Questions:
1. Zone? Date Built?
2. Zoning Use Classification?
3. Assessment & Building Records reflect a 2 unit dwelling over an unfinished basement?
BUILDING CODE - DIVISION 3
http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway....efault.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicagobuilding_il
13-56-020 Class A, residential units.
13-56-030 Class A-1, single-family dwelling.
13-56-040 Class A-2, multiple dwellings.
13-196-520 Residential buildings – Basement units.
A basement space used as a habitable room or family unit shall comply with the following:
1. The floor depth below grade is not limited if the floors and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and are protected against dampness.
2. The required minimum window area is located entirely above the finished elevation of the ground adjoining the building wall in which the windows are located.
(Prior code § 78-50)
13-196-650 Pre-ordinance conversion to existing buildings – Applicability.
A pre-ordinance (built before July 8, 1957) residential building or building of mixed residential occupancy not complying with the requirements in force and applicable to the building at the time of its conversion may, if permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, be altered so as to legalize the present number of dwelling units provided such building complies with all the provisions of Chapter
13-196. For conversions which have added only one additional dwelling unit over the original number permitted, the provisions of Section
13-196-740 shall apply.
13-196-740 One additional dwelling unit over original allowed – Conditions.
A pre-ordinance (built before July 8, 1957) residential building or building of mixed residential occupancy, not complying with the requirements in force and applicable to the building at the time of its conversion, may be altered so as to legalize one dwelling unit, in addition to the number of dwelling units originally authorized, providing that said unit was determined by the office of the zoning administrator or the zoning board of appeals to have existed prior to July 8, 1957, and provided such building complies with the other provisions of this chapter. Such conversion need not comply with the requirements of the following specific provisions of this chapter:
(a) Section
13-196-660 (height limits); however, in frame buildings, four or more levels of living space shall be prohibited and in buildings of ordinary construction, with or without attic living space, five or more levels shall be prohibited;
(b) Section
13-196-050; however, all dwelling units must comply with the exit provisions of Chapter
13-160 except basement dwelling units may have a second exit through a room containing a heating plant;
(c) Section
13-196-670 (stairwell enclosures);
(d) Section
13-196-680 (corridor enclosures);
(e) Section
13-196-690 (dwelling separations);
(f) Section
13-196-710 (basement ceiling construction); however,
if the basement contains a dwelling unit the entire basement ceiling construction is to be wood lath and plaster of half hour construction;
(h) Section
13-196-720 (heating plants); however,
basement apartments are to be separated from heating plants with partitions of one hour construction.
(Prior code § 78-72; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 2841)
ZONING
17-2-0100 District descriptions.
17-2-0101 Generally. The “R”,
residential districts are intended to create, maintain and promote a variety of housing opportunities for individual
households and to maintain the desired physical character of the city’s existing neighborhoods. While the districts primarily accommodate residential use types, nonresidential uses that are compatible with residential neighborhoods are also allowed.
17-2-0102 RS, Residential Single-Unit (Detached House) Districts. The primary purpose of the RS districts is to accommodate the development of
detached houses on individual
lots. It is intended that RS zoning be applied in areas where the land-use pattern is characterized predominately by
detached houses on individual
lots or where such a land use pattern is desired in the future. The Zoning Ordinance includes three RS districts – RS1, RS2 and RS3 – which are differentiated primarily on the basis of minimum
lot area requirements and
floor area ratios.
17-2-0103 RT, Residential Two-Flat, Townhouse and Multi-Unit Districts. The primary purpose of the RT districts is to accommodate
detached houses,
two- flats,
townhouses and low-density,
multi-unit residential buildings at a
density and building scale that is compatible with RS districts. The districts are intended to be applied in area characterized by a mix of housing types. The districts are also intended to provide a gradual transition between RS districts and higher
density RM districts. The RT districts are differentiated primarily on the basis of allowed
density (minimum
lot area per unit) and
floor area ratios. The RT4A designation is intended to accommodate and promote
multi-unit buildings containing
accessible dwelling units. See also Sec.
17-2-0105.
ZONING - USE CHART BY DISTRICT (see PDF attachment)
