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Municipal Code of Chicago
MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2 CITY GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
TITLE 4 BUSINESSES, OCCUPATIONS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
TITLE 5 HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 6 HUMAN RIGHTS*
TITLE 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY
TITLE 8 OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
TITLE 9 VEHICLES, TRAFFIC AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
TITLE 10 STREETS, PUBLIC WAYS, PARKS, AIRPORTS AND HARBORS
TITLE 11 UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TITLE 12 RESERVED
TITLE 13 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE 14 RESERVED*
TITLE 14A ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES*
TITLE 14B BUILDING CODE*
CHAPTER 14B-1 SCOPE AND PURPOSE
CHAPTER 14B-2 DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENTS
CHAPTER 14B-3 OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
CHAPTER 14B-4 SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY
CHAPTER 14B-5 GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
CHAPTER 14B-6 TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 14B-7 FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
CHAPTER 14B-8 INTERIOR FINISHES
CHAPTER 14B-9 FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 14B-10 MEANS OF EGRESS
CHAPTER 14B-11 ACCESSIBILITY
CHAPTER 14B-12 INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
CHAPTER 14B-13 ENERGY EFFICIENCY
CHAPTER 14B-14 EXTERIOR WALLS
CHAPTER 14B-15 ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
CHAPTER 14B-16 STRUCTURAL DESIGN
CHAPTER 14B-17 SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
CHAPTER 14B-18 SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
CHAPTER 14B-19 CONCRETE
CHAPTER 14B-20 ALUMINUM
CHAPTER 14B-21 MASONRY
CHAPTER 14B-22 STEEL
CHAPTER 14B-23 WOOD
CHAPTER 14B-24 GLASS AND GLAZING
CHAPTER 14B-25 GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
CHAPTER 14B-26 PLASTIC
CHAPTER 14B-27 ELECTRICAL
CHAPTER 14B-28 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 14B-29 PLUMBING SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 14B-30 CONVEYANCE DEVICES
CHAPTER 14B-31 SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 14B-32 ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC WAY
CHAPTER 14B-33 WORK SITE SAFETY AND OPERATIONS
CHAPTER 14B-34 RESERVED
CHAPTER 14B-35 REFERENCED STANDARDS
CHAPTER 14B-36 APPENDICES
TITLE 14C CONVEYANCE DEVICE CODE*
TITLE 14E ELECTRICAL CODE*
TITLE 14F FIRE PREVENTION CODE*
TITLE 14G FUEL GAS CODE*
TITLE 14M MECHANICAL CODE*
TITLE 14N 2022 ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CODE*
TITLE 14P PLUMBING CODE*
TITLE 14R BUILDING REHABILITATION CODE*
TITLE 14X MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS*
TITLE 15 FIRE PREVENTION
TITLE 16 LAND USE
TITLE 17 CHICAGO ZONING ORDINANCE
TITLE 18 BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
APPENDIX TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO (RESERVED)*
TABLES
Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance
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14B-5-507 IBC Section 507.
The provisions of Section 507 of IBC are not adopted.
14B-5-508 Mixed use and occupancy.
The provisions of Section 508 of IBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications:
1.   Delete exception 1 to Section 508.1.
1.1.   Revise exception 2 to Section 508.1 by replacing "Table 415.6.2" with "the Chicago Fire Prevention Code."
2.   Revise Section 508.2.2 to read:
"508.2.2 Allowable building height.
The allowable building height and number of stories above grade plane of the building containing accessory occupancies shall be in accordance with Section 504 for the main occupancy of the building."
3.   Revise Section 508.2.3 to read:
"508.2.3 Allowable building area.
The allowable area of the building shall be based on the applicable provisions of Section 506 for the main occupancy of the building. Aggregate accessory occupancies shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the floor area of the story nor more than 10 percent of the total floor area of the main occupancy in which they are located and shall not exceed the tabular area values for nonsprinklered buildings in Table 506.2 for each such accessory occupancy.
Exception: The building official and fire code official may jointly approve accessory occupancies exceeding the 10 percent and 25 percent limits when in their opinion such accessory occupancies do not unduly increase the hazard."
4.   Revise the exceptions to Section 508.2.4 to read:
"Exceptions:
1.   Group H occupancies shall not be classified as accessory occupancies and shall be separated from all other occupancies in accordance with Section 508.4.
2.   Group I-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 dwelling units and sleeping units shall not be classified as accessory occupancies and shall be separated from other dwelling or sleeping units and from other occupancies contiguous to them in accordance with the requirements of Section 420.
3.   Motor-vehicle-related occupancies shall not be classified as accessory occupancies and shall be separated from other occupancies in accordance with Section 406."
5.   Revise Section 508.3.2 to read:
"508.3.2 Allowable building area, height and number of stories above grade plane.
The allowable building area, building height and number of stories above grade plane of the building or portion thereof shall be based on the most restrictive allowances for the occupancy groups under consideration for the type of construction of the building in accordance with Section 503.1."
6.   Revise the exceptions to Section 508.3.3 to read:
"Exceptions:
1.   Group H occupancies shall be separated from all other occupancies in accordance with Section 508.4.
2.   Group I-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 dwelling units and sleeping units shall be separated from other dwelling or sleeping units and from other occupancies contiguous to them in accordance with the requirements of Section 420.
3.   Group A occupancies with an aggregate occupant load of 300 or more persons shall be separated from other main occupancies by construction providing a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours in buildings that are not protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
4.   Group A occupancies with an aggregate occupant load of less than 300 persons shall be separated from other main occupancies by construction providing a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour in buildings that are not protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
5.   Motor-vehicle-related occupancies shall be separated from other occupancies in accordance with Section 406."
7.   Replace Table 508.4 as shown:
TABLE 508.4
REQUIRED SEPARATION OF OCCUPANCIES (HOURS) f
OCCUPANCY
A, E
I-1 a,
I-3, I-4
I-2
R a
F-2,
S-2 b, U
B e, M
F-1, S-1
H-1
H-2
H-3, H-4
H-5
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
OCCUPANCY
A, E
I-1 a,
I-3, I-4
I-2
R a
F-2,
S-2 b, U
B e, M
F-1, S-1
H-1
H-2
H-3, H-4
H-5
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
S
NS
A, E
N h
N g, h
2
3
3
NP
1 h
2
1 h
2
1 h
2
1 h
2
NP
NP
4
NP
4
NP
4
NP
I-1 a, I-3, I-4
N
N
2
NP
2
NP
3
4
3
4
3
4
NP
NP
4
NP
4
NP
4
NP
I-2
N
N
2
NP
3
NP
2
NP
2
NP
NP
NP
4
NP
4
NP
4
NP
R a
N
N
1
2
1
2
1
2
NP
NP
4
NP
4
NP
4
NP
F-2, S-2 b, U
N
N
1
2
1
2
NP
NP
3
4
4
4
4
NP
B e, M
N
N
1
2
NP
NP
3
4
4
4
3
NP
F-1, S-1
N
N
NP
NP
3
4
4
4
3
NP
H-1
N
NP
NP
NP
NP
NP
NP
NP
H-2
N
NP
2
NP
1
NP
H-3, H-4
2 d
NP
1
NP
H-5
N
NP
 
S   =   Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
NS   =   Buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
N   =   No separation requirement.
NP   =   Not Permitted.
a.   See Section 420.
b.   The required separation from parking garages and other motor-vehicle-related occupancies shall be in accordance with Section 406.
c.   [Reserved.]
d.   Separation is not required between occupancies of the same classification.
e.   See Section 422.2 for ambulatory care facilities.
f.   Occupancy separations that serve to define fire area limits established in Chapter 9 for requiring fire protection systems shall also comply with Section 707.3.10 and Table 707.3.10 in accordance with Section 901.7.
g.   Group A occupancies with an aggregate occupant load of less than 300 persons shall be separated from other occupancies by construction providing a fire-resistance rating of not less than one 1 hour in buildings that are not protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
h.   Group A occupancies with an aggregate occupant load of 300 or more persons shall be separated from other occupancies by construction providing a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours in buildings that are not protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1. 1.
8.   Revise Section 508.4.3, including the exception, to read:
"508.4.3 Allowable building height and number of stories above grade plane.
Each separated occupancy shall comply with the building height limitations and story above grade plane limitations based on the type of construction of the building in accordance with Section 503.1."
(Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. II, § 18; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. II, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180, Art. II, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 1-26-22, p. 43756, Art. II, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8634, Art. IV, § 1)
14B-5-509 Incidental uses.
The provisions of Section 509 of IBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications:
1.   Replace Table 509 as shown:
TABLE 509
INCIDENTAL USES
ROOM OR AREA
SEPARATION AND/OR PROTECTION
ROOM OR AREA
SEPARATION AND/OR PROTECTION
Furnace room where any piece of equipment is over 400,000 Btu per hour input
2 hours
Rooms with boilers where the largest piece of equipment is over 15 psi and 10 horsepower
2 hours
Furnace rooms and boiler rooms in buildings having an occupant load exceeding 200 persons
2 hours
Furnace rooms and boiler rooms in Group I occupancies
2 hours
Furnace rooms and boiler rooms in other than Group R-5 occupancies
1 hour
Refrigerant machinery room
1 hour
Hydrogen fuel gas rooms, not classified as Group H
1 hour in Group B, F, M, S and U occupancies;
2 hours in Group A, E, I and R occupancies.
Incinerator rooms
2 hours and provide automatic sprinkler system
Paint shops, not classified as Group H, located in occupancies other than Group F
2 hours; or 1 hour and provide automatic sprinkler system
In Group E occupancies, laboratories and vocational shops not classified as Group H
1 hour
In Group I-2 occupancies, laboratories not classified as Group H
1 hour and provide automatic sprinkler system
In ambulatory care facilities, laboratories not classified as Group H
1 hour
Laundry rooms over 100 square feet
1 hour
Group I-3 cells and Group I-2 patient rooms equipped with padded surfaces
1 hour
In Group I-2, physical plant maintenance shops
1 hour
Waste, recycling and linen collection rooms with containers that have an aggregate volume of 10 cubic feet or greater in ambulatory care facilities or Group I-2 occupancies
1 hour
Waste, recycling and linen collection rooms over 100 square feet
1 hour
Storage rooms over 100 square feet in ambulatory care facilities and Group A, E, I, R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 occupancies
2 hours or 1 hour and provide automatic sprinkler system
Storage rooms used for combustible material in buildings with an exhibition area
2 hours and provide automatic sprinkler system
Stationary storage battery systems having an energy capacity greater than the threshold quantity specified in the Chicago Fire Prevention Code
1 hour in Group B, F, M, S and U occupancies;
2 hours in Group A, E, I and R occupancies.
Telecommunication equipment areas over 50 square feet and not over 150 square feet
2 hours or 1 hour and provide automatic sprinkler system
Telecommunication equipment areas over 150 square feet
2 hours a
Electrical installations and transformers
See Sections 110.26 through 110.34 and Sections 450.8 through 450.48 of the Chicago Electrical Code for protection and separation requirements.
 
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m 2, 1 pound per square inch (psi) = 6.9 kPa, 1 British thermal unit (Btu) per hour = 0.293 watts, 1 horsepower = 746 watts, 1 gallon = 3.785 L, 1 cubic foot = 0.0283 m 3.
a.   Telecommunication equipment areas over 150 square feet require an automatic fire extinguishing system in accordance with section 903.2.11.7.
2.   Revise the exception to Section 509.1 to read:
"Exception: Incidental uses within and serving a single dwelling unit or sleeping unit are not required to comply with this section."
3.   Revise Section 509.3 to read:
"509.3 Area limitations.
Incidental uses shall not occupy more than 10 percent of the gross floor area of the primary occupancy in which they are located."
4.   Delete the second sentence in Section 509.4.1.
5.   Delete Section 509.4.2 and its subsections.
(Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. II, § 19; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180, Art. II, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 12-14-22, p. 58278, Art. III, § 1)
14B-5-510 IBC Section 510.
The provisions of Section 510 of IBC are not adopted.