Zoning
APPLICATIONS
Zoning Analysis -- New Form for 2009!
Fence Variations -- New Form for 2009!
Garage, Yard and House Sales -- New Form for 2009!
Major Variances -- New Form for 2009!
Minor Variances -- New Form for 2009!
Adminstrative Interpretation-- New Form for 2009!
Amendments to Zoning Ordinance, Map or Text
Appeal of Zoning Administrator's Decision
INFORMATION
Zoning Office - General Information & List of Services -- New Form for 2009!
Zoning District Summary Sheets -- New in 2009!
Comprehensive Plan: Goals, Objectives & Policies/Actions
Fee Schedule for Zoning -- Updated Fees, March 2009
Fee Ordinance - Updated Fees, March 2009
Plat Approval, Subdivision, Resubdivision and Consolidation
Residential Districts General Information
Site Plan & Appearance Review Committee (SP&ARC) Information
Restaurants (Food Establishments) and Sidewalk Cafés
Amendments to Zoning Ordinance, Map or Text
Amendment Information for Neighbors (Standards)
Public Hearings Information for Noticed Neighbors
Application for Map Amendment
Application for Text Amendment
General Applicant's Data Form
Required for all amendment, zoning variance, appeals, special use
or other zoning relief applications.
Disclosure Statement for Zoning Relief
This is an applicant's conflict of interest declaration. Use this form for all matters going to a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals or Plan Commission, such as amendments, appeals, major variances, special uses and planned developments.
Analysis, Zoning
Use this form to verify that the Zoning Ordinance allows you to do what you want to do with your land or building
without or before applying for a building permit. Construction activities generally require a permit before one commences them. Other activities may require other forms of City approval, such as a business
license.
Zoning Analysis Application
Appeal of Zoning Administrator's Decision
Appeal Application:
Use this form to appeal a decision granting zoning certification, with or without a building permit, or to appeal a minor or fence variance decision
General Applicant's Data Form
Required for all amendment, zoning variance, appeals, special use or other zoning relief applications.
Disclosure Statement for Zoning Relief
This is an applicant's conflict of interest declaration. Use this form for all matters going to a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals or Plan Commission, such as amendments, appeals, major variances, special uses and planned developments.
Comprehensive Plan: Goals, Objectives & Policies/Actions
Comprehensive Plan Information
Fee Schedule for Zoning
Fee Schedule (updated March 2009)
Fences
You must get a building permit to erect a fence. In general, Evanston now prohibits fences along street sides unless you obtain a variance to this requirement. The forms and sheets below concern the
City's fence regulations and the process for requesting an exception to these regulations.
Fence Variation Application - New Form for 2009!
Summary of Fence Regulations
Information on Exceptions to Fence Regulations
Information on Type 1 Streets for Fences
Required for all amendment, zoning variance, appeals, special use or other zoning relief applications.
Garage/Yard Sales
You must get a permit from the Zoning Office in order to hold a garage or yard sale. There is no fee, however, garage/yard sales are limited to 3 in a 12-month period, and are only permitted in residential zoning districts.
The one-page Garage/Yard sale application can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
Submit the completed application to the Zoning Office either in person or by fax for processing. You will receive a garage/yard sale permit that must be posted during the time of your sale. Permits must be picked up at the Zoning Office, and can usually be issued immediately when you submit your application.
Garage & Yard Sale Application
Home Occupations
Application & Information, Home Occupation
Administrative Interpretation
Application (pdf, updated 3-27-09)
Major Variances
The City provides several processes for one to request exceptions to the "as-of-right" requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. The forms and sheets below relate to the "major variance" procedure.
Generally, one uses major variances for exceptions to the bulk (height, setbacks, building and lot size, etc) and parking requirements.
Major Variance Information
Variance Standards
Public Hearings Information for Noticed Neighbors
Major Variance Application
General Applicant's Data Form
Required for all amendment, zoning variance, appeals, special use or other zoning relief applications.
Disclosure Statement for Zoning Relief This is an applicant's conflict of interest declaration. Use
this form for all matters going to a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals or Plan Commission, such as amendments, appeals, major variances, special uses and planned developments.
Minor Variances
Minor Variances are handled via an administrative process and do not require a public hearing. The following are eligible:
- Single-family and two-family uses only
- Variances concerning required setbacks, building lot coverage, impervious surface coverage, accessory structures, lot width, dormers
- Up to 35% over a "maximum allowable" regulation or up to 35% under a "minimum required" regulation.
Zoning District Summary Sheets
These one-page information sheets are summaries of the zoning regulations for the City's most referred-to districts. PLEASE NOTE that these summary sheets do give an exhaustive list of requirements for a property in any district, but are intended to provide a convenient reference for the most requested information.
R1 - R3 Residential Districts (pdf, updated 1-27-09, 378 KB)
R4 - R6 Residential Districts (pdf, updated 1-27-09, 386 KB)
B1 - B3 Business Districts (pdf, updated 1-28-09, 347 KB)
C1 - C2 Commercial Districts (pdf, updated 1-28-09, 343 KB)
D1 - D4 Downtown Districts (pdf, updated 1-28-09, 337 KB)
I1 - I3 Industrial Districts (pdf, updated 1-28-09, 339 KB)
MU - MUE - MXE Transitional Manufacturing (pdf, updated 1-28-09, 331 KB)
ALLOWED USES by Zoning District (Use Matrix) Updated 3-25-09
This chart identifies uses that are allowed in each zoning district.
Planned Development
Planned developments generally are major development projects that require individual zoning reviews involving public hearings and City Council approval.
Planned Development Information Sheets, Required Submittals, & Findings & Standards:
Planned Development Business Districts
Planned Development Commercial Districts
Planned Development Downtown Districts
Planned Development Industrial Districts
Planned Development Office Districts
Planned Development Research Park District
Planned Development Residential Districts
Planned Development Transitional Manufacturing (MU/MUE) Districts
Required for all amendment, zoning variance, appeals, special use or other zoning relief applications.
Disclosure Statement for Zoning Relief
This is an applicant's conflict of interest declaration. Use this form for all matters going to a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals or Plan Commission, such as amendments, appeals, major variances, special uses and planned developments.
Plat Approval, Subdivision, Resubdivision and Consolidation
A plat is a map of an individual parcel or parcels of real estate. Generally a plat graphically identifies the boundaries of a coherent piece of land as identified through documents recorded with the
Cook County Recorder of Deeds. The plat also may show the location of various features on, in or above the land. Under certain circumstances the division or joining of parcels of land may trigger State
or City requirements to record a new plat. The forms and sheets below concern this process.
Plat Information Sheet
Zoning Analysis Application
Residential Districts General Information
Residential Bulk Requirements
Residential Garages and Other Accessory Structures
Restaurants (Food Establishments) and Sidewalk Cafés
Food establishment business licenses and sidewalk café permits are managed by the Health and Human Services Department.
Site Plan & Appearance Review Committee (SP&ARC) Information
SP&ARC Information
Special Use
For each zoning district, the Zoning Ordinance contains a list of "permitted uses" and "special uses." A permitted land use, such as a single-family home in a single-family district,
is a land use for which a land owner does not need any special type of zoning permission, though other zoning and other laws do apply. A special use is one for which the land owner must obtain special
permission involving public hearings and City Council approval. The forms and sheets below concern this process.
Special Use Information
Special Use Information for Neighbors (Standards)
Public Hearings Information for Noticed Neighbors
Special Use Application
Substitution of Special Use Application
General Applicant's Data Form
Required for all amendment, zoning variance, appeals, special use or other zoning relief applications.
Disclosure Statement for Zoning Relief
This is an applicant's conflict of interest declaration. Use this form for all matters going to a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals or Plan Commission, such as amendments, appeals, major variances, special uses and planned developments.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Zoning
Applications & Docs