Knowledge Base
Tutorials, guides, and videos to using Chicago Cityscape
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History of ADU zoning changes since 2021
Chicago Cityscape is attempting to track zoning changes for ADUs, especially backyard houses. (This article requires a Cityscape Real Estate Pro membership.)
Property research, Zoning
Last updated 03/09/2022
Research the history of a property
Being connected to so many data sources, Chicago Cityscape is a good place to learn the history of a Chicago property. The data is best if you're looking to learn about changes since the early 2000s, but we have pointers to older data as well.
Property research, Zoning, Environmental Snapshot, Historic districts & buildings
Last updated 03/08/2022
How to read zoning assessments
Chicago Cityscape's Address Snapshot reports offer automatically-generated zoning assessments for properties **in Chicago**. Zoning assessments compile all zoning rules and land use policies
Address Snapshot, Zoning
Last updated 12/30/2021
Find "value add" opportunities in Property Finder
Chicago Cityscape has three unique filters that locate properties in Chicago that may be "value add" opportunities for adding more apartments: A multi-family building has enough zoning capacity for one or more units to be added, and a single-detached house is in a multi-family zoning district and can be converted, expanded, or replaced.
Property Finder, Zoning
Last updated 12/28/2021
Use Property Finder to send notice letters
Many zoning and building code regulations require that property owners provide notice to nearby property owners. In the case of a zoning change, the applicant must send a letter to all property owners within 250 feet.
Zoning, Property research, Property Finder
Last updated 11/23/2021
How to build more housing with less parking
Building new housing with car parking tends to increase construction costs, increase rental or ownership costs, and adds to local traffic congestion. Yet the City of Chicago's zoning code generally requires one car parking space per new dwelling unit. Chicago Cityscape is aware of six strategies to build less parking.
Resource, Zoning
Last updated 11/15/2021
How to build an ADU outside a Chicago pilot area
Even if your property is not within a pilot area, it may still be possible to build an ADU through the normal zoning channel. This article will also discuss "unused zoning capacity", which is the combination of zoning regulations that allows additional dwelling units to be built on a property.
Property research, Zoning, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
Last updated 05/05/2021
Locate properties in Chicago based on type and zoning district video
Many people use Chicago Cityscape to locate properties in specific community areas and ZIP codes that are of a given type (say, vacant or two-flat) and in a given zoning district (say, RT-4, which allows a three-flat on most lots). This video demonstrates how to use our tools to find those properties in less than 3 minutes.
Property Finder, Zoning, Vacant properties
Last updated 05/05/2021
Transit-served location and TOD explained
Chicago's zoning code has provisions to reduce parking requirements and increase density allowance in certain areas based on proximity to transit.
Due diligence, Property research, Zoning, Address Snapshot, Transit
Last updated 05/05/2021