Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-7-0574 to replace in its entirety regarding additional dwelling unit-allowed RS areas
Votes › Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards › 44th Ward: Bennett R. Lawson
- Record number: SO2026-0022453
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: Final
- Sponsor: Bennett R. Lawson (44th Ward)
- Committee: Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
- Introduction Date: Jan 21, 2026
- Final Action Date: Feb 18, 2026
- Official record: Office of the City Clerk
Roll call: Passed Feb 18, 2026
49 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. On motion of Alderperson Lawson, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Harris, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Feb 18, 2026.
Yea (49): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)
Absent (1): Monique L. Scott (24)
Plain-language summary
Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: Jan ADU O v11.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.
This ordinance would repeal and fully replace Section 17-7-0574 of the Chicago Municipal Code, which lists the single-family (RS) zoning areas where Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), such as conversion units and coach houses, are allowed. The new section defines these areas and their limits in a table, but the table itself is not included in the document provided. The ordinance would take effect on April 1, 2026.
- Repeals Section 17-7-0574 in its entirety and replaces it with new language defining ADU-Allowed RS Areas.
- The specific areas and limitations are listed in a table that does not appear in the provided text.
- Any new ADU-Allowed RS Area must cover at least one block face and its opposite block face.
- The Department of Housing plans to monitor the impact of ADUs in these areas to reassess future rules.
- Stated goals include more unsubsidized affordable housing, safer code-compliant units, multigenerational living, and extra income for homeowners.
Who: Homeowners, renters, and residents in the single-family (RS) zoned areas designated in the ordinance's table would be affected.
Timeline
- Jan 21, 2026: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
- Feb 17, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
- Feb 17, 2026: Substituted, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. The matter was substituted in Commitee.
- Feb 18, 2026: Passed, City Council (49 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Lawson, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Harris, the matter was Passed.
Documents
- Jan ADU O v11.pdf (Legislation)
- SO2026-0022453.pdf (Legislation)
- ZLB Letter 2-18-2026.pdf (Committee Letter)
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