# Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-17-0103 including electrical substations to public and civic use group use categories

- Record number: **O2026-0025612**
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: In Committee
- Sponsor: [Timothy R. Knudsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/43) (43rd Ward)
- Committee: [Committee on Committees and Rules](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/committees-and-rules)
- Submitted Date: May 26, 2026
- Introduction Date: Jun 17, 2026
- Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=90A44B86-3B59-F111-BEC5-001DD80C4FA2)

## Impact report

> Written by AI from [the official document](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/b75fe05d-367d-4c18-a5f4-0b1cf9c13c94.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

The ordinance would add electrical substations to the city's zoning code, classifying larger or nearby-to-homes substations as "major" utilities and all others as "minor" utilities.

**Who it affects**

- **Residents living near proposed electrical substations**: A substation within 660 feet of any residential building would be classified as a major utility, which the code describes as having substantial land use impacts on surrounding areas.
- **Electric utility companies and substation developers**: Their substations would be sorted into major or minor utility categories based on site size, closeness to homes, and whether they have an outdoor equipment yard.
- **Property owners near large utility sites**: Substations on sites of 0.5 acres or more, or with an outdoor equipment yard, would be grouped with uses like water treatment plants and transit garages as major utilities.

**What changes**

- Electrical substations would be named as a typical use in the Major Utilities and Services zoning category if the site is 0.5 acres or more.
- Substations within 660 feet of any residential building would count as major utilities.
- Substations with an outdoor equipment yard would count as major utilities.
- Substations that do not meet any of those conditions would be listed as minor utilities, alongside pump stations and telephone exchanges.

**When**: Upon passage and publication

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/90A44B86-3B59-F111-BEC5-001DD80C4FA2 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt