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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 17-5
MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS
17-5-0100   District descriptions.
17-5-0200   Allowed uses.
17-5-0300   Strip centers.
17-5-0400   Bulk and density standards.
17-5-0500   Outdoor storage and work activities.
17-5-0600   Screening and buffering.
17-5-0100 District descriptions.
   17-5-0101 Generally. The "M", Manufacturing districts are intended to accommodate manufacturing, warehousing, wholesale and industrial uses outside the Central Area. The district regulations are intended to:
      17-5-0101-A promote the economic viability of manufacturing and industrial uses;
      17-5-0101-B encourage employment growth; and
      17-5-0101-C limit the encroachment of unplanned residential and other non-industrial development within industrial corridors.
   17-5-0102 M1, Limited Manufacturing/Business Park District. The primary purpose of the M1, Limited Manufacturing/Business Park district is to accommodate low-impact manufacturing, wholesaling, warehousing and distribution activities that occur within enclosed buildings. The district is intended to promote high- quality new development and reuse of older industrial buildings.
   17-5-0103 M2, Light Industry District. The primary purpose of the M2, Light Industry district is to accommodate moderate-impact manufacturing, wholesaling, warehousing and distribution uses, including storage and work-related activities that occur outside of enclosed buildings. The M2 district is generally intended to accommodate more land-intensive industrial activities than the M1 district.
   17-5-0104 M3, Heavy Industry District. The primary purpose of the M3, Heavy Industrial district is to accommodate high-impact manufacturing and industrial uses, including extractive and waste-related uses.
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)
17-5-0200 Allowed uses.
   Uses are allowed in the "M" Zoning Districts in accordance with the Use Table of this section.
   17-5-0201 Use Groups and Categories. Use Groups and Use Categories are described in Sec. 17-17-0100.
   17-5-0202 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.
   17-5-0203 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.
   17-5-0203.5 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)
   17-5-0204 Prohibited Uses. Uses identified with a "-" are expressly prohibited. Uses that are not listed in the table are also prohibited.
   17-5-0205 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).
   17-5-0206 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.
   17-5-0207 Use Table and Standards.
For a printer-friendly PDF version of Table 17-5-0207, please click here.
USE GROUP
District
Use Standard
Parking Standard
Use Category
M1
M2
M3
Specific Use Type
P= permitted by-right
S = special use approval required
PD = planned development approval required
- = Not allowed
USE GROUP
District
Use Standard
Parking Standard
Use Category
M1
M2
M3
Specific Use Type
P= permitted by-right
S = special use approval required
PD = planned development approval required
- = Not allowed
RESIDENTIAL
A. Group Living
1.
Temporary Overnight Shelter
S
S
2.
Transitional Shelters
S
S
PUBLIC AND CIVIC
B. Reserved
C. Detention and Correctional Facilities
S
S
S
D. Parks and Recreation (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
1.
Community Centers, Recreation Buildings and Similar Assembly Use
-
-
-
2.
Community Garden
-
-
-
* Editor's note– The text of Coun. J. 9-8-11, p. 7541, § 4, amended item I (Parks and Recreation) in an apparent typographical error. This item "D" has been amended at the discretion of the editor. Future legislation will correct the provision if needed.
E. Postal Service
P
P
P
F. Public Safety Services
P
P
P
G. Utilities and Services, Minor
P
P
P
H. Utilities and Services, Major
S
S
S
1.
Wind Energy Meteorological Testing Tower
-
-
P
None required
COMMERCIAL
I. Adult Use
S
S
S
J. Animal Services
1.
Shelters/Boarding Kennels
P
P
P
2.
Veterinary
P
P
P
3.
Stables
P
P
P
K. Building Maintenance Services
P
P
P
L. Business Support Services
1.
Copying and Reproduction
P
P
P
2.
Business/Trade school
P
P
P
3.
Day Labor Employment Agency
P
P
P
4.
Employment Agencies
P
P
P
M. Urban Farm
1.
Indoor Operation
P
P
P
§ 17-9-0103.3 Accessory sale of goods produced on site shall not exceed 3,000 square feet
2.
Outdoor Operation
-
P
P
§ 17-9-0103.3 Accessory sale of goods produced on site shall not exceed 3,000 square feet
3.
Rooftop Operation
P
P
P
§ 17-9-0103.3 Accessory sale of goods produced on site shall not exceed 3,000 square feet
N. Communication Service Establishments
P
P
P
O. Construction Sales and Service
1.
Building Material Sales
-
P
P
Customer- accessible retail sales areas may not exceed 20% of total floor area
2.
Contractor/Construction Storage Yard
-
P
P
P. Drive-Through Facility
S
S
S
Q. Eating and Drinking Establishments
1.
Restaurant, Limited
P
P
P
Max GFA:
4,000 sq ft; no entertainment allowed
2.
Restaurant, General
P
P
P
Max GFA:
4,000 sq ft; no entertainment allowed
3.
Tavern
P
P
P
Max GFA:
4,000 sq ft; no entertainment allowed
4.
Outdoor patio (if located on a rooftop)
S
S
S
5.
Outdoor patio (if located at grade)
P
S
S
R. Entertainment and Spectator Sports
1.
Indoor Special Event including incidental liquor sales
P
P
P
2.
Wagering Facility
P/S
P/S
P/S
3.
Industrial Private Event Venue including incidental liquor sales
P
P
P
S. Financial Services (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
Max GFA:
3,000 sq ft
1.
Consumer Loan Establishment
S
S
S
Max GFA:
3,000 sq ft
2.
Payday/Title Secured Loan Store
S
S
S
Max GFA:
3,000 sq ft
§ 17-9-0125
3.
Pawn Shop
S
S
S
Max GFA:
3,000 sq ft
§ 17-9-0127
T. Food and Beverage Retail Sales
P
P
P
Max GFA:
3,000 sq ft
U. Gas Stations
S
S
S
V. Medical Service
P
-
-
W. Office (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
In M2 and M3, max GFA: 9,000 sq ft or accessory use to allowed industrial use
1.
Electronic Data Storage Center
P
P
P
X. Parking, Non-Accessory
S
S
S
Y. Personal Service
P
P
Max GFA:
3,000 sq ft
Z. Repair or Laundry Service, Consumer
P
P
P
AA. Residential Storage Warehouse
P
P
P
BB. Retail Sales, General
P
P
P
Accessory sales of goods produced on-site: not to exceed 20% of on-site GFA
CC. Sports and Recreation, Participant
S
S
S
1.
Shooting range facility
S
S
S
§ 17-9-0120 Accessory sales of firearms and ammunition; not to exceed 20% of total floor area
DD. Vehicle Sales and Service
1.
Car Wash or Cleaning Service
P
P
P
2.
Heavy Equipment Sales/Rental
-
P
P
3.
Light Equipment Sales/Rental, including automobile, motorcycle or boat sales
-
P
P
4.
Motor Vehicle Repair Shop
P
P
P
5.
Vehicle Storage and Towing
P
P
P
6.
RVs or Boat Storage
-
P
P
Sales allowed as accessory use only
INDUSTRIAL
EE. Manufacturing, Production and Industrial Service
1.
Artisan
P
P
P
2.
Limited
P
P
P
3.
General
P
P
P
4.
Intensive
-
-
P
FF. Reserved
GG. Recycling Facilities
1.
Class I
P
P
P
2.
Class II
S
P
P
3.
Class III
-
S
P
4.
Class IVA
-
S
S
5.
Class IVB
-
-
S
6.
Class V
-
-
S
HH. Warehousing, Wholesaling and Freight Movement (except as more specifically regulated)
P
P
P
1.
Container Storage
-
S
S
2.
Freight Terminal
-
P
P
3.
Outdoor Storage of Raw Materials as a Principal Use
-
-
P
II. Waste-Related Use
1.
Hazardous Materials Disposal or Storage
-
-
S
2.
Liquid Waste Handling Facilities
-
-
S
3.
Reprocessable Construction/Demolition Material Facility
-
-
S
4.
Resource Recovery Facilities
-
-
S
5.
Transfer Stations
-
-
S
6.
Modified Transfer Stations
-
-
S
OTHER
JJ. Wireless Communication Facilities
1.
Co-located
P
P
P
None required
2.
Freestanding (Towers)
P
P
P
None required
KK. Coke & Coal Bulk Material
-
-
-
None required
LL. Cannabis Business Establishment
1.
Cannabis Cultivation Center
-
P/S*
P/S*
2.
Cannabis Craft Grower
-
P/S*
P/S*
3.
Cannabis Infuser
-
P/S*
P/S*
4.
Cannabis Processor
-
P/S*
P/S*
MM. 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. 3-9-05, p. 44391; Amend Coun. J. 11-30-05, p. 62719; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-06, p. 84870, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-06, p. 84912, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 17740, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-9-08, p. 24657, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 1-13-09, p. 54378, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-9-11, p. 112149, § 22; Amend Coun. J. 6-8-11, p. 1725, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3073, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 9-8-11, p. 7541, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 1-17-13, p. 45370, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 1-17-13, p. 45622, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, 47141, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80394, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-14, p. 83727, § 13; Amend Coun. J. 7-30-14, p. 86194, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-16, p. 18766, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 7-26-17, p. 53898, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74512, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 10-16-19, p. 7854, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 3-24-21, p. 29065, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-21, p. 36844, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-21, p. 42922, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7821, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-22-24, p. 12069, § 3)
17-5-0300 Strip centers.
   Strip centers are prohibited in M districts.
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)
17-5-0400 Bulk and density standards.
   17-5-0401 General. Bulk and density standards in the M districts vary according to the type of district or applicable bulk designation. Bulk designations are indicated by the numeral following the dash (–) in the district name, as in "M1-2" (M1 dash 2).
   17-5-0402 Lot Area. There are no minimum lot area standards in the M districts.
   17-5-0403 Lot Frontage. There are no minimum lot frontage standards in the M districts.
   17-5-0404 Floor Area Ratio. All development in M districts is subject to the following maximum floor area ratio standards:
 
District
Maximum Floor Area Ratio*
Dash 1
1.2
Dash 2
2.2
Dash 3
3.0
 
(*See Sec. 17-17-0305 for rules governing the measurement of floor area ratio.)
   17-5-0405 Setbacks.
      17-5-0405-A Front and Side Setbacks. No front setback or side setback is required in M districts, except in the following cases:
         1.   All industrial parks and business parks within the M1 district must provide a landscaped setback along all property lines that abut public streets. This setback must be at least 10 feet in width.
         2.   M-zoned lots that are across the street from an R district must provide a setback along the street property line opposite the R district at least equal to the minimum front setback required on the R- zoned lot on the opposite side of the street.
Figure 17-5-0405-A2
         3.   M-zoned lots abutting R-zoned lots with street frontage along the same street must provide a front setback or street side setback at least equal to the minimum front setback required on the abutting R- zoned lot.
Figure 17-5-0405-A3
      17-5-0405-B Rear Setbacks. No rear setback is required in M districts, except when the rear property line of an M-zoned site abuts the side property line or rear property line of a lot in an R district or is separated from an R district rear property line by an alley, the minimum rear setback on the M-zoned property is 30 feet. (See Sec. 17-17-0307 for rules governing the measurement of rear setbacks.)
   Figure 17-5-0405-B
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)
17-5-0500 Outdoor storage and work activities.
   17-5-0501 Outdoor Storage and Display Areas.
      17-5-0501-A Outdoor storage is allowed as an accessory use in all M districts, if such storage is a customary accessory use to the principal use on a site.
      17-5-0501-B Outdoor storage is allowed as a principal use in the M2 and M3 districts, but not in the M1 district.
      17-5-0501-C Outdoor storage or outdoor product display areas must be screened in accordance with the standards of Sec. 17-5-0601. All accessory outdoor storage areas in the M1 district must be paved. Paving of outdoor storage areas is not required in M2 or M3 districts.
   17-5-0502 Outdoor Work Areas. Outdoor work areas are allowed in M2 and M3 districts, but not in the M1 district. Outdoor work areas must be buffered and screened in accordance with the standards of Sec. 17-5-0602.
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275)
17-5-0600 Screening and buffering.
   17-5-0601 Outdoor Storage and Display Areas.
      17-5-0601-A Screening from R Districts. Outdoor storage or display areas that abut R districts along a side property line or rear property line or are separated from an R district by only an alley along a side property line or rear property line must be effectively screened from view of the R district by a solid wall, solid fence, or dense vegetative screen not less than 6 feet in height and not more than 8 feet in height. Fences and walls must be masonry or wood, sight-obscuring and planted with vines. Chain-link fencing is prohibited.
      17-5-0601-B Screening from Public Streets. All outdoor storage areas must be screened from view of public streets, as follows:
         1.   The view of outdoor storage areas be visually screened from all contiguous streets other than alleys must either by permitted structures or by a vegetative buffer that is at least 6 feet in height or by a combination of such features.
         2.   Required screening must be located between the perimeter of the outdoor storage area and any property line abutting a public street, other than an alley.
         3.   This screening requirement is not intended to prohibit openings reasonably necessary for access drives and walkways.
Figure 17-5-0601-B
   17-5-0602 Outdoor Work Areas.
      17-5-0602-A Screening from Other Zoning Districts. All outdoor work areas situated on a lot with side property lines or rear property lines contiguous to any property within any R, B, C or D district that allows residential uses must be effectively screened along such side property lines or rear property lines by a solid wall, solid fence, or dense vegetative screen not less than 6 feet in height and not more than 8 feet in height. Fences and walls must be masonry or wood, sight- obscuring and planted with vines. Chain-link fencing is prohibited.
Figure 17-5-0602-A
      17-5-0602-B Screening from Public Streets. All outdoor work areas must be screened from view of public streets, as follows:
         1.   The view of such outdoor work areas from all contiguous streets must be visually screened either by permitted structures or by a vegetative buffer that is at least 6 feet in height or by a combination of such features.
         2.   Such screening must be located between the perimeter of the outdoor work area and any property line abutting a public street, other than an alley.
         3.   This screening requirement is not intended to prohibit openings reasonably necessary for access drives and walkways.
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391)