Chicago Slashes Parking Mandates In a Big Win for Small Developers

*Interactive map* *created by* *Michael McLean*.

Chicago just took a major step toward becoming a stronger, more resilient city.

Two weeks ago, the Chicago City Council unanimously passed a sweeping zoning reform that eliminates parking mandates for most residential and commercial development in the city. Under the new ordinance, developers are no longer required to provide any off-street parking in “Transit-Served Locations” in most districts. That includes sites within a quarter-mile of a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus corridor or a half-mile of a CTA rail station. Given Chicago’s relatively robust transportation network, these changes apply to the vast majority of the city.

The only district that doesn’t completely eliminate parking mandates near transit is the downtown district. However, the ordinance does cut those mandates in half. Developers can also apply for an administrative adjustment to reduce their parking requirements even further. The same rules apply to sites within a half-mile of Metra stations — the commuter rail system that connects Chicago to the surrounding suburbs.

This reform clears a major barrier to small-scale development. Parking mandates add unnecessary cost, complexity, and delay to building homes, starting small businesses, or adapting older buildings. By eliminating and reducing them, Chicago is opening the door to more affordable and flexible development.

This ordinance didn’t happen by accident. It’s part of a broader effort to help Chicago prosper. Local advocates and officials have been working hard on this and other important initiatives, including upzoning along important corridors, legalizing fourplexes citywide, and using tactical urbanism to quickly meet community needs.

Chicago’s work isn’t over, but this reform is another big step toward a city that’s walkable, affordable, and responsive to neighborhood needs. It’s a reminder that local action, sustained over time, can change the rules — and that cities become stronger when they put people before parking.