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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
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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)