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RM-6.5 Residential Multi-Unit District

High-rise apartment buildings, often by the lakeshore.


Specifications

Zoning Ordinance reference ยง 17-2-0104
View the Chicago Zoning Ordinance
Floor area ratio 6.6
Maximum building height None, but tall buildings require planned development approval (see Sec. 17-13-0600).
Lot area per unit (density) 300 sq ft/dwelling unit, 135 sq ft/efficiency unit, 135 sq ft/SRO unit
Minimum lot area 1,650 sq ft
On-site open space All buildings with people living in them must have at least 36 sq ft of on-site open space per dwelling unit. (See 17-2-0308)

Setbacks

Front yard 15ft, or 12% of lot depth, whichever is less. Alternatively, setback can be the average front yard depth of nearest 2 lots (properties on primary boulevards have a slightly different rule). If any lots to be included in the calculation are vacant, assume that their front yard depths are 15 feet or 12% of lot depth, whichever is less.
Side Townhouses: complicated as hell, see 17-2-0500. All other buildings: none if building abuts the street or alley, or if building covers less than 50% of its lot. If more than 50%, building's side setbacks must equal 10% of lot width or 10% of building height (whichever is greater), but no setback needs to be wider than 20 ft.
Back yard For buildings with under 20 dwelling units, of which at least 33% are "accessible": 50 ft or 24% of lot depth, whichever is less. For other buildings: 50 ft or 30% of lot depth, whichever is less.