Administrative adjustments.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-11-0600
in effect17-11-0600 Administrative adjustments.
17-11-0601 Fencing Standards. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to approve an administrative adjustment waiving or modifying the fence standards of Sec. 17-11-0202-C when:
17-11-0601-A the vehicular use area is located within an M district, a Transportation district or a planned manufacturing district; and
17-11-0601-B the Zoning Administrator determines that the vehicular use area is isolated from R zoning districts and residential uses. (See the administrative adjustment provisions of Sec. 17-13-1000)
17-11-0601-C the Zoning Administrator is authorized to grant an administrative adjustment from the fencing requirements of Section 17-11-0202-C3 for any pre-existing vehicular use area with less than 31 feet of frontage and where the existing access is from a street.
17-11-0601-D the Zoning Administrator is authorized to grant an administrative adjustment from the fencing requirements of Section 17-11-0202-C3 for pre-existing vehicular use areas owned or operated by a nonprofit or charitable organization where the existing parking lot has less than 50 feet of frontage and where the existing access is from a street.
17-11-0602 Screening of Vehicular Use Areas from Streets.
17-11-0602-A The Zoning Administrator is authorized to approve an administrative adjustment allowing alternative landscape treatments to partially or wholly satisfy the standards of 17-11-0202-B that require the installation and maintenance of hedges as vehicular use area screening. (See the administrative adjustment provisions of Sec. 17-13-1000)
17-11-0602-B The Zoning Administrator is expressly authorized to approve such alternative landscape treatments as:
1. landscaped earth berms,
2. elevation changes,
3. vine-covered fences, walls or trellises; and
4. brick walls.
17-11-0602-C The Zoning Administrator may authorize such administrative adjustment only upon finding that the proposed alternative landscape treatment would:
1. provide an effective visual screen of the parking areas and parked automobiles;
2. promote the physical definition of a continuous street wall;
3. provide a visual effect which promotes and enhances the vehicular and pedestrian experience through the use of quality architectural and urban design; and
4. be appropriately designed and maintained to satisfy applicable building and/or landscape industry standards.
17-11-0603 Parkway Trees.
17-11-0603-A The Zoning Administrator is authorized to approve an administrative adjustment allowing alternative landscape treatments to partially or wholly satisfy the parkway tree planting standards of Sec. 17-11-0100.
17-11-0603-B The Zoning Administrator is expressly authorized to approve such alternative landscape treatments as:
1. landscaped earth berms;
2. raised planters;
3. hanging baskets;
4. flower boxes;
5. planting trellises;
6. roof-top gardens;
7. perimeter plantings on roof-tops, decks or balconies;
8. pedestrian lighting;
9. flag or banner poles;
10. benches and seating areas; and
11. additional landscaping and tree planting elsewhere on the site that will be visible from public right-of-way.
17-11-0603-C Before approving an administrative adjustment of parkway tree planting standards, the Zoning Administrator must first obtain a written recommendation from the Bureau of Forestry.
17-11-0604 Hardships.
17-11-0604-A The Zoning Administrator is authorized to approve an administrative adjustment waiving or modifying the requirements of this Chapter, provided that the Zoning Administrator finds that the:
1. strict application of the provisions would deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of the land or would otherwise impose an unreasonable hardship upon the applicant;
2. conditions and circumstances upon which the waiver or modification is sought are not caused by the applicant; and
3. that alternative landscape treatments will be provided to off-set the waiver or reduction in otherwise applicable standards.
17-11-0604-B The Zoning Administrator is expressly authorized to approve such alternative landscape treatments as:
1. landscaped earth berms;
2. raised planters;
3. hanging baskets;
4. flower boxes;
5. planting trellises;
6. roof-top gardens;
7. perimeter plantings on roof-tops, decks or balconies;
8. pedestrian lighting;
9. flag or banner poles;
10. benches and seating areas;
11. vine-covered fences, walls or trellises; and
12. brick walls; and
13. additional landscaping and tree planting elsewhere on the site that will be visible from public right-of-way.
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 1-11-06, p. 68368, §2; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-06, p. 85599, §2)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2683330Fetched: 10/24/2026