Commercial district

Chicago B3 Zoning: Community Shopping District

Broad-range community shopping district accommodating larger-format retail, shopping centers, and destination-oriented development with higher off-street parking supply.

6,498 ac

mapped in this district

5.5%

of Chicago's districted land

governing sections

shared rules that apply

Where B3's rules live

The district's own sections in Chicago Municipal Code, Title 17 (Chicago Zoning Ordinance):

§17-3-0104
§17-3-0207
§17-3-0300
§17-3-0401
§17-3-0402
§17-3-0403
§17-3-0404
§17-3-0405
§17-3-0406
§17-3-0408

Shared rules that apply in B3

Off-street parking and loading (full chapter) §17-1025 of 25 districts

Transit-served location parking exemptions/reductions §17-10-0102-B25 of 25 districts

Off-street parking schedule 1: neighborhood districts §17-10-020725 of 25 districts

Parking group A ratios §17-10-0207-A25 of 25 districts

Parking group B ratios §17-10-0207-B25 of 25 districts

Parking group C ratios §17-10-0207-C25 of 25 districts

Parking group D ratios (downtown) §17-10-0207-D25 of 25 districts

Parking group E ratios §17-10-0207-E25 of 25 districts

Parking group F ratios §17-10-0207-F25 of 25 districts

Parking group G ratios §17-10-0207-G25 of 25 districts

Parking group H ratios §17-10-0207-H25 of 25 districts

Parking group I ratios §17-10-0207-I25 of 25 districts

Parking group J ratios §17-10-0207-J25 of 25 districts

Parking group N ratios §17-10-0207-N25 of 25 districts

Parking group Q ratios §17-10-0207-Q25 of 25 districts

Parking group S ratios §17-10-0207-S25 of 25 districts

Parking group T ratios §17-10-0207-T25 of 25 districts

Parking group U ratios §17-10-0207-U25 of 25 districts

Off-street parking schedule 2: downtown districts §17-10-020825 of 25 districts

General building setback standards §17-13-030225 of 25 districts

Artist live/work space definition and standards §17-17-021225 of 25 districts

Lot area measurement rules §17-17-030225 of 25 districts

Lot frontage measurement rules §17-17-030325 of 25 districts

Lot area per unit measurement rules §17-17-030425 of 25 districts

Floor area ratio measurement rules §17-17-030525 of 25 districts

Front setback measurement rules §17-17-030625 of 25 districts

Rear setback measurement rules §17-17-030725 of 25 districts

Side setback measurement rules §17-17-030825 of 25 districts

Features allowed in required setbacks §17-17-030925 of 25 districts

Building wall separation measurement rules §17-17-031025 of 25 districts

Building height measurement rules §17-17-031125 of 25 districts

Adult use location restrictions §17-9-010125 of 25 districts

Bed and breakfast standards §17-9-010325 of 25 districts

Community home standards §17-9-010425 of 25 districts

Container storage standards §17-9-010525 of 25 districts

Foreign consulate standards §17-9-010825 of 25 districts

Lodge and private club standards §17-9-011125 of 25 districts

Philanthropic institution standards §17-9-011325 of 25 districts

Residential support services standards §17-9-011425 of 25 districts

Shelter facility standards §17-9-011525 of 25 districts

Strip center site plan review and standards §17-9-011625 of 25 districts

Waste-related, recycling, intensive manufacturing use standards §17-9-011725 of 25 districts

Coke and coal bulk material use standards §17-9-0117-B25 of 25 districts

Manganese-bearing material operation standards §17-9-0117-D25 of 25 districts

Wireless communication facility standards §17-9-011825 of 25 districts

Cannabis business establishment standards §17-9-012925 of 25 districts

Conversion unit standards §17-9-013125 of 25 districts

Accessory uses, buildings and structures §17-9-020025 of 25 districts

Coach house standards §17-9-0201-F25 of 25 districts

Business/commercial front setback requirements §17-3-03056 of 25 districts

Business/commercial side and rear setback requirements §17-3-03086 of 25 districts

Business/commercial building height bonuses §17-3-0408-B6 of 25 districts

Business/commercial rear yard open space §17-3-0410-B6 of 25 districts

Business/commercial accessory uses and structures §17-3-05046 of 25 districts

Other commercial districts in Chicago

B1 Neighborhood Shopping District B2 Neighborhood Mixed-Use District C1 Neighborhood Commercial District C2 Motor Vehicle-Related Commercial District C3 Commercial, Manufacturing and Employment District

Is your parcel in B3? Check an address and ask what you can build, with the section behind each answer.

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Sources: Chicago Municipal Code, Title 17 (Chicago Zoning Ordinance); City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development “Zoning Boundaries” layer, last edited Feb 11, 2026. Research only, not legal advice. Back to Chicago zoning.