# Find Chicago property where a specified number of dwelling units can be built Determining how many dwelling units can be built on a property in Chicago, per the zoning code, is a simple calculation of its lot area divided by the minimum lot area (MLA) per unit standard of the property's zoning district. Property Finder lets you specify your desired number of dwelling units and locates all of the property that can currently accommodate that, by right, based on each property's zoning district and MLA per unit standard. This may be a preferable way to locate property because your operational model works well with a "sweet spot" number of dwelling units. ## How to specify a desired number of dwelling units 1. Open a Place Report for any Chicago-based Place. Property Finder will load automatically. 2. Scroll down to the Property Finder filters and look for "Filter by # of units to build". See *screenshot 1*. 3. Enter a desired number of dwelling units. 4. Select the "Apply filters" button. The map and data table will refresh to show properties where that many dwelling units can be established by right.  *Screenshot 1: Look for "Filter by # of units to build" in Property Finder* ### Interpreting the results The map and data table will refresh to show properties that allow the number of dwelling units you entered, ±10 percent. If you were looking at the Albany Park community area and entered 20 units, there would be, at the time of publication, 17 properties shown on the map and listed in the data table. The data table has a column called "Units allowed" that calculates the number of units allowed, by right, at that property given its current zoning district (see *screenshot 2*). (The zoning map's date of update is shown in the Chicago-only filters of Property Finder.)  *Screenshot 2: The data table shows the number of units allowed at each property* The number of "units allowed" will vary from 18 to 22 (although in the Albany Park example only one property allows 21 units and zero properties allow 22 units). ## Important notes - We recommend setting a maximum lot area, close to the size of properties you tend to work with. Otherwise you may be see some unexpected or impossible results. - The filter will adjust your desired number of units by 10 percent and find properties where at least 90 percent of the number of units you entered and up to 110 percent of the number of units you entered can be built. - The higher the number of units the fewer properties that will be found, due to the prevalence of low-density zoning in Chicago. - The density bonus potentially offered in the zoning code's transit-oriented development (TOD) provisions is not considered. - Condos and tax exempt properties are excluded from the results; users cannot adjust this part of the filter. # Related articles - [[Zoning Assessment]]