce into the city council an ordinance authorizing the payment of a refund in lieu of exemption to the applicant. A single ordinance may authorize refunds based upon more than one application. The ordinance shall be accompanied by all applications for which refunds are sought. After introduction into the city council, all ordinances submitted pursuant to this subsection shall be referred to the city council committee on finance. If, after review, the committee on finance determines that the applicant is qualified for a refund under this subsection, the committee shall recommend to the city council that the payment of the refund be approved. If the city council approves the refund, the city comptroller shall promptly pay the applicant a refund in the amount of $50.00.
(c) Persons residing in residences qualified for an exemption or refund under this section
shall qualify for the exemption or refund by virtue of either (i) their qualifications for a homestead
senior exemption under Section 19.23-1 of the Revenue Act of 1939, or Oj) by the submission of
a copy of the applicant's birth certificate, or the applicant's driver's license, state-issued
identification card or the Matricula Consular identification card specified in Section 2-160-065 of
the Code, showing the applicant is aged 65 or over afld; proof of their qualification for
homeowners exemption: and proof of residency. The acceptable document to prove residency
shall be a copy of a utility bill for the residence. Acceptable documents to prove home
ownership shall be a copy of: (i) the deed to the residence, (ii) property tax bill, or (iii) with
regard to a residence held in trust, a declaration executed by the trustee, affirming that the
residence is held in trust and that the trust gives the named applicant the right to occupy the
residence.
(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: "Residence" shall mean any single-family detached home or any residential unit within a larger structure such as a townhouse, condominium unit or cooperative apartment that has separate metered water service or a separate city water assessment for that residential unit. "Titleholder" shall mean a natural person either: (i) holding title to a residence in their name, or (ii) residing in a residence as beneficiary of a real estate or other trust which confers a right of occupancy.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and publication.