Chicago parking ticket · MCC 9-64-100
Fire Hydrantticket in Chicago: cost & how to fight it
A fire hydrant ticket is issued for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
How to fight a fire hydrant ticket
The 15-foot distance is measurable. A photo showing the car was outside 15 feet — or that the "hydrant" was capped/out of service — is the standard defense.
You can contest any Chicago parking ticket in one of three ways: by mail, online through the City's portal, or in person at an administrative hearing. Contesting by mail is how Autopilot does it — and across the City's own 2023–2025 hearing data, mailed fire hydrant contests were dismissed 27% of the time.
Let Autopilot fight it for you
Autopilot watches your plate, catches a fire hydrant ticket within days of it posting, builds the appeal with the right evidence attached, and mails it — before the fine has a chance to double. It also alerts you before street cleaning, snow bans, and permit/meter enforcement on your block so the next one never happens.
Get started →Fire Hydrant ticket FAQ
How much is a fire hydrant ticket in Chicago?
A fire hydrant ticket under MCC 9-64-100 is $150. If it isn't paid or contested in time, the fine doubles to $250 — a $100 late penalty.
Can you fight a fire hydrant ticket in Chicago?
Yes. You can contest it by mail or online. The 15-foot distance is measurable. A photo showing the car was outside 15 feet — or that the "hydrant" was capped/out of service — is the standard defense. Across mailed, decided cases from 2023–2025, 27% of fire hydrant contests were found Not Liable (2,587 decided cases).
What happens if I ignore a fire hydrant ticket?
The $150 fine doubles to $250. Unpaid tickets can lead to license-plate holds and, after enough debt, a vehicle boot.
Other Chicago ticket types
Fines from the City of Chicago fine schedule (MCC 9-64-100). Dismissal rate is mail-only, decided cases (Not Liable ÷ decided), tickets issued 2023–2025, from Department of Finance / DOAH records obtained by FOIA. Not legal advice.