The City of Chicago is increasing the Zoning Certification fee from $90.00 to $120.00 effective on January 1, 2013.  A Certificate of Zoning Compliance is required whenever a residential  dwelling containing five or fewerdwelling units is transferred or sold  in the City of Chicago. The requirement does not apply to the transfer  or sale of condominiums or cooperative buildings.  The purpose of the zoning Compliance Certificate is  verify the number of residential dwelling units at the property that are legal under the Chicago Zoning Ordinance.  Typically, the Attorney representing the Seller in the transaction is reponsible for obtaining the Certificate in sufficient time prior to closing.

Under the ordinance, a dwelling unit is “one or more rooms arranged, designed or used as independent living quarters for a single household. Buildings with more than one kitchen or more than one set of cooking facilities are deemed to contain multiple dwelling units unless the additional cooking facilities are clearly accessory and not intended to serve additional households.”

If the Reuest for a Zoning Certificate is denied, there is a period allowed for reconsideration of the decision of the Zoning Administrator.  Call and ask for details.