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Prior Chicago Building Code
BUILDING CODE AND RELATED EXCERPTS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
DIVISION 1 - ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION 2 - DEFINITIONS
DIVISION 3 - USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS
Subdivision 302 - Classification
Subdivision 303 - Assembly
Subdivision 304 - Business
Subdivision 306 - Factory
Subdivision 307 - High-Hazard
Subdivision 308 - Institutional
Subdivision 309 - Mercantile
Subdivision 310 - Residential
Subdivision 311 - Storage
Subdivision 312 - Utility and Miscellaneous
DIVISION 4 - SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY
DIVISION 5 - GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
DIVISION 6 - TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 7 - FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 8 - INTERIOR FINISHES (NA)
DIVISION 9 - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
DIVISION 10 - MEANS OF EGRESS
DIVISION 11 - ACCESSIBILITY
DIVISION 12 - INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION 13 - ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
DIVISION 14 - EXTERIOR WALLS (NA)
DIVISION 15 - ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES (NA)
DIVISION 16 - STRUCTURAL DESIGN
DIVISION 17 - STRUCTURAL TESTS AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
DIVISION 18 - SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
DIVISION 19 - CONCRETE
DIVISION 20 - ALUMINUM (NA)
DIVISION 21 - MASONRY
DIVISION 22 - STEEL
DIVISION 23 - WOOD
DIVISION 24 - GLASS AND GLAZING (NA)
DIVISION 25 - GYPSUM BOARD AND PLASTER (NA)
DIVISION 26 - PLASTIC (NA)
DIVISION 27 - ELECTRICAL
DIVISION 28 - MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
DIVISION 29 - PLUMBING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 30 - ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 31 - SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION (NA)
DIVISION 32 - ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
DIVISION 33 - SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 34 - EXISTING STRUCTURES
DIVISION 35 - REFERENCED STANDARDS

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DIVISION 3 – USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS
Subdivision 302 – Classification
CHAPTER 13-56
CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS BY OCCUPANCY
13-56-010   Building classifications – Classes designated.
13-56-020   Class A, residential units.
13-56-030   Class A-1, single-family dwelling.
13-56-040   Class A-2, multiple dwellings.
13-56-050   Class B, institutional units.
13-56-060   Certain Class B institutional units.
13-56-070   Class C, assembly units.
13-56-080   Class C-1, large assembly units.
13-56-090   Class C-2, small assembly units.
13-56-100   Class C-3, schools.
13-56-110   Class D, open air assembly units.
13-56-120   Class E, business units.
13-56-121   [Technology center defined.]
13-56-130   Class F, mercantile units.
13-56-140   Class G, industrial units.
13-56-150   Class G-1, low-hazard industrial units.
13-56-160   Class G-2, moderate hazard industrial units.
13-56-170   Class H, storage units.
13-56-180   Class H-1, low-hazard storage units.
13-56-190   Class H-2, moderate hazard storage units.
13-56-200   Garages.
13-56-210   Class I, hazardous use units.
13-56-220   Class J, miscellaneous buildings and structures.
13-56-230   Mixed occupancy – Requirements.
13-56-240   Mixed occupancy – Defined.
13-56-250   Auxiliary uses.
13-56-260   Mixed occupancy – Applicable provisions.
13-56-270   Mixed occupancy – Height and area limitations.
13-56-280   Mixed occupancy – Fire-resistive separations required.
13-56-290   Separation from public spaces below grade.
13-56-300   Occupancy content determination.
13-56-310   Assembly units and open air assembly units – Occupancy content.
13-56-320   Other occupancies – Occupancy contents.
13-56-010  Building classifications – Classes designated.
   Every new or existing building or part thereof shall, for the purpose of this Code, be classified according to its use or occupancy in one of the following occupancy classes:
   Class A, Residential Units.
      Class A-1. Single-family dwellings.
      Class A-2. Multiple dwellings.
   Class B, Institutional units.
   Class C, Assembly units.
      Class C-1. Large assembly units.
      Class C-2. Small assembly units.
      Class C-3. Schools.
   Class D, Open air assembly units.
   Class E, Business units.
   Class F, Mercantile units.
   Class G, Industrial units.
      Class G-1. Low hazard industrial units.
      Class G-2. Moderate hazard industrial units.
   Class H, Storage units.
      Class H-1. Low hazard storage units.
      Class H-2. Moderate hazard storage units.
      Class H-3. Garages.
   Class I, Hazardous use units.
   Class J, Miscellaneous buildings and structures.
   Each occupancy class shall include buildings or parts of buildings as hereinafter defined and those of similar character or use. Whenever there is any uncertainty as to the classification of the building, the building commissioner shall consult with the fire commissioner and they shall jointly fix the classification within which it falls according to the relative fire hazard involved.
(Prior code § 48-1; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-89, p. 4604; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 21; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 33)
13-56-020  Class A, residential units.
   Buildings, or parts thereof, designed or used for one or more family units or designed or used for sleeping accommodations other than family units except institutional units as defined in Section 13-56-050, shall be classified as Class A, residential units.
(Prior code § 48-2)
13-56-030  Class A-1, single-family dwelling.
   A “one-family dwelling” is a building containing one dwelling unit only or one group home only or an intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled – 15 or less only. A “family” consists of one or more persons each related to the other by blood (or adoption), together with such blood relations' respective spouses, who are living together in a single dwelling and maintaining a common household. A “family” includes any domestic servants and not more than one gratuitous guest residing with said “family”. A “family” also consists of the residents of a family home. An otherwise qualifying building does not lose its status as a Class A-1, single-family dwelling because a bed-and- breakfast establishment is operated in the building if (1) the bed-and-breakfast establishment has operated continuously in the building as of January 16, 2003; and (2) the operator of the bed-and-breakfast establishment files an application for a bed-and-breakfast establishment license no later than the effective date of this amendatory ordinance; provided, however, that a Class A-1, single-family dwelling containing a bed-and- breakfast establishment will lose its status as a Class A-1, single-family dwelling if the building or the bed- and-breakfast establishment is altered, expanded, enlarged or newly constructed after the effective date of this amendatory ordinance.
(Prior code § 48-2.1; Amend Coun. J. 12-21-84, p. 12140; Amended during Supplement No. 2, 4-91; Amend Coun. J. 9-4-03, p. 7118, § 4)
13-56-040  Class A-2, multiple dwellings.
   Residential units designed or used for two or more family units or designed or used for sleeping accommodations, other than family units, for more than ten persons shall be classified as Class A-2, multiple dwellings. Class A-2, multiple dwellings shall include, among others, the following:
   Apartment buildings
   Bed-and-breakfast establishments (regardless of capacity)
   Boardinghouses
   Clubs
   Convents
   Dormitories
   Fraternities
   Group homes
   Hotels
   Housing for elderly persons
   Lodging houses
   Monasteries
   Motels
   Roominghouses
   Single-room occupancy buildings
   Temporary overnight shelters (regardless of capacity)
   Transitional shelters (regardless of capacity)
(Prior code § 48-2.2; Amend Coun. J. 12-22-83, p. 4214; Amend Coun. J. 10-15-87, p. 4811; Amend Coun. J. 4-12-91, p. 32345; Amend Coun. J. 9-4-03, p. 7118, § 5)
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