Evanston, IL Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Density Bonus (5% tier)
- +1 unit per affordable unit
- Density Bonus (10% tier)
- +2 units per affordable unit
- FAR Bonus
- +1.0 additional floor area ratio
- Districts Covered
- B, C, M and O districts
- Parking Relief
- No parking for affordable units
Summary
Evanston grants zoning density, FAR, and parking bonuses in its B, C, M, and O districts to covered developments that include on-site affordable units under the city's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
Any covered development, as defined under City Code Section 5-7-3, providing on-site affordable units and that is otherwise compliant with the City's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance is entitled to the following development bonuses:1.For developments providing five percent (5%) on-site affordable housing or ten percent (10%) on-site housing with public financing: ... Density +1 per Inclusionary Dwelling Unit ... FAR +1.0 ... Parking No parking for Inclusionary Dwelling Unit
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 6-9-1-10, a covered development (defined at § 5-7-3) that provides on-site affordable units and complies with Evanston's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance earns automatic zoning bonuses. Providing 5% on-site affordable housing (or 10% with public financing) yields +1 dwelling unit of density per inclusionary unit, +1.0 FAR, and no parking requirement for those units. Providing 10% on-site affordable housing (or 20% with public financing) doubles the density bonus to +2 units per inclusionary unit, keeps the same FAR and parking relief, and lets the City Council approve added planned-development allowances by majority rather than supermajority vote. Covered and primarily-affordable developments also get reduced parking ratios by unit size, lower inside Transit-Oriented Development areas than outside them.
Violations & Fines
The bonuses are conditioned on actual delivery of the required on-site affordable units; a development that fails to provide or maintain them is not entitled to the added density, FAR, or parking relief and reverts to base zoning district standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Evanston zoning districts get the density bonus?
How much extra density does the bonus add?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
Compare Evanston to another location·View the Illinois zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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Density Bonus Law in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle density bonus law.