For certain land uses, the amount of on-site parking needed to serve these uses is directly related to the individual business’s/agency’s operations. Specifically, the amount of required parking is tied to the proposed staffing (peak numbers, numbers of shifts per day, etc.), clients to be served (types, peak numbers, scheduling, ages, etc.) and/or overall size (in gross building area). In addition, some uses also involve the drop-off/pick-up (“loading”) of clients, which also needs to be accommodated.

For such uses, the parking and client loading requirements are reviewed and established on a case-by-case basis through the Zoning Bureau of the Department of Planning and Development. Applicants seeking approval of a business license through Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and/or associated building permit (including review by Zoning Plan Review) for such use(s), will be advised by their reviewer that they need to seek a Parking Determination.

The types of uses that require a Parking Determination include, but are not limited to:

• Day care facilities (children, adult, elder)
• Community centers
• Grade schools
• Colleges/universities
• Business/trade schools
• Transitional residences, shelters, etc.
• Assisted living centers, nursing homes, etc.
• Funeral homes, crematoriums, cemeteries, etc.
• Residential storage warehouse (“public storage”)
• Day labor employment agencies
• Public safety facilities
• Utilities and service facilities

In order to initiate the Parking Determination review, applicants must submit a complete Parking Determination Letter (PDL) Request to the Zoning Bureau, which includes a PDL request letter, dimensioned floor plan(s) and dimensioned site plan or survey, in accordance with the requirements established in the PDL Request Checklist. Submission of incomplete or illegible information or documents will delay the Parking Determination review.

The complete PDL Request can be submitted via email to DPD-PDL@cityofchicago.org or by mail to: City of Chicago - Department of Planning & Development, Zoning Bureau-Parking Determination Request, 121 N. LaSalle Street #905, Chicago, IL 60602

Once the review is complete, the Zoning Bureau will issue a PDL, which will include the required number of on-site automobile parking spaces, bicycle parking spaces and any pick-up/drop-off spaces.

Applicants will need to provide a copy of that PDL to their assigned BACP Reviewer and/or Zoning Plan Reviewer along with any updated plans or supporting documents proving compliance with the on-site parking and/or client loading requirements.

For additional information, please refer to the allowed uses in Residential (§17-2-0200), Commercial (§17-3-0200), Downtown (§17-4-0200), Manufacturing (§17-5-0200), and/or Special Use Districts (§17-6-0203, §17-6-0403) and the associated parking requirements (§17-10-0200) established in the Chicago Zoning Ordinance. NOTE: applicants can fine the zoning district of their property through the City’s interactive zoning map.