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

[Legislation tracker](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/tracker) › [Committees and Rules](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/committees-and-rules) › [43rd Ward: Timothy R. Knudsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/43)

- Record number: **O2026-0025612**
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: In Committee (Referred)
- 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

## Timeline

- Jun 17, 2026: Referred, City Council. Two committees called, the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards and the Committee on Finance, the matter was Referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules (Pursuant to Council Rule 42).

## Documents

- [Large Utility Projects Ordinance.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/b75fe05d-367d-4c18-a5f4-0b1cf9c13c94.pdf) (Legislation)

## Related legislation

**More from Timothy R. Knudsen**

- [Designation of segments of W Diversey Pkwy right-of-way on Map No. 7-G as pedestrian street and amendment of Municipal Code Section…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029431-segments-w-diversey-pkwy-right-way) (O2026-0029431, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Approval of Blues Legacy Resubdivision](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029053-approval-blues-legacy-resubdivision) (O2026-0029053, introduced Sep 29, 2026, Passed)
- [Amendment of Annual Appropriation Ordinance to transfer funds from 43rd Ward Aldermanic Expense Account to Wage Allowance Account for Year…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0027655-annual-appropriation-ordinance-transfer-funds-43rd) (O2026-0027655, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed)

**More on Municipal Code Amendments**

- [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-24-065 regarding ability to pay pilot program](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029654-regarding-ability-pay-pilot-program) (O2026-0029654, introduced Dec 8, 2026, Council Introduction)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4 and 8 regarding technical and scriveners' corrections (2027 Municipal Code Corrections Ordinance)](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029649-titles-3-4-8-regarding-technical) (O2026-0029649, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 15, 17 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029644-titles-2-4-6-7-8) (O2026-0029644, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0025612-including-electrical-substations-public-civic-use · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt