Chicago residents who want to address the City Council have two main routes: sign up in person on the morning of a full Council meeting, or register by phone in advance to speak remotely. Each route has its own registration window, and committee meetings follow a different phone-registration timeline than full Council meetings. Here is how each process works, according to the City Clerk's published public comment procedures, plus what to expect once the meeting begins.
Ways to Participate: A Comparison Guide
The City Clerk's office maintains separate procedures for in-person comment, remote comment at full Council meetings, and remote comment at committee meetings. The table below compares them side by side so you can identify the correct process for your situation before you commit to a plan.
| Method | Meeting type | Registration window | How to register | Time allotment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person public comment | Full City Council meetings | Morning of the meeting day | Enter City Hall from the W. Washington St. entrance and fill out a form provided by the Sergeant-at-Arms | Three minutes per speaker within a 30-minute total period |
| Remote public comment (Council) | Full City Council meetings conducted by videoconference | 12:01 AM the Monday before the meeting until 8:00 AM the day before the meeting | Call (312) 744-6800 and leave a voice message with your name and phone number | Three minutes per speaker within a 30-minute total period |
| Remote public comment (committee) | City Council committee meetings conducted by videoconference | 10:00 AM two business days before the meeting until 9:00 AM the business day before the meeting | Call (312) 744-6800 and leave a voice message with your name and phone number | Follows the committee's own process |
| Watching live | Full Council and committee meetings | No registration required | Watch the live stream from anywhere, or view archives of previous meetings | Not applicable |
A few boundaries matter here. In-person comment applies to full City Council meetings only; committee meetings have a separate remote process. For in-person speakers, the first five people to sign up are allowed to speak, and after those five, the remaining public comment time is allocated to remote speakers, according to the City Clerk's outlined process. The 48th Ward's office, which publishes resident guidance on attending Council meetings, notes that meetings are open to the public both in person and virtually, and that agendas for upcoming full Council and committee meetings are available online.
