65 ILCS 5/ Illinois Municipal Code.

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-2) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-2)

Sec. 11-13-2. The corporate authorities in each municipality which desires to exercise the powers conferred by this Division 13, or who have exercised such power and desire to adopt a new ordinance, shall provide for a zoning commission with the duty to recommend the boundaries of districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein. The commission shall be appointed by the mayor or president, subject to confirmation by the corporate authorities. The commission shall prepare a tentative report and a proposed zoning ordinance for the entire municipality. After the preparation of such a tentative report and ordinance, the commission shall hold a hearing thereon and shall afford persons interested an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the hearing shall be published at least once, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the hearing, in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers published in the county in which the municipality is located and having a general circulation within the municipality. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the place where copies of the proposed ordinance will be accessible for examination by interested persons. The hearing may be adjourned from time to time.

Within 30 days after the final adjournment of the hearing the commission shall make a final report and submit a proposed ordinance for the entire municipality to the corporate authorities. The corporate authorities may enact the ordinance with or without change, or may refer it back to the commission for further consideration. The zoning commission shall cease to exist upon the adoption of a zoning ordinance for the entire municipality.

(Source: P.A. 80-452.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-3)

Sec. 11-13-3. (a) All ordinances passed under the terms of this Division 13 shall be enforced by those officers of the municipality that are designated by ordinance.

(b) In municipalities having a population of more than 500,000 the city council may provide for the appointment of a board of appeals consisting of 5 members to serve respectively for the following terms: one for one year, one for 2 years, one for 3 years, one for 4 years, and one for 5 years, the successor to each member so appointed to serve for a term of 5 years.

(c) The city council in cities and the president and board of trustees in villages and incorporated towns, having a population of less than 500,000, may provide for the appointment of a board of appeals consisting of 7 members to serve respectively for the following terms: one for one year, one for 2 years, one for 3 years, one for 4 years, one for 5 years, one for 6 years, and one for 7 years, the successor to each member so appointed to serve for a term of 5 years.

(d) In any municipality with a population under 5,000 that has an appointed board of appeals, a proposition to elect the board of appeals at large shall be submitted to the electors as provided in this subsection.

Electors of the municipality equal to not less than 10% of the total vote cast for all candidates for mayor or president in the last preceding municipal election for that office may petition for the submission to a vote of the electors of the municipality the proposition whether the board of appeals shall be elected at large. The petition shall be filed with the municipal clerk in accordance with the general election law. The clerk shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law.

The proposition shall be in substantially the following form: "Shall the city (or village or incorporated town) of (insert name) elect the zoning board of appeals at large instead of having an appointed board of appeals?"

If a majority of those voting on the proposition vote in favor of it, then the board of appeals shall be elected at large at the next general municipal election held at least 120 days after the referendum approval. At the initial election, 4 members shall be elected for 2-year terms and 3 members shall be elected for 4-year terms; thereafter all terms shall be for 4 years. Upon the election and qualification of the initial elected board of appeals, the terms of all sitting members of the board of appeals shall expire.

(e) One of the members of an appointed board shall be named as chairman at the time of his or her appointment. If members are elected, the members shall select a chairman. The amount of compensation to be paid to members, if any, shall be fixed by the corporate authorities. The appointing authority has the power to remove any appointed member for cause and after public hearing. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of the member whose place has become vacant. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority in the case of an appointed board or by those who would otherwise be the appointing authority in the case of an elected board. All meetings of the board of appeals shall be held at the call of the chairman and at other times as the board may determine. The chairman, or in his or her absence the acting chairman, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the board shall be open to the public. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating that fact, and shall also keep records of its examinations and other official actions. No hearing shall be conducted without a quorum of the board being present. A quorum shall consist of a majority of all the members. Any absent member who certifies that he or she has read the transcript of the proceedings before the board may vote upon any question before the board. Every rule or regulation and its amendment or repeal and every order, requirement, decision, or determination of the board shall immediately be filed in the office of the board and shall be a public record.

(f) In all municipalities the board of appeals shall hear and decide appeals from and review any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official charged with the enforcement of any ordinance adopted under this Division 13.

(g) In all municipalities the board of appeals shall also hear and decide all matters referred to it or upon which it is required to pass under such an ordinance. The concurring vote of 3 members of the board, in municipalities having a population of more than 500,000, and of 4 members of the board, in municipalities having a population of less than 500,000, is necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of such an administrative official, to decide in favor of the applicant any matter upon which it is required to pass under such an ordinance or to effect any variation in the ordinance, or to recommend any variation or modification in the ordinance to the corporate authorities.

(Source: P.A. 87-535.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-3.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-3.1)

Sec. 11-13-3.1. In municipalities of less than 500,000 inhabitants no change shall be made in the zoning ordinance nor shall any zoning variation be granted within 6 months after the date upon which an official plan is adopted by the corporate authorities unless such change in the zoning ordinance or such variation is approved by a two-thirds vote of the corporate authorities or the zoning board of appeals then holding office, as the case may be.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3425)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-4) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-4)

Sec. 11-13-4. In municipalities of 500,000 or more population, the regulations authorized by this Division 13 may be varied in their application only by the board of appeals of the municipality, subject to the power of the corporate authorities to prohibit, in whole or in part, the granting of variations in respect to the classification, regulation and restriction of the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specified industrial, business, residential and other uses. Variations shall be permitted by the board of appeals only when they are in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the regulations and only in cases where there are practical difficulties or particular hardship in the way of carrying out the strict letter of any of those regulations relating to the use, construction, or alteration of buildings or structures or the use of land. In its consideration of the standards of practical difficulties or particular hardship, the board of appeals shall require evidence that (1) the property in question cannot yield a reasonable return if permitted to be used only under the conditions allowed by the regulations in that zone; and (2) the plight of the owner is due to unique circumstances; and (3) the variation, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. A variation shall be permitted only if the evidence, in the judgment of the board of appeals, sustains each of the 3 conditions enumerated. The corporate authorities may provide general or specific rules implementing, but not inconsistent with, the rules herein provided to govern determinations of the board of appeals. A decision of the board of appeals shall not be subject to review, reversal or modification by the corporate authorities but shall be judicially reviewable under the provisions of Section 11-13-13.

(Source: P.A. 82-430.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-5) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-5)

Sec. 11-13-5. In municipalities of less than 500,000 population, the regulations authorized by this Division 13 may provide that the board of appeals or corporate authorities may determine and vary their application in harmony with their general purpose and intent and in accordance with general or specific rules therein contained in cases where there are practical difficulties or particular hardship in the way of carrying out the strict letter of any of those regulations relating to the use, construction, or alteration of buildings or structures or the use of land. If the authority to determine and approve variations is vested in the board of appeals it shall be exercised in accordance with the conditions prescribed in Section 11-13-4, subject to the power of the corporate authorities to prohibit, in whole or in part, the granting of variations in respect to the classification, regulation and restriction of the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specified industrial, business, residential and other uses. If the power to determine and approve variations is reserved to the corporate authorities, it shall be exercised only by the adoption of ordinances. However, no such variation shall be made by the corporate authorities as specified without a hearing before the board of appeals.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-6) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-6)

Sec. 11-13-6. No variation shall be made by the board of appeals in municipalities of 500,000 or more population or by ordinance in municipalities of lesser population except in a specific case and after a public hearing before the board of appeals of which there shall be a notice of the time and place of the hearing published at least once, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the hearing, in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the municipality which is published in the county where the municipality is located. This notice shall contain the particular location for which the variation is requested as well as a brief statement of what the proposed variation consists. Any notice required by this Section need not include a metes and bounds legal description of the location for which the variation is requested, provided that the notice includes: (i) the common street address or addresses and (ii) the property index number ("PIN") or numbers of all the parcels of real property contained in the area for which the variation is requested.

(Source: P.A. 97-336, eff. 8-12-11.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-7) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-7)

Sec. 11-13-7. In addition to the notice requirements otherwise provided for in this Division 13, in municipalities of 500,000 or more population, an applicant for variation or special use shall, not more than 30 days before filing an application for variation or special use with the board of appeals, serve written notice, either in person or by registered mail, return receipt requested, on the owners, as recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds or the registrar of titles of the county in which the property is located and as appears from the authentic tax records of such county, of all property within 250 feet in each direction of the location for which the variation or special use is requested; provided, the number of feet occupied by all public roads, streets, alleys and other public ways shall be excluded in computing the 250 feet requirement. The notice herein required shall contain the address of the location for which the variation or special use is requested, a brief statement of the nature of the requested variation or special use, the name and address of the legal and beneficial owner of the property for which the variation or special use is requested, a statement that the applicant intends to file an application for variation or special use and the approximate date on which the application will be filed. If, after a bona fide effort to determine such address by the applicant for variation or special use, the owner of the property on which the notice is served cannot be found at his or her last known address, or the mailed notice is returned because the owner cannot be found at the last known address, the notice requirements of this sub-section shall be deemed satisfied. In addition to serving the notice herein required, at the time of filing application for variation or special use, the applicant shall furnish to the board of appeals a complete list containing the names and last known addresses of the owners of the property required to be served, the method of service and the names and last known addresses of the owners of the service and the names and addresses of the persons so served. The applicant shall also furnish a written statement certifying that he or she has complied with the requirements of this subsection. The board of appeals shall hear no application for variation or special use unless the applicant for variation or special use furnishes the list and certificate herein required. The board of appeals shall, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days before the hearing at which the application for variation or special use is to be considered, send written notice to the persons appearing on the list furnished by the applicant, which notice shall contain the time and place of the hearing, the address of the location for which the variation or special use is requested and the name and address of the applicant for variation or special use and a brief statement of the nature of the variation or special use requested. Any notice required herein need not include a metes and bounds legal description of the property for which the variation or special use is requested, provided that the notice includes: (i) the common street address or addresses and (ii) the property index number ("PIN") or numbers of all the parcels of real property contained in the area for which the variation or special use is requested.

Any property owner within the above stated 250 feet notice requirement, who entered his or her appearance and objected at the board of appeals hearing, and who shows that his or her property will be substantially affected by the outcome of the decision of the board may, without proof of any specific, special, or unique damages to himself or herself or his or her property or any adverse effect upon his property from the proposed variation or special use, seek judicial relief from any order or decision of the board of appeals under the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. If the board of appeals determines that the property of any such owner will not be substantially affected by the outcome of the decision of the board, such owner may initiate or join in judicial review under the Administrative Review Law, as provided in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-336, eff. 8-12-11.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-7a) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-7a)

Sec. 11-13-7a. Zoning variation and special use applicants and property owners, as set forth in Section 11-13-7 of this Act, shall have the following rights, in addition to any others they may possess in law, at any hearing before a board of appeals:

(a) to have subpoenas issued for persons to appear at board of appeals' hearings and for examination of documents by the person requesting the subpoena either before or at board of appeals hearings subject to the limitations in this Section. The board of appeals shall issue subpoenas as requested by zoning variation and special use applicants and by property owners within the terms of Section 11-13-7. Subpoenas shall only be enforceable against persons or for documents which have a substantial evidentiary connection with (i) the property for which a zoning variation or special use is requested, (ii) facts which would support or negate the requisite legal standards for granting a zoning variation or special use, and (iii) facts which support or negate the conclusion that property within the 250 feet notice requirement of Section 11-13-7 will be substantially affected by the outcome of the decision of the board. All matters relating to subpoenas concerning a particular zoning variation or special use case, including all enforcement and motions to quash, shall be heard in a single action, however, the court obtaining jurisdiction over any such matter may retain jurisdiction until the disposition of the case by the board of appeals. Service of such subpoenas shall be made in the same manner as summons in a civil action.

(b) To cross examine all witnesses testifying.

(c) To present witnesses on their behalf.

Property owners within the terms of Section 11-13-7 who object to the zoning application or special use application may, upon request, be granted 1 continuance for the purpose of presenting evidence to rebut testimony given by the applicant. The date of such continued hearing shall be in the discretion of the board of appeals.

This amendatory act of 1973 is not a limit upon any municipality which is a home rule unit.

(Source: P.A. 79-1363.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-8) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-8)

Sec. 11-13-8. In municipalities of 500,000 or more population, when any zoning ordinance, rule or regulation is sought to be declared invalid by means of a declaratory judgment proceeding, not more than 30 days before filing suit for a declaratory judgment the person filing such suit shall serve written notice in the form and manner and to all property owners as is required of applicants for variation in Section 11-13-7, and shall furnish to the clerk of the court in which the declaratory judgment suit is filed, and at the time of filing such suit, the list of property owners, the written certificate and such other information as is required in Section 11-13-7 to be furnished to the board of appeals by an applicant for variation. A property owner entitled to notice who shows that his property will be substantially affected by the outcome of the declaratory judgment proceeding may enter his appearance in the proceeding, and if he does so he shall have the rights of a party. The property owner shall not, however, need to prove any specific, special, or unique damages to himself or his property or any adverse effect upon his property from the declaratory judgment proceeding.

(Source: P.A. 76-583.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-9) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-9)

Sec. 11-13-9. The provisions of an amendatory Act of 1955, which was approved June 30, 1955 and which was Senate Bill No. 328 of the Sixty-Ninth General Assembly and which amended certain provisions now contained in Section 11-13-4 through 11-13-8, shall not affect the validity of any variations approved by the corporate authorities or by the board of appeals and in force prior to July 1, 1955.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-10) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-10)

Sec. 11-13-10. In municipalities of less than 500,000 population, where a variation is to be made by ordinance, upon the report of the board of appeals, the corporate authorities, by ordinance, without further public hearing, may adopt any proposed variation or may refer it back to the board for further consideration, and any proposed variation which fails to receive the approval of the board of appeals shall not be passed except by the favorable vote of two-thirds of all alderpersons or trustees of the municipality.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-11) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-11)

Sec. 11-13-11. Every variation or special use, whether made by the board of appeals directly, or by an ordinance after a hearing before the board of appeals, shall be accompanied by findings of facts and shall refer to any exhibits containing plans and specifications for the proposed use or variation, which shall remain a part of the permanent records of the board of appeals. The findings of facts shall specify the reason or reasons for making the variation.

The terms of the relief granted shall be specifically set forth in a conclusion or statement separate from the findings of fact of the board of appeals or ordinance. Property for which relief has been granted shall not be used in violation of the specific terms of the board of appeals' findings of fact or ordinance, as the case may be, unless its usage is changed by further findings of fact of a board of appeals or additional ordinances.

(Source: P.A. 76-584.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-12) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-12)

Sec. 11-13-12. An appeal to the board of appeals may be taken by any person aggrieved or by any officer, department, board, or bureau of the municipality. The appeal shall be taken within 45 days of the action complained of by filing, with the officer from whom the appeal is taken and with the board of appeals a notice of appeal, specifying the grounds thereof. The officer from whom the appeal is taken shall forthwith transmit to the board all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.

An appeal stays all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from, unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken certifies to the board of appeals, after the notice of appeal has been filed with him, that by reason of facts stated in the certificate a stay would, in his opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. In this event the proceedings shall not be stayed otherwise than by a restraining order which may be granted by the board of appeals or by a circuit court on application and on notice to the officer from whom the appeal is taken, and on due cause shown.

The board of appeals shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of the appeal and give due notice thereof to the parties and decide the appeal within a reasonable time. Upon the hearing, any party may appear in person or by agent or by attorney. The board of appeals may reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirement, decision, or determination as in its opinion ought to be made in the premises and to that end has all the powers of the officer from whom the appeal is taken.

(Source: P.A. 76-1507.)