Industrial district

Chicago M2 Zoning: Light Industry District

Moderate-impact manufacturing, wholesaling, warehousing and distribution district accommodating outdoor storage and work activities, more land-intensive than M1.

3,651 ac

mapped in this district

3.1%

of Chicago's districted land

governing sections

shared rules that apply

Where M2's rules live

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

§17-5-0103
§17-5-0207
§17-5-0400
§17-5-0402
§17-5-0404
§17-5-0405
§17-5-0500
§17-5-0600

Shared rules that apply in M2

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

Manufacturing performance standards §17-5-06013 of 25 districts

Manufacturing accessory uses §17-5-06023 of 25 districts

Other industrial districts in Chicago

M1 Limited Manufacturing/Business Park District M3 Heavy Industry District

Is your parcel in M2? Check an address and ask what you can build, with the section behind each answer.

Check an address

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.