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Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 14R, ch. 14R-5
in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-5-502 Additions.

14R-5-502 Additions. The provisions of Section 502 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise Section 502.2 to read: "502.2 Disproportionate earthquake damage. A building assigned to Seismic Design Category D that has sustained disproportionate earthquake damage shall be subject to the requirements for buildings with substantial structural damage to vertical elements of the lateral force-resisting system." 2. Delete Section 502.3. 3. Revise the exception to Section 502.4 to read: "Exception: Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy where the existing building and the addition together comply with the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code." 4. Revise Section 502.5 to read: "502.5 Existing structural elements carrying lateral load. Where the addition is structurally independent of the existing building, existing lateral load-carrying structural elements shall be permitted to remain unaltered. Where the addition is not structurally independent of the existing building, the existing building and its addition acting together as a single structure shall be shown to meet the requirements of Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code using full seismic forces. Exceptions: 1. Any existing lateral load-carrying structural element whose demand-capacity ratio with the addition considered is not more than 10 percent greater than its demand-capacity ratio with the addition ignored shall be permitted to remain unaltered. For purposes of calculating demand- capacity ratios, the demand shall consider applicable load combinations with design lateral loads or forces in accordance with Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. For purposes of this exception, comparisons of demand-capacity ratios and calculation of design lateral loads, forces and capacities shall account for the cumulative effects of additions and alterations since original construction. 2. Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy where the existing building and the addition together comply with the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code." 5. Revise Section 502.6 to read: "502.6 Smoke alarms in existing portions of a building. Where an addition is made to a building or structure of a Group R or I-1 occupancy, the existing building shall be provided with smoke alarms in accordance with Section 504.8 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings or shown to be in compliance with these requirements." 6. Revise Section 502.7, including its exceptions, to read: "502.7 Carbon monoxide alarms in existing portions of a building. Where an addition is made to a building or structure of Group E, I-1, I-2, I-4 or R occupancy, the existing building shall be provided with carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with Section 504.9 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings or shown to be in compliance with these requirements." 7. Delete Section 502.8. (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. IV, § 9)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-5-503 Alterations.

14R-5-503 Alterations. The provisions of Section 503 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise exception 3 to Section 503.1 to read: "3. Where provided in below-grade transportation stations, existing and new escalators shall be allowed to have a clear width of less than 32 inches (815 mm)." 2. Delete Section 503.2. 3. Revise exception 1 to Section 503.3 to read: "1. Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy where the altered building complies with the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code." 4. Delete Section 503.5. 5. Revise Sections 503.6 through 503.11 to read: "503.6 Bracing for unreinforced masonry parapets on reroofing. Where the intended alteration requires a permit for reroofing and involves removal of roofing materials from more than 25 percent of the roof area of a building assigned to Seismic Design Category D that has parapets constructed of unreinforced masonry, the work shall include installation of parapet bracing to resist out-of-plane seismic forces, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of such items. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed. 503.7 Anchorage for concrete and reinforced masonry walls. Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D and the building’s structural system includes concrete or reinforced masonry walls with a flexible roof diaphragm, the alteration work shall include installation of wall anchors at the roof line, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of existing wall anchorage. Use of reduced seismic forces shall be allowed. 503.8 Anchorage for unreinforced masonry walls in major alterations. Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D and the building’s structural system includes unreinforced masonry bearing walls, the alteration work shall include installation of wall anchors at the floor and roof lines, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of existing wall anchorage. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed. 503.9 Bracing for unreinforced masonry parapets in major alterations. Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, and where the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D parapets constructed of unreinforced masonry shall have bracing installed as needed to resist out-of-plane seismic forces, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of such items. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed. 503.10 Anchorage of unreinforced masonry partitions in major alterations. Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, and where the building is assigned to Seismic Design Category C or D unreinforced masonry partitions and nonstructural walls within the work area and adjacent to egress paths from the work area shall be anchored, removed or altered to resist out-of-plane seismic forces, unless an evaluation demonstrates compliance of such items. Use of reduced seismic forces shall be allowed. 503.11 Substantial structural alteration. Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area and where work involves a substantial structural alteration, the lateral load-resisting system of the altered building shall satisfy the requirements of Sections 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. Reduced seismic forces shall be allowed. Exceptions: 1. Buildings of Group R-5 occupancy that are altered based on the conventional light-frame construction methods of the Chicago Building Code. 2. Where the intended alteration involves only the lowest story above grade plane of a building, only the lateral load-resisting components in and below that story need comply with this section." 6. Delete Section 503.12. 7. Revise Section 503.14 to read: "503.14 Smoke alarms. Individual sleeping units and individual dwelling units in Group R and I-1 occupancies shall be provided with smoke alarms in accordance with Section 504.8 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings." 8. Revise Section 503.15 to read: "503.15 Carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be provided to protect sleeping units and dwelling units in Group I-1, I-2, I-4 and R occupancies and classrooms in Group E and I-4 occupancies in accordance with Section 504.9 of the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings. Exceptions: 1. Work involving the exterior surfaces of buildings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, the replacement of windows or doors, or the replacement of porches or decks. 2. Installation, alteration or repairs of plumbing or mechanical systems, other than fuel-burning appliances." (Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. IV, § 10)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-5-504 Fire escapes.

14R-5-504 Fire escapes. The provisions of Section 504 of IEBC are not adopted. The following language shall be inserted as Section 504: "504. FIRE ESCAPES 504.1 General. Fire escapes shall comply with Section 307."

Municipal Code of Chicago § 14R-5-506 Change of occupancy.

14R-5-506 Change of occupancy. The provisions of Section 506 of IEBC are adopted by reference with the following modifications: 1. Revise Sections 506.1 and 506.1.1 to read: "506.1 Compliance. A change of occupancy shall not be made in any building unless that building is made to comply with the requirements of the Chicago Building Code for the use or occupancy. Changes of occupancy in a building or portion thereof shall be such that the existing building is not less complying with the provisions of this code than the existing building or structure was prior to the change. Where approved by the building official, changes of occupancy shall be permitted without complying with all of the requirements of this code for the new occupancy, provided that the new occupancy is no more hazardous than the existing occupancy in accordance with Tables 1011.4, 1011.5 and 1011.6. Exception: The building need not be made to comply with Chapter 16 of the Chicago Building Code unless required by Section 506.4. 506.1.1 Change in the character of use. A change of use or creation of an incidental use with no change of occupancy shall not be made to any structure that will subject the structure to any special provision of the applicable Chicago Construction Codes, without obtaining a permit from the building official to comply with the special provision. Compliance shall be only as necessary to meet the specific provision and is not intended to require the entire building be brought into compliance with requirements for new construction." 2. Delete Section 506.2. 3. Revise Section 506.4.1 to read: "506.4.1 Live loads. Structural elements carrying tributary live loads from an area with a change of occupancy shall satisfy the requirements of Section 1607 of the Chicago Building Code. Design live loads for areas of new occupancy shall be based on Section 1607 of the Chicago Building Code. Exception: Structural elements whose demand-capacity ratio considering the change of occupancy is not more than 5 percent greater than the previous demand-capacity ratio." 4. Revise the exception to Section 506.4.2 to read: "Exception: Where the floor area of the change of occupancy is less than 10 percent of the building area, compliance with this section is not required. The cumulative effect of occupancy changes over time shall be considered." 5. Revise Section 506.4.3, including its exceptions, to read: "506.4.3 Seismic loads (seismic force-resisting system). Where a change of occupancy results in a building being assigned to Risk Category IV, the building shall satisfy the requirements of Section 1613 of the Chicago Building Code for the new risk category using full seismic forces." 6. Revise Section 506.4.4 to read: "506.4.4 Access to Risk Category IV. Any structure that provides operational access to an adjacent structure assigned to Risk Category IV as the result of a change of occupancy shall itself satisfy the requirements of Sections 1608, 1609 and 1613 of the Chicago Building Code. For compliance with Section 1613, the full seismic forces shall be used. Where operational access to the Risk Category IV structure is less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from either an abutting property line or from another structure, access protection from potential falling debris shall be provided."
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2674109Fetched: 10/24/2026

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