Mayor Lightfoot Expected to Push for Legal Coach Houses in Chicago

David Roeder reports on the emerging housing plan of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, which would legalize coach house, known commonly as accessory dwelling units, around the city. The mayor is also pursuing policies that would "help long-term homeowners stay put if they need rental income," according to Roeder.

According to Roder, Mayor Lightfoot is expected to release an ordinance to legalize coach houses soon. "It would remove the ban on ADUs that has been in place since Chicago’s 1957 rewrite of its zoning rules. The coach houses or basement and attic apartments that do exist were either built on the sly or predated 1957 and thus were grandfathered as legal."

The article includes more details about the expected scope of the mayor's ordinance, as well as commentary on the subject from local experts and advocates.

The news about the mayor's support for coach houses follows on the heals of an article earlier this month about legislation at the state level that would preempt local control to legalize accessory dwelling units around the state.