How many vacant lots does the City of Chicago own? 

The City owns approximately 10,000 parcels of land, mostly on the South and West sides. Much of the land has been in City inventory since the early 1980s. The City has acquired land through the foreclosure of demolition liens, the Cook County tax scavenger sale, property condemnation, and sometimes direct purchase. 

You can see all vacant lots in the City's inventory via the City-owned vacant land map. Beginning April 1, 2024, a map of actively listed properties was made accessible via the ChiBlockBuilder home page. 

How do I know whether a vacant lot is owned by the City or someone else? 

Vacant surplus land can be visualized using the City-owned vacant land map. 

If you do not see a vacant lot in the data portal, you can assume that it is not owned by the City of Chicago. The City of Chicago does not collect information about private vacant lot ownership. The Cook County Clerk's Recordings Division accurately records, stores, and maintains land records and other official documents.