Pedestrian streets.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-3-0500
in effect17-3-0500 Pedestrian streets.
17-3-0501 Purpose. The regulations of this section are intended to preserve and enhance the character of streets and intersections that are widely recognized as Chicago's best examples of pedestrian-oriented shopping districts. The regulations are intended to promote transit, economic vitality and pedestrian safety and comfort.
17-3-0502 Description and Criteria for Designation. Pedestrian streets exhibit most or all of the following characteristics:
17-3-0502-A have a high concentration of existing stores and restaurants;
17-3-0502-B abut a street with a right-of-way of 80 feet or less;
17-3-0502-C have a continuous or mostly continuous pattern of buildings that are built abutting or very close to the sidewalk;
17-3-0502-D have doors and entrances abutting the sidewalk;
17-3-0502-E have many storefront windows abutting the sidewalk; and
17-3-0502-F have very few vacant stores.
17-3-0503 Designation and Boundaries.
17-3-0503-A Pedestrian streets must be identified in the text of this Zoning Ordinance and shown on the Official Zoning Atlas.
17-3-0503-B The "pedestrian street" designation may be established or removed only in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance Text and Zoning Map Amendment procedures of Sec. 17-13-0200 and Sec. 17-13-0300. Both a text and map amendment is required.
17-3-0503-C The "pedestrian street" designation applies to all zoning lots that abut the right- of-way of a pedestrian street.
17-3-0503-D [Pedestrian Streets and Pedestrian Retail Streets.]
1. The following street segments are classified as pedestrian streets:
Street | Segment | Coordinates
From | To | From | To
Street | Segment | Coordinates
From | To | From | To
103rd | Longwood | Wood | 1800W | 2000W
18th | Sangamon | Marshfield | 932W | 1614W
18th | Paulina | Wood | 1700W | 1800W
26th | St. Louis | Pulaski | 3500W | 4000W
53rd | Kenwood | Lake Park | 1350E | 1600E
Argyle | Sheridan | Broadway | 1000W | 1200W
Armitage | Pulaski | Kostner | 4000W | 4400W
Ashland | Grace | Waveland | 3720N | 3722N
Belmont | Ashland | Paulina | 1600W | 1700W
Cermak | Washtenaw | California | 2700W | 2800W
Cermak | Marshall | Troy | 2900W | 3100W
Cermak | Wentworth | Princeton | 200W | 300W
Chicago | Ashland | Damen | 1600W | 2000W
Clark | Montrose | Bryn Mawr | 4400N | 5600N
Clark | Albion | Touhy | 6600N | 7200N
Commercial | 88th | 92nd | 8800S | 9200S
Devon | Western | California | 2400W | 2800W
Division | Milwaukee | Ashland | 1535W | 1599W
Division | Ashland | Leavitt | 1619W | 2200W
Fullerton | Kimball | Pulaski | 3400W | 3958W
Halsted | Belmont | Grace | 3200N | 3800N
Halsted | Fullerton | Wrightwood | 2400N | 2600N
Kedzie | Montrose | Lawrence | 4400N | 3800
Larrabee | Chicago | Chestnut | 847N | 861N
Lawrence | Laramie | Long | 5200W | 5400W
Lawrence | Sacramento | Central Park | 3000W | 3600W
Milwaukee | Rockwell / Francis | Gresham / Drake | 2149N / 2156N | 2923N / 2898N
Milwaukee | Giddings | Higgins / Ainslie | 4744N | 4830N / 4819N
Montrose | C.T.A. Brown Line | Seeley | 1814 north side; 1821 south side | 2044 north side; 2017 south side
Montrose | California | Kimball | 2800W | 3400W
Roscoe | Damen | Leavitt | 2000W | 2200W
Taylor | Carpenter | Ashland | 1050W | 1600W
Wells | Division | North | 1200N | 1600N
Wentworth | Cermak | 24th Place | 2200S | 2400S
2. The following street segments are classified as pedestrian retail streets:
Street | Segment | Coordinates
From | To | From | To
Street | Segment | Coordinates
From | To | From | To
Armitage | Halsted | Racine | 800W | 1200W
Belmont | Halsted | Southport | 800W | 1400W
Broadway | Diversey | Cornelia | 2800N | 3500N
Bryn Mawr | Kenmore | Broadway | 1038W | 1200W
Clark | Belden | Diversey | 2300N | 2800N
Clark | Newport | Addison | 3432N | 3600N
Clark | Diversey | Wellington | 2800N | 3000N
Diversey | Pine Grove | Burling | 500W | 750W
Halsted | Willow | Webster | 1800N | 2200N
Lincoln | Webster | Belden | 2200N | 2300N
Lincoln | Fullerton | Belmont | 2400N | 3200N
Lincoln | Roscoe | Waveland | 3400N | 3659N (east side) 3700N (west side)
Lincoln | Grace | Berteau | 3800N | 4200N
Lincoln | Hutchinson | Montrose | 4217 (east side) 4218 (west side) | 4400N
Lincoln | Sunnyside | Lawrence | 4500N | 4800N
Lincoln | Western | Bryn Mawr | 4870N | 5600N
Milwaukee | Division | North | 1200N | 1600N
Southport | Henderson | Grace | 3323N | 3800N
17-3-0503-E Pedestrian streets also radiate from the following six-corner intersections.
Diagonal Street | Coordinates | East-West Street | Coordinates | North-South Street | Coordinates | Intersection Coordinates
Diagonal Street | Coordinates | East-West Street | Coordinates | North-South Street | Coordinates | Intersection Coordinates
Blue Island | From | 1637S | 18th | From | 1300W | Loomis | From | 1600S | 1800S | 1400W
To | 1671S | To | 1357W | To | 1726S
Blue Island | From | 1810S | 18th | From | 1413W | Loomis | From | 1809S | 1800S | 1400W
To | 2000S | To | 1500W | To | 1900S
Broadway | From | 4400N | Lawrence | From | 1100W | Racine | From | 4700N | 4800N | 1200W
To | 5099N | To | 1230W | To | 4800N
Clark | From | 2700N | Diversey | From | 500W | Broadway | From | 2800N | 2800N | 600W
To | 2900N | To | 700W | To | 2900N
Lincoln | From | 3200N | School | From | 1600W | Marshfield | From | 3300N | 3300N | 1630W
To | 3400N | To | 1700W | To | 3400N
Lincoln | From | 3900N | Irving Park | From | 1900W | Damen | From | 3900N | 4000N | 2000W
To | 4100N | To | 2100W | To | 4100N
Milwaukee | From | 1500N | North | From | 1900W | Damen | From | 1500N | 1600N | 2000W
To | 1700N | To | 2100W | To | 1700N
Milwaukee | From | 2700N | Diversey | From | 3300W | Kimball | From | 2700N | 2800N | 3400W
To | 2860N | To | 3500W | To | 2816N
Milwaukee | From | 3900N | Irving Park | From | 4650W | Cicero | From | 3900N | 4000N | 4800W
To | 4100N | To | 4930W | To | 4032N
17-3-0504 Standards.
17-3-0504-A Applicability. The standards of this section apply to all development on lots that abut the right-of-way of designated pedestrian streets unless otherwise expressly stated. For purposes of Title 17, the criteria, standards and regulations that apply to pedestrian streets shall apply to pedestrian retail streets, except as more specifically regulated herein.
17-3-0504-B Building Location.
1. The entire building façade that faces a designated pedestrian street must abut the sidewalk or be located within 5 feet of the sidewalk.
2. These building location standards do not apply to permitted arcades, public plazas or parks, entries to through-block connections, or recessed entries. Recessed entries are subject to the following standards:
(a) The entrance width may not exceed 12 feet or 5% of the building's street-facing façade width;
(b) The entrance depth may not exceed the entrance width; and
(c) The entrance may not exceed 2 stories in height.
Figure 17-3-0504-B
[image omitted; see the official code]
17-3-0504-C Transparency.
1. A minimum of 60% of the street- facing building façade between 4 feet and 10 feet in height must be comprised of clear, non-reflective windows that allow views of indoor commercial space or product display areas. This standard applies to building façades that face pedestrian streets.
2. The bottom of any window or product display window used to satisfy this requirement may not be more than 4.5 feet above the adjacent sidewalk.
3. Product display windows used to satisfy these requirements must have a minimum height of 4 feet and be internally lighted.
Figure 17-3-0504-C
[image omitted; see the official code]
17-3-0504-D Doors and Entrances.
1. On lots abutting pedestrian streets, buildings must have a primary entrance door facing the pedestrian street. Entrances at building corners facing a pedestrian street may be used to satisfy this requirement.
2. Building entrances may include doors to individual shops or businesses, lobby entrances, entrances to pedestrian-oriented plazas or courtyard entrances to a cluster of shops or businesses.
Figure 17-3-0504-D
[image omitted; see the official code]
17-3-0504-E Off-Street Parking Requirements. No off-street parking is required for nonresidential uses on lots abutting pedestrian streets unless such uses exceed 10,000 square feet of gross floor area, in which case off-street parking must be provided for the floor area in excess of 10,000 square feet. (See Sec. 17-10-0200 for off-street parking ratios)
17-3-0504-F Parking Location. All off-street parking spaces must be enclosed or located to the rear of the principal building and not be visible from the right-of-way of a pedestrian street.
17-3-0504-G Driveways and Vehicle Access. Vehicle access to lots located along pedestrian streets must come from an alley. No curb cuts or driveways are allowed from a pedestrian street. (See Sec. 17-13-1003-S).
17-3-0504-H Prohibited Uses. The following uses are expressly prohibited on lots abutting pedestrian streets:
1. strip centers;
2. drive-through facilities;
3. vehicle sales and service uses involving any outdoor storage of vehicles or goods;
4. gas stations;
5. car washes; and
6. residential storage warehouses.
17-3-0504-I Special Uses.
1. Non-accessory parking facilities are allowed on lots abutting pedestrian streets only if reviewed and approved in accordance with the special use procedures of Section 17-13-0900.
2. A bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, currency exchange, or automated teller machine facility is permitted on lots abutting pedestrian retail streets: provided that a proposed bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, currency exchange, or automated teller machine facility that will be located within 600 feet of a bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, currency exchange, or automated teller machine facility that already exists on the pedestrian retail street is allowed only if reviewed and approved in accordance with the special use procedures of Sec. 17-13-0900; provided further that the review and approval for such special use shall not be required if:
(i) the bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, currency exchange, or automated teller machine facility is located above or below curb level of a building with permitted or special uses on the curb level;
(ii) the bank, savings bank, savings and loans association, credit union, currency exchange, or automated teller machine facility is accessory to a retail or commercial use; or
(iii) the bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or currency exchange, automated teller machine facility is located: (1) in the rear of the building that abuts the pedestrian retail street; and (2) 50 feet or more from the sidewalk that abuts the building façade that faces the pedestrian retail street; and (3) in a building in which a retail or commercial use faces the pedestrian retail street.
17-3-0504-J Encouraged Uses. The following uses are encouraged on lots abutting pedestrian streets:
1. Sidewalk cafes and outdoor eating areas; and
2. Outdoor display of produce, flowers and plants.
(Added Coun. J. 5-26-04, p. 25275; Amend Coun. J. 2-9-05, p. 42415; Amend Coun. J. 3-9-05, p. 44391; Amend Coun. J. 11-30-05, p. 62724; Amend Coun. J. 6-28-06, p. 79813, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-06, p. 84870, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 1-11-07, p. 97055, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-11-07, p. 97057, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-11-07, p. 97059, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-19-07, p. 5248, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-30-09, p. 66111, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 80791, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-30-10, p. 95597, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-30-10, p. 95599, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-30-10, p. 95601, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-30-10, p. 95603, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-9-11, p. 112463, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-14-11, p. 18117, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25071, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 6-27-12, p. 30538, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 6-27-12, p. 30540, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-12, p. 31632, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-12, p. 44399, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-13, p. 51743, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-8-13, p. 53468, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 60183, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 1-15-14, p. 73272, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 1-15-14, p. 73274, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 1-15-14, p. 73276, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-28-14, p. 82412, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-5, p. 96196, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-14, p. 96199, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-14, p. 98825, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-14, p. 100862, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-24-15, p. 7508, §§ 4, 5; Amend Coun. J. 9-24-15, p. 7511, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 25016, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 38285, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-29-17, p. 45471, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 3-29-17, p. 45473, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-24-17, p. 49766, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 74521, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-18-18, p. 76897, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-18-18, p. 76900, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-18-18, p. 76902, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84905, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-20-18, p. 84907, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 1-23-19, p. 94979, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14592, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-20, p. 16146, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21782, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-21, p. 33513, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-14-21, p. 35946, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-14-21, p. 37719, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 2-23-22, p. 45128, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50878, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 1-24-24, p. 8647, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-25, p. 24603, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-16-25, p. 26844, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-16-25, p. 26847, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-16-25, p. 34225, § 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/0-0-0-2681428Fetched: 10/24/2026