Chicago Landscape Ordinance

Since 1991, Chicago has required developers to include landscaping. In July 1999, the code was amended to include a shade tree planted for every 25 feet of new building frontage in most commercial and residential neighborhoods.

With members of the LASN team headed to Chicago for the ASLA Show & Expo, we've heard quite a bit about how green Chicago is. We know about its leadership in greenroofs, but what else?

Since 1991, Chicago has required developers to include landscaping in their building plans to beautify property and screen perimeters of parking lots, loading docks and other vehicular use areas.

Parkway plantings are required in the construction of any principal building or any addition to a building, if the new construction exceeds 1,500 square feet.

The Chicago Landscape Ordinance requires the screening of parking lot perimeters. Any new Chicago parking lot of 3,000 square feet or more requires installation of landscape islands and trees within the lot. New parking lots of 1,200 square feet or more that are visible from a public right-of-way must be surrounded by 2-to-4 foot hedges.

Landscaping is required on any repair or rehabilitation work of a principal building if the expense of the work exceeds 50 percent of the structure's replacement cost.

Planting standards are maintained by the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation's Bureau of Forestry. All required landscape designs are reviewed by the Chicago Department of Zoning to ensure compliance with the landscape ordinance. The Chicago Landscape Ordinance was created by Mayor Richard Daley, with the following goals: a greener, more attractive city; reduced heat, noise and air pollution; and increased property values.