HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 14R, ch. 14R-12

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-12-1201 General.

14R-12-1201 General. The provisions of Section 1201 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise Section 1201.1 by replacing "shall" with "may elect to." 1.1. Revise Section 1201.2 to read: "1201.2 Report. A historic building undergoing alteration or change of occupancy shall be investigated and evaluated. If it is intended that the building meet the requirements of this chapter, a written report shall be prepared and filed with the building official by a registered design professional. Such report shall identify each required safety feature that is in compliance with this chapter and where compliance with other chapters of these provisions would be damaging to the contributing historic features. For buildings assigned to Seismic Design Category D, a structural evaluation describing, at a minimum, the vertical and horizontal elements of the lateral force-resisting system and any strengths or weaknesses therein shall be prepared. Additionally, the report shall describe each feature that is not in compliance with these provisions and shall demonstrate how the intent of these provisions is complied with in providing an equivalent level of safety. Exception: Where the building official determines that the construction documents are sufficient to identify features not otherwise in compliance with other chapters of this code, the building official may waive the report requirement." 2. Revise Section 1201.3 to read: "1201.3 Special occupancy exceptions-museums. Where a historic building originally intended for Group R-3 or R-5 occupancy is used for Group A, B or M purposes such as museum tours, exhibits, and other public assembly activities, or for museums or galleries less than 5,000 square feet (465 m2), the building official may determine that the occupancy is Group B where life safety conditions can be demonstrated in accordance with Section 1201.2. Adequate means of egress in such buildings, which may include a means of maintaining doors in an open position to allow egress, a limit on building occupancy to an occupant load allowed by the means of egress capacity, a limit on occupancy of certain areas or floors, or supervision by a person knowledgeable in the emergency exiting procedures, shall be approved by the building official." 3. Delete Section 1201.4. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. IV, § 24)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-12-1202 Repairs.

14R-12-1202 Repairs. The provisions of Section 1202 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise Section 1202.1 to read: "1202.1 General. Repairs to any portion of a historic building or structure shall be allowed with original or like materials and original methods of construction, subject to the provisions of this chapter. Hazardous materials, such as asbestos and lead-based paint, shall not be used where the code for new construction would not allow their use in buildings of similar occupancy, purpose and location." 2. Revise Section 1202.2 to read: "1202.2 Replacement. Replacement of existing or missing features using original materials shall be allowed. Partial replacement for repairs that match the original in configuration, height and size shall be allowed. Replacement glazing in hazardous locations, as specified in Section 2406.4 of the Chicago Building Code, shall comply with the safety glazing requirements of Chapter 24 of the Chicago Building Code. Exception: Glass block walls, decorative glazing, louvered windows and jalousies repaired with like materials."

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-12-1203 Fire safety.

14R-12-1203 Fire safety. The provisions of Section 1203 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise Section 1203.2 to read: "1203.2 General. Every historic building that does not conform to the construction requirements specified in this code for the occupancy or use and that constitutes a distinct fire hazard as defined herein shall be provided with an automatic fire-extinguishing system as determined appropriate by the fire code official. However, an automatic fire-extinguishing system shall not be used to substitute for, or act as an alternative to, the required number of exits from any building." 2. Revise Section 1203.4 to read: "1203.4 Transoms. In fully sprinklered buildings of Group R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-5 occupancy, existing transoms in fire-resistance-rated walls may be maintained if fixed in the closed position. A sprinkler shall be installed on each side of the transom." 2.1. Revise Section 1203.7 by deleting "wood or metal." 3. Revise Section 1203.8 to read: "1203.8 Glazing in fire-resistance-rated systems. Historic glazing materials are allowed in interior walls required to have a 1-hour fire-resistance rating where the opening is provided with smoke seals and the area affected is provided with an automatic sprinkler system." 4. Revise Section 1203.9 to read: "1203.9 Stairway railings. Historically-significant open stairways shall be accepted without complying with the handrail and guard requirements. Existing handrails and guards at other existing stairways shall be allowed to remain, provided they are not structurally dangerous." 5. Revise Section 1203.11 to read: "1203.11 Exit signs. Where exit sign location would damage the historic character of the building, alternative exit signs are allowed where approved by the fire code official. Alternative signs shall identify the exits and egress path." 6. Revise Section 1203.12, including the exception, to read: "1203.12 Alternative protection. A historic building that cannot be made to conform to the construction requirements specified in the Chicago Building Code for the occupancy or use shall be deemed to be in compliance if provided with an automatic fire- extinguishing system or alternative life-safety system approved by the fire code official." (Amend Coun. J. 7-24-19, p. 3646, § 42; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. IV, § 25)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-12-1204 Change of occupancy.

14R-12-1204 Change of occupancy. The provisions of Section 1204 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise Section 1204.1 to read: "1204.1 General. Historic buildings undergoing a change of occupancy shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 10, except as specifically allowed in this chapter. Where Chapter 10 requires compliance with specific requirements of Chapter 7, Chapter 8 or Chapter 9 and where those requirements are subject to the exceptions in Section 1202, the same exceptions shall apply to this section." 2. Revise Section 1204.2 to read: "1204.2 Building area. The allowable floor area for historic buildings undergoing a change of occupancy shall be allowed to exceed by 20 percent the allowable areas specified in Chapter 5 of the Chicago Building Code." 3. Revise Section 1204.3 to read: "1204.3 Location on property. Historic structures undergoing a change of occupancy to a higher-hazard category in accordance with Section 1011.6 may use alternative methods to comply with the fire-resistance and exterior opening protective requirements. Such alternatives shall comply with Section 1201.2." 4. Delete Section 1204.4. 5. Revise Section 1204.5 to read: "1204.5 Roof covering. Regardless of occupancy or use group, roof-covering materials not less than Class C, where tested in accordance with ASTM E108 or UL 790, shall be allowed where a fire-retardant roof covering is required." 6. Revise Section 1204.6 to read: "1204.6 Means of egress. Existing door openings and corridor and stairway widths less than those that would be acceptable for nonhistoric buildings under these provisions may be approved, provided that, in the opinion of the building official, there is sufficient width and height for a person to pass through the opening or traverse the exit and that the capacity of the exit system is adequate for the occupant load, or where other operational controls to limit occupancy are approved by the building official." 7. Revise Section 1204.8, excluding the exception, to read: "1204.8 Transoms. In walls required by these provisions to be fire-resistance rated, existing transoms may be maintained if fixed in the closed position, and fixed wired glass set in a steel frame or other approved glazing shall be installed on one side of the transom." 7.1. Revise Section 1204.10 by deleting "wood." 8. Revise Section 1204.11, including the exception, to read: "1204.11 Stairways and guards. Existing stairways shall comply with the requirements of these provisions. The building official may approve alternatives for stairways and guards if alternative stairways are found to be acceptable or are judged to meet the intent of these provisions. Existing stairways shall comply with Section 1203." 9. Revise Section 1204.12 to read: "1204.12 Exit signs. The fire code official may accept alternative exit sign locations where the location of such signs would damage the historic character of the building or structure. Such signs shall identify the exits and exit path." 10. Revise Section 1204.13 to read: "1204.13 Interior stairway live load. Existing historic interior stairways in buildings changed to a Group B or R occupancy shall be accepted where it can be shown that the stairway can support a 75-pounds-per-square-foot (366 kg/m2) live load." 11. Delete Section 1204.14. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. IV, § 26)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-12-1205 Structural.

14R-12-1205 Structural. The provisions of Section 1205 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modification: 1. Revise exception 1 to Section 1205.1 to read: "1. The building official may approve existing floors and existing live loads based on operational controls that limit the live load on any floor."

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-12-1206 Relocated buildings.

14R-12-1206 Relocated buildings. The provisions of Section 1206 of IEBC are adopted by reference without modification.

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2674867Fetched: 10/24/2026