Effective October 23, 2026.
These Terms of Use cover your use of The Chicago Route at chicagoroute.com (the “Route,” “we,” “us”). By using the Route or making an account, you agree to them. If you don’t agree, please don’t use the Route.
1. Who can use the Route
You must be 18 or older to make an account, post, review, check in, or enter contests. Browsing is open to everyone.
2. Your account
Give us accurate sign-up info and keep your password private. You’re responsible for what happens on your account. We recommend a nickname as your public display name. Your real name, email and phone number are never shown publicly.
3. What you post
Reviews, tips, photos, videos and stories you post (“your content”) stay yours. By posting, you give the Route a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to host, show, share, resize and promote your content on the Route and on the Route’s own social channels and marketing, with credit to your display name where practical. You can delete your content at any time, or ask us to. Copies already shared may take some time to clear.
You promise that you have the right to post your content, that it’s honest and based on your own experience, and that it follows our Community Guidelines.
4. What’s not allowed
No fake or paid reviews that aren’t disclosed, no reviewing your own business or a competitor, no harassment, hate, threats, nudity or illegal content, no posting other people’s private info, no spam, no scraping or automated access, and no trying to break or overload the site.
5. Moderation
We screen posts with automated tools and human review. We can hold, edit for formatting, remove, or decline any content, and suspend or close accounts that break these terms. Anyone can report a post with the Report button.
6. Businesses, sponsored content and collaborations
Businesses can claim and manage listings. Paid placements and sponsored content are labeled “Sponsored.” If a business pays or gives you something for a post, you must clearly disclose it. Our editorial coverage is independent; see our Editorial Standards. Any collaboration between a business and a local is between them; the Route only makes the introduction.
7. Contests
Contests follow their own official rules.
8. Check-ins and location
Check-ins use your device’s location once to confirm you’re at the spot. See the Privacy Policy for details.
9. Copyright
Full details, our designated agent and the counter-notice process are on our Copyright & DMCA Policy page.
If you believe something on the Route uses your work without permission, email info@chicagoroute.com with: your contact info, the work, the link to the content, a statement that you believe in good faith the use isn’t authorized, a statement that your notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you’re the owner or authorized to act for the owner, and your signature. We remove content in response to valid notices and close accounts of repeat infringers.
10. Listings and information
Business info, hours, prices and event details can change. We work to keep them right but can’t promise they’re always current. Reviews and tips are the opinions of the people who wrote them, not the Route.
11. Disclaimers and limits
The Route is provided “as is” and “as available.” To the fullest extent the law allows, we aren’t liable for indirect or consequential damages, or for what businesses or other users do, and our total liability to you is limited to $100.
12. Changes
We may update these terms. If changes are significant, we’ll post a notice on the site. Using the Route after a change means you accept it.
13. Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Disputes will be handled in the state or federal courts in Cook County, Illinois.
14. Contact
Questions? Email info@chicagoroute.com.