New ZBA search: find decisions by applicant, relief requested, and more

We’ve significantly upgraded how you can search and explore Zoning Board of Appeals decisions on Chicago Cityscape. These improvements make it faster to find relevant cases and access the details you need.

Full text search across all ZBA data

You can now search ZBA decisions using natural language queries. Type “parking variation” or “rear yard setback” into the search box and instantly find relevant cases. The search looks across:

• Case numbers and descriptions from the ZBA’s resolutions
• Applicant names
• Detailed case descriptions (as provided by the applicant)

This means you can search for a client’s name, a specific type of relief, or keywords describing the zoning issue — and get results from both the City’s database and the actual resolution documents.

Applicant information now visible

For the first time on Chicago Cityscape, you can see who applied for ZBA relief directly in the results table. We extract applicant names from the ZBA resolution PDFs published by the Department of Planning and Development. This is particularly useful when researching an attorney’s track record or finding precedent cases for a specific property owner.

Direct links to resolution PDFs

Each ZBA decision now links directly to the official resolution PDF when available. Click the PDF icon to view the complete board resolution, including the full legal description, conditions of approval, and voting record.

How to use it

1. Navigate to any Place Report or Property Report
2. Click the “Zoning Board of Appeals” tab to load decisions. Use the table of contents to jump to “Projects + zoning changes”.
3. Use the search box to find cases by keyword, applicant name, or case number
4. Click the PDF icon to view the full resolution document

You can also filter by year, application type (variation, special use, or administrative adjustment), and judgment (approved, denied, withdrawn).

Coverage

We’ve processed over 500 monthly ZBA resolution PDFs dating back to the 1980s, extracting more than 5,500 individual cases (with thousands more coming soon). New resolutions are automatically downloaded and processed as the ZBA publishes them.

Why this matters

For zoning attorneys preparing variation applications, finding comparable cases with similar relief requests can be essential for building a strong argument. For architects, understanding what the ZBA has...