Amendment of Municipal Code Title 17 by modifying various sections requiring by-right permitting for electric vehicle charging stations in certain zoning districts and by adding new Sections 17-9-0134 and 17-17-0104-DD.8 establishing regulations for electric vehicle charging stations
- Record number: O2026-0026908
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: In Committee
- Sponsor: Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward)
- Committee: Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
- Submitted Date: Jul 9, 2026
- Introduction Date: Jul 15, 2026
- Official record: Office of the City Clerk
Impact report
Written by AI from the official document. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.
This ordinance would add public electric vehicle charging stations as a new type of land use in Chicago's zoning code, with rules on landscaping, lighting, and driveways.
Who it affects
- Businesses that want to open public EV charging stations: They would need to follow landscaping, lighting, and driveway rules and get Chicago Department of Transportation approval before getting a building permit.
- Residents living next to charging stations: Station lighting would have to point downward and be shielded so it does not light up nearby homes.
- Electric vehicle drivers: Charging stations open to the general public would be recognized as their own type of business in the zoning code.
- Chicago Department of Transportation: The department would review and approve plans for charging station driveways and may ask applicants for traffic counts and related data.
- Drivers and people using nearby streets: Charging station driveways would have to be designed so they do not hurt traffic safety or flow on nearby streets.
What changes
- Public EV charging stations would be defined as a 'Vehicle Sales and Service' use in the zoning code.
- Charging stations would have to meet city landscaping rules, including rules for vehicle use areas.
- Lighting at charging stations would have to point down and be shielded from nearby homes.
- A building permit could not be issued until the Chicago Department of Transportation approves driveway plans as safe and efficient.
- Zoning use tables in several parts of the code would be updated to include charging stations.
Where: 32nd Ward
When: Upon passage and approval