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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*
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
CHAPTER 17-3
BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
17-3-0100   District descriptions.
17-3-0200   Allowed uses.
17-3-0300   General district standards.
17-3-0400   Bulk and density standards.
17-3-0500   Pedestrian streets.
17-3-0100 District descriptions.
   17-3-0101 Generally. The "B" and "C" (Business and Commercial) districts are intended to accommodate retail, service and commercial uses and to ensure that business and commercial-zoned areas are compatible with the character of existing neighborhoods.
   17-3-0102 B1, Neighborhood Shopping District.
      17-3-0102-A The B1, Neighborhood Shopping district is intended to accommodate a broad range of small-scale retail and service uses.
      17-3-0102-B B1 zoning is intended to be applied in compact nodes at the intersection of two or more major streets or in a cohesive linear fashion along relatively narrow streets that have low traffic speeds and volumes (compared to multi-lane, major streets).
      17-3-0102-C The B1 district is intended to exhibit the physical characteristics of storefront-style shopping streets that are oriented to pedestrians.
      17-3-0102-D The B1 district permits residential dwelling units above the ground floor.
      17-3-0102-E The B1 district can be combined with the dash 1, dash 1.5, dash 2, dash 3 or dash 5 bulk and density designations (see Sec. 17-3-0401).
   17-3-0103 B2, Neighborhood Mixed-Use District.
      17-3-0103-A The purpose of the B2, Neighborhood Mixed-Use district is the same as the B1 district, but with the added objective of providing a greater range of development options for those streets where the market demand for retail and service uses is relatively low. By allowing ground-floor residential uses by-right, the B2 district is intended to help stimulate development along under-developed streets.
      17-3-0103-B The B2 district permits residential dwelling units on or above the ground floor.
      17-3-0103-C B2 zoning is intended to be applied in compact nodes at the intersection of two or more major streets or in a cohesive linear fashion along relatively narrow streets that have low traffic speeds and volumes (compared to multi-lane, major streets).
      17-3-0103-D The B2 district can be combined with the dash 1, dash 1.5, dash 2, dash 3 or dash 5 bulk and density designations (see Sec. 17-3-0401).
   17-3-0104 B3, Community Shopping District.
      17-3-0104-A The primary purpose of the B3, Community Shopping district is to accommodate a very broad range of retail and service uses, often in the physical form of shopping centers or larger buildings than found in the B1 and B2 districts. In addition to accommodating development with a different physical form than found in B1 and B2 districts, the B3 district is also intended to accommodate some types of uses that are not allowed in B1 and B2 districts.
      17-3-0104-B Development in B3 districts will generally be destination-oriented, with a large percentage of customers arriving by automobile. Therefore, the supply of off-street parking will tend to be higher in B3 districts than in B1 and B2 districts.
      17-3-0104-C The B3 district permits residential dwelling units above the ground floor.
      17-3-0104-D The B3 district is intended to be applied to large sites that have primary access to major streets. It may also be used along streets to accommodate retail and service use types that are not allowed in B1 and B2 districts.
      17-3-0104-E The B3 district can be combined with the dash 1, dash 1.5, dash 2, dash 3 or dash 5 bulk and density designations (see Sec. 17-3-0401).
   17-3-0105 C1, Neighborhood Commercial District.
      17-3-0105-A The primary purpose of the C1, Neighborhood Commercial district is to accommodate a very broad range of small-scale, business, service and commercial uses.
      17-3-0105-B C1 zoning is distinguished from B1 zoning by the range of use types allowed: C1 permits more intensive, more auto-oriented commercial use types than does B1. The C1 district also allows taverns and liquor stores by-right.
      17-3-0105-C The C1 district permits residential dwelling units above the ground floor.
      17-3-0105-D C1 zoning is generally intended to be applied in compact nodes, at the intersection of two or more major streets, or in a cohesive linear fashion along streets.
      17-3-0105-E The C1 district can be combined with the dash 1, dash 1.5, dash 2, dash 3 or dash 5 bulk and density designations (see Sec. 17-3-0401).
   17-3-0106 C2, Motor Vehicle-Related Commercial District.
      17-3-0106-A The primary purpose of the C2, Motor Vehicle-Related Commercial district is to accommodate a very broad range of business, service and commercial uses. In terms of allowed uses, C2 represents the highest intensity business or commercial zoning district. It allows nearly any type of business, service or commercial use, including those involving outdoor operations and storage. Like the B3 district, the C2 district, development will generally be destination- oriented; a very large percentage of customers will arrive by automobile.
      17-3-0106-B The C2 district permits residential dwelling units above the ground floor.
      17-3-0106-C The C2 district is intended to be applied to large sites that have primary access to major streets.
      17-3-0106-D The C2 district can be combined with the dash 1, dash 1.5, dash 2, dash 3 or dash 5 bulk and density designations (see Sec. 17-3-0401).
   17-3-0107 C3, Commercial, Manufacturing and Employment District.
      17-3-0107-A The primary purpose of the C3, Commercial, Manufacturing and Employment district is to accommodate retail, service, commercial and manufacturing uses. The district is intended to serve as a buffer between M-zoned areas and other B, C and R- zoned areas.
      17-3-0107-B C3 districts are appropriate for application adjacent to M districts and planned manufacturing districts, to act as a buffer against the encroachment of incompatible residential or very high- traffic generating uses.
      17-3-0107-C The C3 district does not permit residential dwelling units.
      17-3-0107-D The C3 district is intended to be applied to large sites that have primary access to major streets.
      17-3-0107-E The C3 district can be combined with the dash 1, dash 1.5, dash 2, dash 3 or dash 5 bulk and density designations (see Sec. 17-3-0401).
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)
17-3-0200 Allowed uses.
   Uses are allowed in the "B" and "C" Zoning Districts in accordance with the Use Table of this section.
   17-3-0201 Use Groups and Categories. Use Groups and Use Categories are described in Sec. 17-17-0100.
   17-3-0202 Permitted Uses. Uses identified with a "P" are permitted by-right in the subject zoning district, subject to compliance with all other applicable standards of this Zoning Ordinance.
   17-3-0203 Special Uses. Uses identified with an "S" may be allowed if reviewed and approved in accordance with the special use procedures of Sec. 17-13-0900, subject to compliance with all other applicable standards of this Zoning Ordinance.
   17-3-0203.5 Planned Developments. Uses identified with a "PD" may be allowed if reviewed and approved in accordance with the planned development procedures of Sec. 17-13-0600. Other uses and development activities may also require review and approval as a planned development based on their size, height or other threshold criteria. (See the mandatory planned development thresholds of Sec. 17-8-0500)
   17-3-0204 Prohibited Uses. Uses identified with a "-" are expressly prohibited. Uses that are not listed in the table are also prohibited.
   17-3-0205 Use Standards. The "Use Standard" column of the following Use Table identifies use-specific standards that apply to some uses. Compliance with such standards is required regardless of whether the use is a Permitted (P) or special use (S).
   17-3-0206 Parking Standards. The "Parking Standard" column of the following Use Table contains a reference to the applicable off-street parking ratio for the listed use. Off-street parking regulations are located in Chapter 17-10.
   17-3-0207 Use Table and Standards.
For a printer-friendly PDF version of Table 17-3-0207, please click here.
USE GROUP
Zoning Districts
Use Standard
Parking Standard
Use Category
B1
B2
B3
C1
C2
C3
Specific Use Type
P= permitted by-right
S = special use approval required
PD = planned development approval required
- = Not allowed
USE GROUP
Zoning Districts
Use Standard
Parking Standard
Use Category
B1
B2
B3
C1
C2
C3
Specific Use Type
P= permitted by-right
S = special use approval required
PD = planned development approval required
- = Not allowed
RESIDENTIAL
A. Household Living
1.
Artist Live/Work Space located above the ground floor
P
P
P
P
P
-
2.
Artist Live/Work Space located on the ground floor
S
P
S
S
S
-
3.
Dwelling Units located above the ground floor
P
P
P
P
P
-
4.
Dwelling Units located below the second floor (as follows)
4a.
Detached House
S
P
S
S
S
-
4b.
Elderly Housing
S
P
S
S
S
-
4c.
Multi-Unit (3+ units) Residential
S
P
S
S
S
-
4d.
Single-Room Occupancy
S
P
S
S
S
-
4e.
Townhouse
S
P
S
S
S
-
4f.
Two-Flat
S
P
S
S
S
-
B. Group Living (except as more specifically regulated)
S
S
S
S
S
-
1.
Assisted Living (Elderly Custodial Care)
S
P
P
P
P
-
2.
Community Home, Family
P
P
P
P
-
-
3.
Community Home, Group
S
S
S
S
-
-
4.
Domestic Violence Residence, Family (located above the ground floor [1])
P
P
P
P
-
-
5.
Domestic Violence Residence, Group [2]
S/P
S/P
S/P
S
-
-
6.
Domestic Violence Shelter
S
S
S
S
-
-
7.
Nursing Home (Skilled Nursing Care)
S
S
S
S
S
-
8.
Temporary Overnight Shelter
S
S
S
S
S
S
9.
Transitional Residences
S
S
S
S
S
-
10.
Transitional Shelters
S
S
S
S
S
S
PUBLIC AND CIVIC
C. Colleges and Universities
P
P
P
P
P
S
D. Cultural Exhibits and Libraries
P
P
P
P
P
P
E. Day Care
P
P
P
P
P
P
F. Detention and Correctional Facilities
-
-
-
S
S
S
* Editor's note– As set forth in Coun. J. 9-13-06, p. 84870, § 2; however, there is no parking standard for detention facilities.
G. Hospital
-
-
-
P
P
P
H. Lodge or Private Club
-
S
S
S
S
S
I. Parks and Recreation (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
P
P
P
1.
Community Centers, Recreation Buildings and Similar Assembly Use
S
S
S
S
S
S
2.
Community Garden
P
P
P
P
P
P
J. Postal Service
P
P
P
P
P
P
K. Public Safety Services
P
P
P
P
P
P
L. Religious Assembly
S
S
S
S
S
S
M. School
S
S
S
S
S
S
N. Utilities and Services, Minor
P
P
P
P
P
P
O. Utilities and Services, Major
S
S
S
S
S
S
COMMERCIAL
P. Adult Use
-
-
-
S
S
S
Q. Animal Services
1.
Shelter/Boarding Kennel
-
-
S
P
P
P
2.
Sales and Grooming
P
P
P
P
P
P
3.
Veterinary
-
-
P
P
P
P
4.
Stables
-
-
-
S
S
S
R. Artist Work or Sales Space
P
P
P
P
P
P
S. Body Art Services
-
-
S
P
P
P
T. Building Maintenance Services
P
P
P
P
P
P
U. Business Equipment Sales and Service
P
P
P
P
P
P
V. Business Support Services (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
P
P
P
1.
Day Labor Employment Agency
-
-
S
S
S
P
2.
Employment Agencies
-
-
P
P
P
P
W. Urban Farm
1.
Indoor Operation
-
-
P
P
P
P
2.
Outdoor Operation
-
-
-
P
P
P
3.
Rooftop Operation
-
-
S
P
P
P
X. Communication Service Establishments
-
-
P
P
P
P
Y. Construction Sales and Service
1.
Building Material Sales
-
-
P
P
P
P
2.
Contractor/Construction Storage Yard
-
-
-
P
P
P
Z. Drive-Through Facility
S
S
S
S
S
S
NA
AA. Eating and Drinking Establishments
1.
Restaurant, Limited
P
P
P
P
P
P
2.
Restaurant, General
-
-
P
P
P
P
3.
Tavern
-
-
S
P
P
P
4.
Outdoor patio (if located on a rooftop)
-
-
S
S
S
S
5.
Outdoor patio (if located at grade level)
P
P
P
P
P
P
BB. Entertainment and Spectator Sports
1.
Indoor Special Event including incidental liquor sales
P
P
P
P
P
P
2.
Wagering Facility
-
-
-
P/S
P/S
P/S
3.
Small venues (1 – 149 occupancy)
P
P
P
P
P
P
4.
Medium venues (150 – 999 occupancy)
-
-
P
P
P
P
5.
Large venues (1,000+ occupancy)
-
-
PD
PD
PD
PD
6.
Indoor Event Venues
-
-
S
S
S
S
7.
Industrial Private Event Venue including incidental liquor sales
-
-
-
-
-
-
CC. Financial Services (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
P
P
P
1.
Bank, Savings Bank, Savings and Loan Association, Currency Exchange, and Credit Union
P/S
P/S
P/S
P
P
P
2.
Payday/Title Secured Loan Store
-
-
S
S
S
S
3.
Pawn Shop
-
-
S
S
S
S
4.
Automated Teller Machine Facility
P/S
P/S
P/S
P
P
P
DD. Flea Market
-
-
-
S
S
S
EE. Food and Beverage Retail Sales (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
P
P
P
1.
Liquor Store (package goods)
-
-
S
P
P
P
2.
Liquor Sales (as accessory use)
P
P
P
P
P
P
3.
Poultry (including slaughtering and retail sales)
-
-
-
S
S
S
FF. Fortune Telling Service
-
-
S
S
S
S
GG. Funeral and Interment Service
1.
Cemetery/Mausoleum/Columbarium
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.
Cremating
-
-
S
S
S
S
3.
Undertaking
P
P
P
P
P
P
HH. Gas Stations
-
-
S
S
S
S
II. Lodging
1.
Bed and Breakfast
P
P
P
P
P
-
2.
Hotel/Motel
-
-
S
S
S
S
3.
Vacation Rental
P
P
P
P
P
-
4.
Shared Housing Unit
P
P
P
P
P
-
JJ. Medical Service
P
P
P
P
P
P
KK. Office (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
P
P
P
1.
Electronic Data Storage Center
-
-
P
P
P
P
LL. Parking, Non-Accessory
P
P
P
P
P
P
MM. Personal Service (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
P
P
P
1.
Hair Salon, Nail Salon, or Barbershop
P/S
P/S
P/S
P
P
P
2.
Massage Establishment
-
-
S
P
P
P
NN. Repair or Laundry Service, Consumer (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
P
P
P
1.
Dry cleaning drop-off or pick-up (no on-premise plant)
P
P
P
P
P
P
2.
Coin-operated laundromat
-
-
P
P
P
P
OO. Residential Storage Warehouse
-
-
P
P
P
P
PP. Retail Sales, General
P
P
P
P
P
P
QQ. Sports and Recreation, Participant
1.
Outdoor
-
-
P
-
P
P
2.
Indoor
P
P
P
P
P
P
3.
Amusement Arcades
-
-
-
P
P
P
4.
Entertainment Cabaret
-
-
S
S
S
P
5.
Children's Play Center
P
P
P
P
P
P
6.
Hookah Bar
S
S
S
S
S
S
7.
Shooting range facility
S
S
S
S
S
S
RR. Valuable Objects Dealer
-
-
S
S
S
S
SS. Vehicle Sales and Service
1.
Auto Supply/Accessory Sales
-
-
P
P
P
P
2.
Car Wash or Cleaning Service
-
-
-
P
P
P
3.
Heavy Equipment Sales/Rental
-
-
-
-
P
P
4.
Light Equipment Sales/Rental, Indoor (e.g., auto, motorcycle and boat sales)
-
-
P
P
P
P
5.
Light Equipment Sales/Rental, Outdoor (e.g., auto, motorcycle and boat sales)
-
-
-
-
P
P
6.
Motor Vehicle Repair Shop, not including body work, painting or commercial vehicle repairs
-
-
P
P
P
P
7.
Motor Vehicle Repair Shop, may include body work, painting or commercial vehicle repairs
-
-
-
P
P
P
8.
RV or Boat Storage
-
-
-
-
P
P
9.
Vehicle Storage and Towing (indoor storage)
-
-
-
-
P
P
10.
Vehicle Storage and Towing (with outdoor storage)
-
-
-
-
S
S
TT. Business Live/Work Unit
S
P
S
S
S
-
INDUSTRIAL
UU. Manufacturing, Production and Industrial Services
1.
Artisan
-
-
-
P
P
P
2.
Limited (catering & shared kitchen only)
-
-
P
P
P
P
3.
Limited
-
-
-
P
P
P
4.
General (laundry/dry cleaning plant; maximum 2 employees)
-
-
P
P
P
P
5.
General (laundry or dry cleaning plant only)
-
-
-
P
P
P
VV. Recycling Facilities
1.
Class I
-
-
P
S
P
P
2.
Class II
-
-
-
S
P
P
WW. Warehousing, Wholesaling and Freight Movement
-
-
-
P
P
P
OTHER
XX. Wireless Communication Facilities
1.
Co-located
P
P
P
P
P
P
None required
2.
Freestanding (Towers)
S
S
S
S
S
S
None required
YY. Coke & Coal Bulk Material
-
-
-
-
-
-
None required
ZZ. Firearms Dealer
-
-
-
-
S
S
AAA. Cannabis Business Establishments
1.
Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary
-
-
-
S*
S*
S*
2.
Medical Cannabis Dispensary
-
-
-
S*
S*
S*
3.
Cannabis Craft Grower
-
-
-
S*
S*
S*
4.
Cannabis Infuser
-
-
-
S*
S*
S*
5.
Cannabis Processor
-
-
-
S*
S*
S*
BBB. Manganese-bearing Material Operation
-
-
-
-
-
-
None required
* Pursuant to Section 17-9-0129(1), cannabis business establishments in a certain area delineated in Section 17-9-0129(1) must be reviewed and approved in accordance with the Type I Zoning Map Amendment procedures of Section 17-13-0302 instead of the special use procedures.
 
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 9-1-04, p. 30490; Amend Coun. J. 2-9-05, p. 42415; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391; Amend Coun. J. 11-30-05, p. 62719; Amend Coun. J. 6-28-06, p. 79813, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-06, p. 84870, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-31-07, p. 12062, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17740, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-13-09, p. 62736, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 80791, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-12-10, p. 91343, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 6-9-10, p. 94410, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-30-10, p. 96060, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 7-28-10, p. 97810, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-3-10, p. 104527; Amend Coun. J. 11-3-10, p. 104833, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-4-11, p. 117699, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 6-8-11, p. 1725, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3073, § 10; Amend Coun. J. 9-8-11, p. 7541, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 17064, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-9-12, p. 27485, § 189; Amend Coun. J. 6-27-12, p. 30744, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-12, p. 31627, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-3-12, p. 35865, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-17-13, p. 45622, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80394, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-14, p. 83727, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 7-30-14, p. 86194, §§ 2, 9; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 4122, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-16, p. 18766, § 10; Amend Coun. J. 6-22-16, p. 27712, § 13; Amend Coun. J. 5-24-17, p. 50364, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 7-26-17, p. 53898, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74512, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-16-19, p. 7854, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-15-20, p. 13417, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-24-21, p. 29065, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-21, p. 36844, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-21, p. 42922, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50878, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 1-18-23, p. 59796, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-22-24, p. 12069, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-17-24, p. 14728, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-16-24, p. 22233, § 7)