Chicago’s mixed-use zoning rules depend on the parcel’s district and the exact activities proposed. In the B and C business and commercial districts, housing is generally allowed above the ground floor in B1, B2, B3, C1 and C2; B2 also allows dwelling units on the ground floor. C3 does not permit dwelling units under the ordinary use table. A district label is only the starting point: use-specific approvals and other code standards may also apply.
This guide reflects the Chicago code and map checked October 4, 2026; verify the current rules and the parcel designation before making a project decision.
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What “mixed-use” means in Chicago zoning
“Mixed-use” is not a single zoning permission. Chicago’s use table classifies individual activities and shows whether each is permitted by right, requires special-use approval, requires planned-development approval, or is prohibited in a district. It also distinguishes housing by its location in a building. So a project combining a shop and apartments must be checked as both a specific commercial use and a specific residential use.
The City’s code explains that a “P” means a use is permitted by right, subject to all other applicable zoning-ordinance standards. Uses not listed in the table are prohibited. A by-right use is therefore not, by itself, a complete project approval. See the Chicago Municipal Code, Title 17, §§17-3-0200 and 17-3-0207.
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Where housing can go in B and C districts
The ordinary rules for dwelling units differ by district and floor location. The table below summarizes the district descriptions and relevant use-table entries; it does not substitute for checking the specific housing type and its standards.
| District | Housing above ground floor | Listed residential types below the second floor | Stated district purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Permitted | Generally special-use approval | Small-scale neighborhood shopping and services |
| B2 | Permitted | Permitted | Neighborhood mixed-use; allows housing on or above ground floor |
| B3 | Permitted | Generally special-use approval | Community shopping, including broader retail and service activity |
| C1 | Permitted | Generally special-use approval | Neighborhood commercial uses, including some more intensive or auto-oriented uses than B1 |
| C2 | Permitted | Generally special-use approval | Commercial uses, including motor-vehicle-related and more intensive activities |
| C3 | Prohibited | Prohibited | Commercial, manufacturing and employment uses; dwelling units are not permitted |
“Below the second floor” covers listed residential types such as detached houses, elderly housing, multi-unit residential, single-room occupancy and townhouses. Their precise table rows may differ, so check the row for the proposed form of housing and any attached use standard. The district descriptions and use table are in the Chicago Municipal Code, §17-3-0100 and the B and C district use table.
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Can apartments go above a store?
In B1, B2, B3, C1 and C2, the use table permits dwelling units above the ground floor. That is the ordinary zoning basis for a building with commercial activity at street level and apartments above, but the commercial activity must also be allowed in that district and comply with its applicable standards.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesB2 is the clearest option among these districts when housing is proposed at street level. The code states: “The B2 district permits residential dwelling units on or above the ground floor.” By contrast, listed forms of housing below the second floor in B1, B3, C1 and C2 generally require special-use approval. Consult §17-3-0103-B and the exact use-table entry rather than assuming the same rule applies to every residential type.
What retail and commercial activity is allowed?
There is no single answer for “retail.” Chicago organizes commercial activities into use groups and categories, and the use table can treat different businesses differently. A neighborhood shop, a service business, or a more intensive or auto-oriented commercial activity may not have the same status. The district descriptions explain the intended general character: B1 emphasizes small-scale pedestrian-oriented shopping; B2 offers neighborhood commercial options alongside ground-floor housing; B3 serves a broader community-shopping role; and C1 and C2 accommodate broader or more intensive activity. Those descriptions do not replace the detailed table.
- Identify the actual proposed business activity, not just the broad label “retail.”
- Find its use category in the current B and C use table.
- Check whether the entry is permitted, requires special-use or planned-development approval, or is prohibited, and read any referenced use or parking standards.
How to check a Chicago property
- Open the City of Chicago Zoning and Land Use Map. Search by address or by the property’s 10-digit PIN; the City’s map help page explains the PIN search.
- Record the zoning designation shown for the parcel and note any planned-development designation or other parcel-specific control.
- In the current Title 17 B and C district use table, locate every proposed activity, including each type of housing. Read the applicable district column and note whether the use is permitted, special, planned-development-only or prohibited.
- Follow the table’s references and review district, dimensional, parking and other applicable standards. The general B and C district standards are in Chicago Municipal Code, §17-3-0300.
- For a project decision, confirm current requirements with the City or a qualified zoning professional. The City’s Department of Planning and Development manages the zoning code and reviews building permit applications for zoning compliance.
The code page reviewed for this guide identifies its codification as 2026 S-74. Code provisions and parcel designations can change, so check the live map and current code when evaluating a property.
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