Schaumburg, IL Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Village Code § 154.55
- Applies to
- Single-family homes and room additions
- Review tiers
- Baseline, midline, and maximum FAR review
- Example credit
- Unenclosed front porch: 2.5%, +0.5% with posts
- Credit cap
- One credit allowed per feature category
- Adopted
- Ord. 10-028, passed April 23, 2010
Summary
Schaumburg lets single-family homeowners exceed baseline floor area ratio limits through § 154.55 FAR credits, earning percentage bonuses for specific design features like unenclosed front porches or side-load garages, though credits above the midline tier require plan commission review and village board approval by ordinance.
(A)Purpose: All single-family residential properties shall comply with the FAR requirements as set forth in this chapter. FAR credits may be granted to allow a new home or room addition to exceed the baseline FAR. FAR credits shall only be issued when approved architectural features are located on the front of the home.(B)Approval Required: There shall be three (3) levels of review for FAR:(1)Baseline Review: The director of community development or authorized designee may approve a new house or room addition, not to exceed the baseline FAR as set forth in this chapter.(2)Midline FAR Review: The director of community development or authorized designee may approve FAR credits, not to exceed the midline FAR as set forth in this chapter.(3)Maximum FAR Review: The plan commission shall hear all petitions for FAR credits that exceed the midline FAR but do not exceed the maximum FAR as set forth in this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56 Update 1 | Policy Manual: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
55 caps how much floor area a single-family house or addition can build under a baseline FAR, but lets owners earn credits toward a larger home by adding specific architectural features to the front elevation. The code sets three review tiers: the director of community development can approve anything at or below the baseline FAR, and can also approve FAR credits up to the midline FAR. 10. 5% if it has posts and balusters. Only one credit is allowed per feature category, though a feature that already exists on the home can still be counted.
Applications go through the community development department on village-supplied forms, and plan commission findings must address whether the added bulk will be detrimental to health, safety, or property values in the vicinity before the village board acts.
Violations & Fines
There's no separate fine tied to § 154.55 itself; building beyond the approved FAR without the required credits or village board authorization is enforced as a zoning violation under the Code's general penalty, § 10.99, punishable by a fine of $100 to $50,000 with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. The plan commission's recommendation can be overturned only by a concurring vote, and the village board may deny or refer a maximum-tier FAR credit back for further review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Schaumburg homeowner build a bigger house than the standard floor area ratio allows?
What architectural features earn FAR credit in Schaumburg?
Who approves a maximum FAR credit request in Schaumburg?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Schaumburg
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Density Bonus Law in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle density bonus law.