Chicago Zoning Map

1. The text, or rules; and
   
2. The map, indicating which rules apply to a given location.
   

• Business
  
• Commercial
  
• Manufacturing
  
• Residential
  

These are indicated on a zoning map by the letters B, C, M and R. While reviewing the map, you’ll notice that the districts are further defined by additional letters and numbers. On the map, in the Business and Commercial Districts, the number after the letter (1, 2 or 3) represents the intensity of the use -- i.e., the size of the buildings and the types of activities allowed.

For example, B1 is for relatively small-scale, neighborhood uses (coffee shops, galleries, boutiques), while B3 is for large shopping centers. The numbers after the dash indicate the relative size of buildings.

Residential districts are further broken down into:

• RS - Residential single-unit districts, comprised mostly of single-family homes
  
• RT - Residential townhouse, two- or three-flat districts; and
  
• RM - Residential multi-unit districts, comprised of large apartments or condominiums.
  

There are 10 levels of residential zoning: RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RT-3.5, RT-4, RM-4.5, RM-5, RM-5.5, RM-6 and RM-6.5. As with business and commercial districts, these numbers represent the relative sizes of the buildings allowed. For example, the RM-6.5 zoning district allows for the largest residential buildings, especially when compared to RS-1, which is designed primarily to accommodate single-family homes on the smallest lots legally allowed. Other zoning districts include:

• Downtown (D)
• Planned Developments (PD)
• Parks and Open Space (POS)
• Planned Manufacturing Districts (PMD)