City Council reduced parking mandates in a big way today

Updated 9/25/25: The City Clerk published the July journal and now the parking reform ordinance is in effect.

The Chicago City Council adopted O2025-0015577 — introduced by 1st Ward Alderperson La Spata — today that eliminates parking mandates for a lot more properties than ever before. The ordinance augments the Connected Communities and changes the rules for development in transit-served locations. To recap the Connected Communities ordinance, transit-served locations are properties within 1,320 feet of specific CTA bus corridors (the zoning code lists them), or within 2,640 feet of CTA rail station entrances or exits, or within 2,640 feet of Metra station entrances or exits.

The two big outcomes are:

1. the requirement to get an “administrative adjustment” for providing zero parking is eliminated, except in downtown
2. the option to provide zero parking is extended to RS and RT zoning districts for the first time (these zoning districts are where the majority of...