Chicago Landmark District Incentives
Properties in Chicago Landmark Districts may access local preservation incentives. The City designates landmarks via the Commission on Chicago Landmarks (62 districts per the 2025 Landmarks Ordinance); the related Class L property tax reduction is administered by the Cook County Assessor — see the separate Class L entry.
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
Compare the geocoded point for a Chicago address with the boundary used to screen Chicago Landmark District Incentives. A match is a location signal; review the current program source for the boundary's role and remaining criteria.
Published criteria — confirm with City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development — Historic Preservation
- Property must be in a Chicago-designated Landmark District
- Historically significant building undergoing rehabilitation
Chicago Landmark District Incentives is screened against the Chicago Landmark District boundary. A geocoded point that intersects that boundary is a location signal, not a determination — review the current program source for the boundary's role and any remaining criteria. A single address can fall inside several overlapping incentive boundaries at once.
Boundaries are precise and change over time, so whether a specific address falls inside a mapped zone always depends on that exact address. The fastest way to check is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind — mapped coverage is a location signal, not an eligibility determination.
landmark-districts.geojson holds 59 features; current count is 62 (2025 Landmarks Ordinance). Refresh from data.cityofchicago.org.
Range on file · Class L: 10% assessment for 10 years (administered by Cook County Assessor)
Current published terms as of 2026-08-09
- +City designation is a precondition for Class L property tax reduction (administered by Cook County Assessor)
- +Technical assistance from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks (within DPD's Historic Preservation Division)
- +Access to preservation grants and revolving loan funds
- +Stacks with federal Historic Tax Credit (see nrhpDistricts)
- 1Verify your property is in a Chicago Landmark District
- 2Contact DPD Historic Preservation for guidance
- 3Submit a permit application for rehabilitation work consistent with Secretary of the Interior's Standards
- 4Separately apply for Class L assessment through Cook County Assessor
Call DPD Historic Preservation at (312) 744-3200
- Permit application for proposed rehabilitation
- Architectural plans consistent with landmark standards
- Proof of property ownership
- Class L application through Cook County Assessor (separate process)
This page is a starting point, not eligibility, legal, or tax advice. Verify current requirements, deadlines, and boundaries with the administering agency before applying or spending money — program rules and funding change over time.
- Phone
- (312) 744-3200
- Web
- Visit site ↗
Last verified 2026-08-09
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