65 ILCS 5/ Illinois Municipal Code.

(65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 13 heading) DIVISION 13. ZONING

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-1)

Sec. 11-13-1. To the end that adequate light, pure air, and safety from fire and other dangers may be secured, that the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the municipality may be conserved, that congestion in the public streets may be lessened or avoided, that the hazards to persons and damage to property resulting from the accumulation or runoff of storm or flood waters may be lessened or avoided, and that the public health, safety, comfort, morals, and welfare may otherwise be promoted, and to insure and facilitate the preservation of sites, areas, and structures of historical, architectural and aesthetic importance; the corporate authorities in each municipality have the following powers:

(1) to regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings hereafter to be erected;

(2) to establish, regulate and limit, subject to the provisions of Division 14 of this Article 11, the building or set-back lines on or along any street, traffic-way, drive, parkway or storm or floodwater runoff channel or basin;

(3) to regulate and limit the intensity of the use of lot areas, and to regulate and determine the area of open spaces, within and surrounding such buildings;

(4) to classify, regulate and restrict the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specified industrial, business, residential, and other uses;

(5) to divide the entire municipality into districts of such number, shape, area, and of such different classes (according to use of land and buildings, height and bulk of buildings, intensity of the use of lot area, area of open spaces, or other classification) as may be deemed best suited to carry out the purposes of this Division 13;

(6) to fix standards to which buildings or structures therein shall conform;

(7) to prohibit uses, buildings, or structures incompatible with the character of such districts;

(8) to prevent additions to and alteration or remodeling of existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the restrictions and limitations lawfully imposed under this Division 13;

(9) to classify, to regulate and restrict the use of property on the basis of family relationship, which family relationship may be defined as one or more persons each related to the other by blood, marriage or adoption and maintaining a common household;

(10) to regulate or forbid any structure or activity which may hinder access to solar energy necessary for the proper functioning of a solar energy system, as defined in Section 1.2 of the Comprehensive Solar Energy Act of 1977;

(11) to require the creation and preservation of affordable housing, including the power to provide increased density or other zoning incentives to developers who are creating, establishing, or preserving affordable housing; and

(12) to establish local standards solely for the review of the exterior design of buildings and structures, excluding utility facilities and outdoor off-premises advertising signs, and designate a board or commission to implement the review process; except that, other than reasonable restrictions as to size, no home rule or non-home rule municipality may prohibit the display of outdoor political campaign signs on residential property during any period of time, the regulation of these signs being a power and function of the State and, therefor, this item (12) is a denial and limitation of concurrent home rule powers and functions under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

The powers enumerated may be exercised within the corporate limits or within contiguous territory not more than one and one-half miles beyond the corporate limits and not included within any municipality. However, if any municipality adopts a plan pursuant to Division 12 of Article 11 which plan includes in its provisions a provision that the plan applies to such contiguous territory not more than one and one-half miles beyond the corporate limits and not included in any municipality, then no other municipality shall adopt a plan that shall apply to any territory included within the territory provided in the plan first so adopted by another municipality. No municipality shall exercise any power set forth in this Division 13 outside the corporate limits thereof, if the county in which such municipality is situated has adopted "An Act in relation to county zoning", approved June 12, 1935, as amended. Nothing in this Section prevents a municipality of more than 112,000 population located in a county of less than 185,000 population that has adopted a zoning ordinance and the county that adopted the zoning ordinance from entering into an intergovernmental agreement that allows the municipality to exercise its zoning powers beyond its territorial limits; provided, however, that the intergovernmental agreement must be limited to the territory within the municipality's planning jurisdiction as defined by law or any existing boundary agreement. The county and the municipality must amend their individual zoning maps in the same manner as other zoning changes are incorporated into revised zoning maps. No such intergovernmental agreement may authorize a municipality to exercise its zoning powers, other than powers that a county may exercise under Section 5-12001 of the Counties Code, with respect to land used for agricultural purposes. This amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly is declarative of existing law. No municipality may exercise any power set forth in this Division 13 outside the corporate limits of the municipality with respect to a facility of a telecommunications carrier defined in Section 5-12001.1 of the Counties Code.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, 30 days prior to the issuance of any permits for a new telecommunications facility within 1.5 miles of a municipality, the telecommunications carrier constructing the facility shall provide written notice of its intent to construct the facility. The notice shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: (i) the name, address, and telephone number of the company responsible for the construction of the facility, (ii) the address and telephone number of the governmental entity that is to issue the building permit for the telecommunications facility, (iii) a site plan and site map of sufficient specificity to indicate both the location of the parcel where the telecommunications facility is to be constructed and the location of all the telecommunications facilities within that parcel, and (iv) the property index number and common address of the parcel where the telecommunications facility is to be located. The notice shall not contain any material that appears to be an advertisement for the telecommunications carrier or any services provided by the telecommunications carrier. The notice shall be provided in person, by overnight private courier, or by certified mail to all owners of property within 250 feet of the parcel in which the telecommunications carrier has a leasehold or ownership interest. For the purposes of this notice requirement, "owners" means those persons or entities identified from the authentic tax records of the county in which the telecommunications facility is to be located. If, after a bona fide effort by the telecommunications carrier to determine the owner and his or her address, the owner of the property on whom the notice must be served cannot be found at the owner's last known address, or if the mailed notice is returned because the owner cannot be found at the last known address, the notice requirement of this paragraph is deemed satisfied. For the purposes of this paragraph, "facility" means that term as it is defined in Section 5-12001.1 of the Counties Code.

If a municipality adopts a zoning plan covering an area outside its corporate limits, the plan adopted shall be reasonable with respect to the area outside the corporate limits so that future development will not be hindered or impaired; it is reasonable for a municipality to regulate or prohibit the extraction of sand, gravel, or limestone even when those activities are related to an agricultural purpose. If all or any part of the area outside the corporate limits of a municipality which has been zoned in accordance with the provisions of this Division 13 is annexed to another municipality or municipalities, the annexing unit shall thereafter exercise all zoning powers and regulations over the annexed area.

In all ordinances passed under the authority of this Division 13, due allowance shall be made for existing conditions, the conservation of property values, the direction of building development to the best advantage of the entire municipality and the uses to which the property is devoted at the time of the enactment of such an ordinance. The powers conferred by this Division 13 shall not be exercised so as to deprive the owner of any existing property of its use or maintenance for the purpose to which it is then lawfully devoted, but provisions may be made for the gradual elimination of uses, buildings and structures which are incompatible with the character of the districts in which they are made or located, including, without being limited thereto, provisions (a) for the elimination of such uses of unimproved lands or lot areas when the existing rights of the persons in possession thereof are terminated or when the uses to which they are devoted are discontinued; (b) for the elimination of uses to which such buildings and structures are devoted, if they are adaptable for permitted uses; and (c) for the elimination of such buildings and structures when they are destroyed or damaged in major part, or when they have reached the age fixed by the corporate authorities of the municipality as the normal useful life of such buildings or structures.

This amendatory Act of 1971 does not apply to any municipality which is a home rule unit, except as provided in item (12).

(Source: P.A. 96-904, eff. 1-1-11; 97-496, eff. 8-22-11.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-1.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-1.1)

Sec. 11-13-1.1. The corporate authorities of any municipality may in its ordinances passed under the authority of this Division 13 provide for the classification of special uses. Such uses may include but are not limited to public and quasi-public uses affected with the public interest, uses which may have a unique, special or unusual impact upon the use or enjoyment of neighboring property, and planned developments. A use may be a permitted use in one or more zoning districts, and a special use in one or more other zoning districts. A special use shall be permitted only after a public hearing before some commission or committee designated by the corporate authorities, with prior notice thereof given in the manner as provided in Section 11-13-6 and 11-13-7. Any notice required by this Section need not include a metes and bounds legal description of the area classified for special uses, provided that the notice includes: (i) the common street address or addresses and (ii) the property index number ("PIN") or numbers of all the parcels of real property contained in the area classified for special uses. A special use shall be permitted only upon evidence that such use meets standards established for such classification in the ordinances, and the granting of permission therefor may be subject to conditions reasonably necessary to meet such standards. In addition, any proposed special use which fails to receive the approval of the commission or committee designated by the corporate authorities to hold the public hearing shall not be approved by the corporate authorities except by a favorable majority vote of all alderpersons, commissioners or trustees of the municipality then holding office; however, the corporate authorities may by ordinance increase the vote requirement to two-thirds of all alderpersons, commissioners or trustees of the municipality then holding office.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-1.2)

Sec. 11-13-1.2. Waiver of building, inspection, and construction fees.

(a) As used in this Section, "disaster" includes, but is not limited to, an occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or technological cause, including, but not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, hazardous materials spill, or other water contamination, epidemic, air contamination, blight, extended periods of severe, and inclement weather, drought, infestation, critical shortages of essential fuels and energy, explosion, riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, public health emergencies, or acts of domestic terrorism.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a city council of a municipality may, by resolution, waive any fees or costs associated with a permit, inspection, or certification of occupancy required by law for construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of a manufactured home, building, dwelling, or structure, either commercial or residential, damaged as a result of a disaster, emergency, weather event, or for any reason deemed warranted in the interests of public safety, welfare, and recovery of the community by the city council of the municipality.

(Source: P.A. 102-24, eff. 6-25-21.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-1.5)

Sec. 11-13-1.5. Amateur radio communications; antenna regulations. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no ordinance or resolution may be adopted or enforced by a municipality after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly that affects the placement, screening, or height of antennas or antenna support structures that are used for amateur radio communications unless the ordinance or resolution: (i) has a reasonable and clearly defined aesthetic, public health, or safety objective and represents the minimum practical regulation that is necessary to accomplish the objectives; and (ii) reasonably accommodates amateur radio communications.

A municipality may not regulate the antennas or antenna support structures that are used for amateur radio communications in a manner inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

(Source: P.A. 97-720, eff. 6-29-12.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-2) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-2)

Sec. 11-13-2. The corporate authorities in each municipality which desires to exercise the powers conferred by this Division 13, or who have exercised such power and desire to adopt a new ordinance, shall provide for a zoning commission with the duty to recommend the boundaries of districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein. The commission shall be appointed by the mayor or president, subject to confirmation by the corporate authorities. The commission shall prepare a tentative report and a proposed zoning ordinance for the entire municipality. After the preparation of such a tentative report and ordinance, the commission shall hold a hearing thereon and shall afford persons interested an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the hearing shall be published at least once, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the hearing, in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers published in the county in which the municipality is located and having a general circulation within the municipality. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the place where copies of the proposed ordinance will be accessible for examination by interested persons. The hearing may be adjourned from time to time.

Within 30 days after the final adjournment of the hearing the commission shall make a final report and submit a proposed ordinance for the entire municipality to the corporate authorities. The corporate authorities may enact the ordinance with or without change, or may refer it back to the commission for further consideration. The zoning commission shall cease to exist upon the adoption of a zoning ordinance for the entire municipality.

(Source: P.A. 80-452.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-3)

Sec. 11-13-3. (a) All ordinances passed under the terms of this Division 13 shall be enforced by those officers of the municipality that are designated by ordinance.

(b) In municipalities having a population of more than 500,000 the city council may provide for the appointment of a board of appeals consisting of 5 members to serve respectively for the following terms: one for one year, one for 2 years, one for 3 years, one for 4 years, and one for 5 years, the successor to each member so appointed to serve for a term of 5 years.

(c) The city council in cities and the president and board of trustees in villages and incorporated towns, having a population of less than 500,000, may provide for the appointment of a board of appeals consisting of 7 members to serve respectively for the following terms: one for one year, one for 2 years, one for 3 years, one for 4 years, one for 5 years, one for 6 years, and one for 7 years, the successor to each member so appointed to serve for a term of 5 years.

(d) In any municipality with a population under 5,000 that has an appointed board of appeals, a proposition to elect the board of appeals at large shall be submitted to the electors as provided in this subsection.

Electors of the municipality equal to not less than 10% of the total vote cast for all candidates for mayor or president in the last preceding municipal election for that office may petition for the submission to a vote of the electors of the municipality the proposition whether the board of appeals shall be elected at large. The petition shall be filed with the municipal clerk in accordance with the general election law. The clerk shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law.

The proposition shall be in substantially the following form: "Shall the city (or village or incorporated town) of (insert name) elect the zoning board of appeals at large instead of having an appointed board of appeals?"

If a majority of those voting on the proposition vote in favor of it, then the board of appeals shall be elected at large at the next general municipal election held at least 120 days after the referendum approval. At the initial election, 4 members shall be elected for 2-year terms and 3 members shall be elected for 4-year terms; thereafter all terms shall be for 4 years. Upon the election and qualification of the initial elected board of appeals, the terms of all sitting members of the board of appeals shall expire.

(e) One of the members of an appointed board shall be named as chairman at the time of his or her appointment. If members are elected, the members shall select a chairman. The amount of compensation to be paid to members, if any, shall be fixed by the corporate authorities. The appointing authority has the power to remove any appointed member for cause and after public hearing. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of the member whose place has become vacant. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority in the case of an appointed board or by those who would otherwise be the appointing authority in the case of an elected board. All meetings of the board of appeals shall be held at the call of the chairman and at other times as the board may determine. The chairman, or in his or her absence the acting chairman, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the board shall be open to the public. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating that fact, and shall also keep records of its examinations and other official actions. No hearing shall be conducted without a quorum of the board being present. A quorum shall consist of a majority of all the members. Any absent member who certifies that he or she has read the transcript of the proceedings before the board may vote upon any question before the board. Every rule or regulation and its amendment or repeal and every order, requirement, decision, or determination of the board shall immediately be filed in the office of the board and shall be a public record.

(f) In all municipalities the board of appeals shall hear and decide appeals from and review any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official charged with the enforcement of any ordinance adopted under this Division 13.

(g) In all municipalities the board of appeals shall also hear and decide all matters referred to it or upon which it is required to pass under such an ordinance. The concurring vote of 3 members of the board, in municipalities having a population of more than 500,000, and of 4 members of the board, in municipalities having a population of less than 500,000, is necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of such an administrative official, to decide in favor of the applicant any matter upon which it is required to pass under such an ordinance or to effect any variation in the ordinance, or to recommend any variation or modification in the ordinance to the corporate authorities.

(Source: P.A. 87-535.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-3.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-3.1)

Sec. 11-13-3.1. In municipalities of less than 500,000 inhabitants no change shall be made in the zoning ordinance nor shall any zoning variation be granted within 6 months after the date upon which an official plan is adopted by the corporate authorities unless such change in the zoning ordinance or such variation is approved by a two-thirds vote of the corporate authorities or the zoning board of appeals then holding office, as the case may be.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3425)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-4) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-4)

Sec. 11-13-4. In municipalities of 500,000 or more population, the regulations authorized by this Division 13 may be varied in their application only by the board of appeals of the municipality, subject to the power of the corporate authorities to prohibit, in whole or in part, the granting of variations in respect to the classification, regulation and restriction of the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specified industrial, business, residential and other uses. Variations shall be permitted by the board of appeals only when they are in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the regulations and only in cases where there are practical difficulties or particular hardship in the way of carrying out the strict letter of any of those regulations relating to the use, construction, or alteration of buildings or structures or the use of land. In its consideration of the standards of practical difficulties or particular hardship, the board of appeals shall require evidence that (1) the property in question cannot yield a reasonable return if permitted to be used only under the conditions allowed by the regulations in that zone; and (2) the plight of the owner is due to unique circumstances; and (3) the variation, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. A variation shall be permitted only if the evidence, in the judgment of the board of appeals, sustains each of the 3 conditions enumerated. The corporate authorities may provide general or specific rules implementing, but not inconsistent with, the rules herein provided to govern determinations of the board of appeals. A decision of the board of appeals shall not be subject to review, reversal or modification by the corporate authorities but shall be judicially reviewable under the provisions of Section 11-13-13.

(Source: P.A. 82-430.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-5) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-5)

Sec. 11-13-5. In municipalities of less than 500,000 population, the regulations authorized by this Division 13 may provide that the board of appeals or corporate authorities may determine and vary their application in harmony with their general purpose and intent and in accordance with general or specific rules therein contained in cases where there are practical difficulties or particular hardship in the way of carrying out the strict letter of any of those regulations relating to the use, construction, or alteration of buildings or structures or the use of land. If the authority to determine and approve variations is vested in the board of appeals it shall be exercised in accordance with the conditions prescribed in Section 11-13-4, subject to the power of the corporate authorities to prohibit, in whole or in part, the granting of variations in respect to the classification, regulation and restriction of the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specified industrial, business, residential and other uses. If the power to determine and approve variations is reserved to the corporate authorities, it shall be exercised only by the adoption of ordinances. However, no such variation shall be made by the corporate authorities as specified without a hearing before the board of appeals.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-6) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-6)

Sec. 11-13-6. No variation shall be made by the board of appeals in municipalities of 500,000 or more population or by ordinance in municipalities of lesser population except in a specific case and after a public hearing before the board of appeals of which there shall be a notice of the time and place of the hearing published at least once, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the hearing, in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the municipality which is published in the county where the municipality is located. This notice shall contain the particular location for which the variation is requested as well as a brief statement of what the proposed variation consists. Any notice required by this Section need not include a metes and bounds legal description of the location for which the variation is requested, provided that the notice includes: (i) the common street address or addresses and (ii) the property index number ("PIN") or numbers of all the parcels of real property contained in the area for which the variation is requested.

(Source: P.A. 97-336, eff. 8-12-11.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-7) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-7)

Sec. 11-13-7. In addition to the notice requirements otherwise provided for in this Division 13, in municipalities of 500,000 or more population, an applicant for variation or special use shall, not more than 30 days before filing an application for variation or special use with the board of appeals, serve written notice, either in person or by registered mail, return receipt requested, on the owners, as recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds or the registrar of titles of the county in which the property is located and as appears from the authentic tax records of such county, of all property within 250 feet in each direction of the location for which the variation or special use is requested; provided, the number of feet occupied by all public roads, streets, alleys and other public ways shall be excluded in computing the 250 feet requirement. The notice herein required shall contain the address of the location for which the variation or special use is requested, a brief statement of the nature of the requested variation or special use, the name and address of the legal and beneficial owner of the property for which the variation or special use is requested, a statement that the applicant intends to file an application for variation or special use and the approximate date on which the application will be filed. If, after a bona fide effort to determine such address by the applicant for variation or special use, the owner of the property on which the notice is served cannot be found at his or her last known address, or the mailed notice is returned because the owner cannot be found at the last known address, the notice requirements of this sub-section shall be deemed satisfied. In addition to serving the notice herein required, at the time of filing application for variation or special use, the applicant shall furnish to the board of appeals a complete list containing the names and last known addresses of the owners of the property required to be served, the method of service and the names and last known addresses of the owners of the service and the names and addresses of the persons so served. The applicant shall also furnish a written statement certifying that he or she has complied with the requirements of this subsection. The board of appeals shall hear no application for variation or special use unless the applicant for variation or special use furnishes the list and certificate herein required. The board of appeals shall, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days before the hearing at which the application for variation or special use is to be considered, send written notice to the persons appearing on the list furnished by the applicant, which notice shall contain the time and place of the hearing, the address of the location for which the variation or special use is requested and the name and address of the applicant for variation or special use and a brief statement of the nature of the variation or special use requested. Any notice required herein need not include a metes and bounds legal description of the property for which the variation or special use is requested, provided that the notice includes: (i) the common street address or addresses and (ii) the property index number ("PIN") or numbers of all the parcels of real property contained in the area for which the variation or special use is requested.

Any property owner within the above stated 250 feet notice requirement, who entered his or her appearance and objected at the board of appeals hearing, and who shows that his or her property will be substantially affected by the outcome of the decision of the board may, without proof of any specific, special, or unique damages to himself or herself or his or her property or any adverse effect upon his property from the proposed variation or special use, seek judicial relief from any order or decision of the board of appeals under the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. If the board of appeals determines that the property of any such owner will not be substantially affected by the outcome of the decision of the board, such owner may initiate or join in judicial review under the Administrative Review Law, as provided in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-336, eff. 8-12-11.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-7a) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-7a)

Sec. 11-13-7a. Zoning variation and special use applicants and property owners, as set forth in Section 11-13-7 of this Act, shall have the following rights, in addition to any others they may possess in law, at any hearing before a board of appeals:

(a) to have subpoenas issued for persons to appear at board of appeals' hearings and for examination of documents by the person requesting the subpoena either before or at board of appeals hearings subject to the limitations in this Section. The board of appeals shall issue subpoenas as requested by zoning variation and special use applicants and by property owners within the terms of Section 11-13-7. Subpoenas shall only be enforceable against persons or for documents which have a substantial evidentiary connection with (i) the property for which a zoning variation or special use is requested, (ii) facts which would support or negate the requisite legal standards for granting a zoning variation or special use, and (iii) facts which support or negate the conclusion that property within the 250 feet notice requirement of Section 11-13-7 will be substantially affected by the outcome of the decision of the board. All matters relating to subpoenas concerning a particular zoning variation or special use case, including all enforcement and motions to quash, shall be heard in a single action, however, the court obtaining jurisdiction over any such matter may retain jurisdiction until the disposition of the case by the board of appeals. Service of such subpoenas shall be made in the same manner as summons in a civil action.

(b) To cross examine all witnesses testifying.

(c) To present witnesses on their behalf.

Property owners within the terms of Section 11-13-7 who object to the zoning application or special use application may, upon request, be granted 1 continuance for the purpose of presenting evidence to rebut testimony given by the applicant. The date of such continued hearing shall be in the discretion of the board of appeals.

This amendatory act of 1973 is not a limit upon any municipality which is a home rule unit.

(Source: P.A. 79-1363.)