Planning and zoning staff work with the North Chicago community to design and implement the City's Comprehensive Plan for the future. Staff work to ensure the design of our City supports the needs and desires of residents, businesses, visitors, and employees.
North Chicago's 2024 Comprehensive Plan gives an oversight of the community in the present, the goals the City has for the future, and the roadmap to accomplish those goals. In 2024, the North Chicago Comprehensive Plan won the Daniel Burnham Award for Outstanding Comprehensive Plan from the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Planning
Planning involves envisioning how the community wants to look in the future and creating plans to guide development according to that vision. Information on any ongoing planning activities will be posted below, along with information on how community members may get involved in the process.
Zoning
The North Chicago Zoning Ordinance regulates the the character, design, and type of buildings and improvements that can be constructed in the City. It also regulates what properties may be used for based on their location in the City. The Zoning Map shows the current zoning for every property in the City. Staff also provide technical support to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which holds public hearings on different development and zoning processes as outlined in the zoning ordinance. Information on the different zoning processes can also be found in the FAQ section below.
The North Chicago Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) currently has two vacancies. Information on the PZC and how to apply to fill one of the vacancies can be found on the
PZC page.
Each planning project will have varying methods for public participation or input, from surveys to open houses and everything in between. Details on how to get involved with each project will be posted on this page when a new plan development project begins.
Some uses for property are allowed by the zoning ordinance, but must first go through a public hearing process and receive approval from City Council. These are called "Special Uses." Contact the Department of Economic and Community Development for more information on the application and approval process.
Property owners may receive relief from some of the standards in the zoning ordinance if relief is needed due to the unique or extraordinary characteristics of a property. Petitioners must go through a public hearing process and receive approval from City Council. Contact the Department of Economic and Community Development for more information on the application and approval process.
Any person owning or having interest in a specific property within the City of North Chicago may petition for a Zoning Map Amendment to change the current zoning district of the property to another. This changes which standards of the zoning ordinance apply to the property. Contact the Department of Economic and Community Development for more information on the application and approval process.
Any person owning or having an interest in a specific property in the City may petition for a Zoning Text Amendment. This changes the content of the zoning ordinance. All text amendment petitions must first go through a public hearing process and receive approval from City Council. Contact the Department of Economic and Community Development for more information on the application and approval process.
