65 ILCS 5/ Illinois Municipal Code.

(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.)

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

Sec. 11-13-13. All final administrative decisions of the board of appeals under this Division 13 shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(Source: P.A. 82-783.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-14) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-14)

Sec. 11-13-14. The regulations imposed and the districts created under the authority of this Division 13 may be amended from time to time by ordinance after the ordinance establishing them has gone into effect, but no such amendments shall be made without a hearing before some commission or committee designated by the corporate authorities. Notice shall be given of the time and place of the hearing, not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the hearing, by publishing a notice thereof at least once 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. In municipalities with less than 500 population in which no newspaper is published, publication may be made instead by posting a notice in 3 prominent places within the municipality. In case of a written protest against any proposed amendment of the regulations or districts, signed and acknowledged by the owners of 20% of the frontage proposed to be altered, or by the owners of 20% of the frontage immediately adjoining or across an alley therefrom, or by the owners of the 20% of the frontage directly opposite the frontage proposed to be altered, is filed with the clerk of the municipality, the amendment shall not be passed except by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the alderpersons or trustees of the municipality then holding office. In such cases, a copy of the written protest shall be served by the protestor or protestors on the applicant for the proposed amendments and a copy upon the applicant's attorney, if any, by certified mail at the address of such applicant and attorney shown in the application for the proposed amendment. Any notice required by this Section need not include a metes and bounds legal description, 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 affected area.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-687, eff. 12-17-21.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-14.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-14.1)

Sec. 11-13-14.1. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Division 13:

(A) The corporate authorities of any municipality may by ordinance establish the position of hearing officer and delegate to a hearing officer the authority to: (i) conduct any public hearing -- other than a public hearing provided for in Section 11-13-2 -- required to be held under this Division 13 in connection with applications for any special use, variation, amendment or other change or modification in any ordinance of the municipality adopted pursuant to this Division 13; and (ii) 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 pursuant to this Division 13.

(B) When a hearing officer is designated to conduct a public hearing in a matter otherwise required to be heard in accordance with this Division 13 by some commission or committee designated by the corporate authorities of the municipality: (i) notice of such hearing shall be given in the same time and manner as is provided by this Division 13 for the giving of notice of hearing when any such matter is to be heard by some commission or committee designated by the corporate authorities; (ii) the hearing officer shall exercise and perform the same powers and duties as such commission or committee is required to exercise and perform when conducting a public hearing in any such matter; and (iii) the hearing officer shall render a written recommendation to the corporate authorities within such time and in such manner and form as the corporate authorities shall require.

(C) When a hearing officer is designated to conduct a public hearing in a matter otherwise required to be heard in accordance with this Division 13 by the board of appeals, or when a hearing officer is designated to 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 pursuant to this Division 13: (i) notice of hearing shall be given in the same time and manner as is provided by this Division 13 for the giving of notice of hearing when any such matter is to be heard by the board of appeals; (ii) the hearing officer in passing upon and determining any matter otherwise within the jurisdiction of the board of appeals shall be governed by all of the standards, rules and conditions imposed by this Division 13 to govern the board of appeals when it passes upon and determines any such matter; and (iii) the hearing officer shall exercise and perform all of the powers and duties of the board of appeals in the same manner and to the same effect as provided in this Division 13 with respect to the board of appeals, provided that:

1. When the hearing officer is passing upon an application for variation or special use and the power to determine and approve such variation or special use is reserved to the corporate authorities, then upon report of the hearing officer the corporate authorities may by ordinance without further public hearing adopt any proposed variation or special use or may refer it back to the hearing officer for further consideration, and any proposed variation or special use which fails to receive the approval of the hearing officer shall not be passed except by the favorable vote of 2/3 of all alderperson or trustees of the municipality;

2. When the hearing officer is passing upon an application for variation or special use and the power to determine and approve such variation or special use is not reserved to the corporate authorities, or when the hearing officer is hearing and deciding appeals from or reviewing any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative official charged with the enforcement of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this Division 13, the determination made by the hearing officer with respect to any such matter shall constitute a final administrative decision which is subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Review Law", as now or hereafter amended.

(D) The corporate authorities of the municipality may provide general or specific rules implementing but not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section, including rules relative to the time and manner in which hearing officers are designated to conduct public hearings and rules governing the manner in which such hearings are conducted and matters heard therein passed upon and determined.

(E) Hearing officers shall be appointed on the basis of training and experience which qualifies them to conduct hearings, make recommendations or findings of fact and conclusions on the matters heard and otherwise exercise and perform the powers, duties and functions delegated in accordance with this Section. Hearing officers shall receive such compensation as the corporate authorities of the municipality shall provide, and any municipality may establish a schedule of fees to defray the costs of providing a hearing officer.

(F) This Section is intended to furnish an alternative or supplemental procedure which a municipality in its discretion may provide for hearing, determining, reviewing and deciding matters which arise under any ordinance adopted by the municipality pursuant to this Division 13, but nothing in this Section shall be deemed to limit or prevent the use of any existing procedure available to a municipality under this Division 13 for hearing, approving or denying applications for a special use, variation, amendment or other change or modification of any such ordinance, or for hearing and deciding appeals from and reviewing any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative official charged with the enforcement of any such ordinance.

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

(65 ILCS 5/11-13-15) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-13-15)

Sec. 11-13-15. In case any building or structure, including fixtures, is constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building or structure, including fixtures, or land, is used in violation of an ordinance or ordinances adopted under Division 13, 31 or 31.1 of the Illinois Municipal Code, or of any ordinance or other regulation made under the authority conferred thereby, the proper local authorities of the municipality, or any owner or tenant of real property, within 1200 feet in any direction of the property on which the building or structure in question is located who shows that his property or person will be substantially affected by the alleged violation, in addition to other remedies, may institute any appropriate action or proceeding (1) to prevent the unlawful construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance, or use, (2) to prevent the occupancy of the building, structure, or land, (3) to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business, or use in or about the premises, or (4) to restrain, correct, or abate the violation. When any such action is instituted by an owner or tenant, notice of such action shall be served upon the municipality at the time suit is begun, by serving a copy of the complaint on the chief executive officer of the municipality, no such action may be maintained until such notice has been given.

In any action or proceeding for a purpose mentioned in this section, the court with jurisdiction of such action or proceeding has the power and in its discretion may issue a restraining order, or a preliminary injunction, as well as a permanent injunction, upon such terms and under such conditions as will do justice and enforce the purposes set forth above.

If an owner or tenant files suit hereunder and the court finds that the defendant has engaged in any of the foregoing prohibited activities, then the court shall allow the plaintiff a reasonable sum of money for the services of the plaintiff's attorney. This allowance shall be a part of the costs of the litigation assessed against the defendant, and may be recovered as such.

An owner or tenant need not prove any specific, special or unique damages to himself or his property or any adverse effect upon his property from the alleged violation in order to maintain a suit under the foregoing provisions.

Except in relation to municipality-owned property, this Section does not authorize any suit against a municipality or its officials for any act relating to the administration, enforcement, or implementation of this Division or any ordinance, resolution, or other regulation adopted pursuant to this Division.

(Source: P.A. 100-595, eff. 6-29-18.)