Habitable spaces.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 14X-6-603.2
in effect14X-6-603.2 Habitable spaces.
Every habitable space in a dwelling unit or sleeping unit, other than a kitchen, must have not less than one openable exterior window. The total openable area of the window in every room must be not less than one-third of the minimum glazed area required by Section 14X-6-603.1.
Exceptions:
1. Where a room has an unobstructed or operable opening to an adjoining room equal to or exceeding 8 percent of the floor area of the interior room, but not less than 25 square feet (2.33 m2), and the adjoining room has exterior windows providing a total openable area equal to or exceeding 4 percent of the combined floor area of both rooms.
2. Conditions allowed by the Chicago Building Code in new construction.
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2676096Fetched: 10/24/2026