Berwyn, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 and R-2 cap
- 65% Maximum Impervious Coverage
- R-3 cap
- 75% Maximum Impervious Coverage
- R-4 cap
- 85% Maximum Impervious Coverage
- Minimum lot
- 3,750 sf area and 30 ft width in R-1 through R-4
- Enforcer
- Zoning Administrator (§ 1240.06)
Summary
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, the residential district tables cap Maximum Impervious Coverage at 65% in R-1 and R-2, 75% in R-3, and 85% in R-4. All four districts share a 3,750 sf minimum lot area and 30 ft minimum lot width, so a standard lot has a fixed square-foot ceiling on hard surface.
Table 1246.10-A. R-1 District Requirements ... Maximum Impervious Coverage 65% ... Table 1246.11-A. R-2 District Requirements ... Maximum Impervious Coverage 65% ... Table 1246.12-A. R-3 District Requirements ... Maximum Impervious Coverage 75% ... Table 1246.13-A. R-4 District Requirements ... Maximum Impervious Coverage 85%
Full Breakdown
Berwyn Code of Ordinances §§ 1246.10 through 1246.13 give each residential district its own bulk table, and each table carries a Maximum Impervious Coverage row. R-1 Single-Family Residence and R-2 Bungalow are capped at 65%. R-3 Two-Family Residence is capped at 75%. R-4 Multi-Family Residence is capped at 85%.
All four tables set a Minimum Lot Area of 3,750 sf and a Minimum Lot Width of 30 ft. A rear garage, driveway, sidewalk, patio, and the house footprint all compete for that allowance, so a bungalow lot in R-2 has to leave at least 35% of the lot unpaved and unbuilt.
Non-residential districts use different figures. The P Public Areas District table in § 1246.09 sets 85%, and the I Industrial District table in § 1246.08 says the impervious coverage limit does not apply.
Paving choices connect to the cap. Section 1248.01(C)(4) requires driveways to be built with a hard surface, all-weather, dustless material, and allows semi-pervious materials and permeable pavements subject to the prior written approval of the Zoning Administrator. Approval of a site plan or building permit runs through the Zoning Administrator, who enforces the Zoning Code under § 1240.06(A).
Violations & Fines
Coverage above the district cap is a Zoning Code violation. Section 1240.06(B) fines each offense in accordance with the Municipal Code, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. Section 202.99 sets a fine of not more than $2,000 per violation where no other penalty applies. The Zoning Administrator can ask the City Attorney to enjoin, abate, or stop the violation, and the owner can be charged the city's legal expenses as permitted by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum impervious coverage for a Berwyn bungalow lot?
Is the coverage cap higher for two-family or apartment lots in Berwyn?
Do permeable pavers help with Berwyn's coverage limit?
Who enforces coverage limits in Berwyn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berwyn
Compare Berwyn to another location·View the Illinois building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle lot coverage limits.