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RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 14X, ch. 14X-4
in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-402.1 Minimum ceiling height.

14X-4-402.1 Minimum ceiling height. Habitable spaces, hallways, corridors, bathrooms, and toilet rooms must have a minimum clear ceiling height of 7 feet (2134 mm). Exceptions: 1. Within dwelling units and sleeping units, a minimum clear ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches (2033 mm) from the floor is allowed. 2. In any room beams, girders, pipes, ducts, furred spaces, or similar obstructions covering not more than 25 percent of the ceiling area may have a clear height of not less than 6 feet (1829 mm).

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-402.3 Minimum floor area.

14X-4-402.3 Minimum floor area. Every dwelling unit must contain at least the net floor area specified in Table 14X-4-402.3 for the number of occupants. Table 14X-4-402.3 Minimum Unit Area Requirements NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS | MINIMUM AREA IN SQUARE FEET 1 | 125 2 | 250 3 | 350 4 | 450 5 | 525 each additional | add 75 For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m 2. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 10)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-402.4 Minimum area of bedrooms.

14X-4-402.4 Minimum area of bedrooms. Every bedroom must contain at least the net floor area specified in Table 14X-4-402.4 for the number of occupants over 11 years of age. An additional 35 square feet (3.3 m2) must be provided for every occupant between 2 and 12 years of age. Table 14X-4-402.4 Minimum Bedroom Area Requirements NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS > 11 YEARS | MINIMUM AREA IN SQUARE FEET 2 or less | 70 3 | 150 4 | 200 each additional | add 50 For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m 2.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-402.5 Water closet access.

14X-4-402.5 Water closet access. Every bedroom must have access to not less than one water closet and one lavatory without passing through another bedroom.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-402.6 Access through bedrooms.

14X-4-402.6 Access through bedrooms. Bedrooms may not constitute the only means of access to other bedrooms or habitable spaces and may not serve as the only means of egress from other habitable spaces. Exception: Units that contain fewer than two bedrooms.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.1 Scope.

14X-4-403.1 Scope. This section applies to buildings of Group I-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 occupancy containing dwelling units or sleeping units. Exception: Dwelling units occupied by an owner-occupant. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 11)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.2 Building entrances.

14X-4-403.2 Building entrances. Every point providing access from outside the building or from an entry vestibule to an interior corridor, lobby, or stairway which leads to dwelling unit or sleeping unit entrances must be secured by a door equipped with a deadlocking latch with at least a 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) latch bolt projection. The latch must be operable from the outside by a key or keypad and from the inside by a device which does not require a key or any special knowledge to operate. Exceptions: 1. A building entrance where an attendant is continuously on duty. 2. If an entrance is configured so that entry to the interior of the building is gained by passage through an enclosed vestibule, either the door leading from the exterior to the vestibule or the door leading from the vestibule to the interior of the building must be secured. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 12)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.3.1 Doors other than sliding glass doors.

14X-4-403.3.1 Doors other than sliding glass doors. Every door, other than a sliding glass door, providing access to a dwelling unit must comply with Sections 14X-4-403.3.1.1 through 14X-4-403.3.1.4.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.3.1.1 Lock.

14X-4-403.3.1.1 Lock. The door must be equipped with a deadbolt lock with at least a one-inch (25.4 mm) saw-resistant bolt projection, or with a rim-mounted deadbolt lock or vertical drop deadbolt lock providing equivalent security. Every such lock must be operable from the outside by a key or keypad and from the inside by a turnpiece, handle, or knob which does not require a key or any special knowledge to operate.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.3.1.2 Security collar.

14X-4-403.3.1.2 Security collar. Every lock cylinder which projects beyond the exterior face of the door or can be accessed from outside the dwelling unit by gripping tools must be equipped with a metal ring or plate protecting the otherwise-exposed portion of the cylinder lock from wrenching, prying, pulling, or cutting by attack tools and a guard plate designed to protect the cylinder from removal or drilling. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 13)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.3.1.3 Hinges.

14X-4-403.3.1.3 Hinges. Door hinges which can be accessed from outside the dwelling unit must be equipped with nonremovable hinge pins or jam pins. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 14)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.3.1.4 Viewing device.

14X-4-403.3.1.4 Viewing device. The door must be equipped with a device which allows a person inside the dwelling unit to view a person immediately outside the door without opening the door. A viewing device may be a peephole with a 160-degree (2.8 rad) field of view, a window, or any other device which accomplishes the purpose of a viewing device without affecting the fire-resistive rating of the door, walls, or any other portion of the building.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.3.2 Sliding glass doors.

14X-4-403.3.2 Sliding glass doors. Every sliding glass door providing access to a dwelling unit and located within 20 feet (6096 mm) of ground level, within 10 feet (3048 mm) of an adjacent roof, or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of an exterior stairway, fire escape, ramp, or porch that can be accessed from ground level must be equipped with a device which securely locks the movable leaf in the closed position and which does not require a key or any special knowledge to operate from the inside. Every such sliding glass door must be able to resist removal from its tracks when in the closed position. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 15)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-4-403.4 Unit windows.

14X-4-403.4 Unit windows. Every openable window within a dwelling unit which is located within 20 feet (6096 mm) of ground level, within 10 feet (3048 mm) of an adjacent roof, or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of an exterior stairway, fire escape, ramp, or porch that can be accessed from ground level must be equipped with a lock which, when in the locked position, will prevent the window from being opened from outside the building. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 16)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2675550Fetched: 10/24/2026

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