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(a) The maximum height of buildings shall be governed by the occupancy classification and type of construction as required in this chapter.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to prevent the application of other limitations required by the Chicago Zoning Ordinance.
(c) The height in feet shall be taken as the vertical distance from the average grade to the highest point of the building. In determining height limits, parapet walls not exceeding three feet in height, penthouses, roof tanks, bulkheads, chimneys and similar roof structures shall not be included unless the aggregate of such structure exceeds one-third of the area of the roof of the building.
(d) The number of stories shall be taken as the actual number of stories above grade.
The following shall not be regarded as stories:
(1) Any level located more than four feet below grade adjacent to the level in question. For single-family dwellings (Class A-1) and townhouse (Class A-2) buildings, the pertinent grade shall be the average of the front and rear grades, provided that for single-family dwellings (Class A-2) and townhouse (Class A-2) buildings having a split-elevation below- grade floor condition, the level that is more than four feet below grade shall not be counted as a story but rather as a basement when the below grade level exceeds 50 percent of the footprint area of the dwelling unit.
(2) Mezzanine floors or balconies having an area not exceeding 20 percent of the floor area of the story in which they occur. In one story building of Types II, III-A or III-B construction when unlimited areas are permitted, mezzanine floors shall not exceed 8,000 square feet in area.
(3) Enclosed monitor spaces in industrial or storage units used only for employees' toilets, lockers or similar uses.
(e) The roof of a special rooftop club licensed pursuant to Chapter 4-388 shall be counted as one story, and every deck level constructed on or above the roof shall be counted as an additional story; provided that if the space between the roof and the first deck constructed immediately on or above the roof is only interstitial space, then the roof and first deck shall be counted as one story. The floor area of the roof level, as that term is defined in Section 4-388-010, shall be included in calculating the floor area of the building.
(Prior code § 51-1.1; Amend Coun. J. 10-2-95, p. 8040; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-97, p. 54731; Amend Coun. J. 1-20-99, p. 88461; Amend Coun. J. 1-11-06, p. 68371, § 3)