Chicago City Sticker FAQ: what every driver in the city needs to know.
If you own a vehicle and live in Chicago, this applies to you. It's also the first requirement before getting a resident parking permit like LV2.
What is the Chicago City Sticker?
The Chicago City Vehicle Sticker (also called the "city sticker" or "wheel tax") is an annual fee required by the City of Chicago for any vehicle owned by a Chicago resident. It funds city services and is enforced citywide. You're required to have one even if your car is registered in a suburb or another state — what matters is where you live, not where the car is registered.
The sticker must be displayed on your windshield. Officers check for it during routine patrols, during street cleaning, and during LV2 permit enforcement near Wrigley Field.
Who needs one?
Any Chicago resident who owns or leases a vehicle. If you live in the city and drive, you need one. There's no grace period for new residents — you're supposed to purchase one within 30 days of moving to Chicago.
How much does it cost?
Costs vary by vehicle type and engine size. Passenger vehicles (4 cylinders) run approximately $90–$100 per year. Larger vehicles are higher. Check the current rates at chicityclerk.com since rates can change.
When do you need to renew?
City stickers expire on June 15 each year. You should receive a renewal notice in the mail. If you don't, renew online — not receiving a notice is not a valid defense for a late sticker.
Where to buy one
- Online at chicityclerk.com (fastest, arrives by mail)
- In person at any City Clerk office
- Currency exchanges throughout the city
- Select retail locations (Jewel-Osco, etc.)
Guest passes from the City Clerk
The City Clerk also sells guest passes for permit parking. These are temporary passes for visitors who need to park in a residential permit zone. They cover general permit zones but are not the same as an LV2 Cubs Game guest pass.
If you need a guest pass specifically for the LV2 zone on a Cubs game day or concert date, that comes from your ward alderman's office — not the City Clerk. See our guide on getting an LV2 guest pass for details.
What your alderman's office can and can't do
Aldermanic offices handle LV2 parking permits for residents in their ward (44th, 46th, and 47th wards all cover parts of the LV2 zone). But they cannot issue city stickers. The 47th Ward office states it clearly: "Our office cannot issue city stickers or guest permits except for LV2 Cubs Game guest passes."
In other words: city stickers come from the City Clerk. Resident LV2 permits and LV2 game-day guest passes come from your alderman's office.
The city sticker and LV2 permits are connected
If you live in the LV2 zone and want a resident parking permit, you'll need to show proof of your current City Vehicle Sticker receipt and license plate number when you apply. The 2009 Wrigley Field Resident Permit Parking brochure spelled this out explicitly, and the requirement hasn't changed: no city sticker, no resident permit.
So the sequence is:
- Buy your Chicago City Sticker from the City Clerk
- Save the receipt (you'll need it for the permit application)
- Apply for your LV2 resident permit through your ward office
If you're in the 47th Ward, you can do the permit application entirely online. See our guide: How to apply for your LV2 permit and get it mailed to you.