# What does "Transit-Served Location" mean in Chicago? Chicago's "Transit-Served Location" (TSL) ordinance is more commonly known as the TOD (for transit-oriented development) ordinance. This guide explains the workings behind our exclusive "TOD Status" section of every Property Report lookup in Chicago. In B, C, D, and M zoning districts, property owners have certain benefits when developing or opening a new business. The benefits are in two categories: - Parking - Bulk and density In addition to B, C, D, and M zoning districts, the rules also apply to Planned Developments (PD) and properties in Planned Manufacturing Districts (PMD) that have B, C, D, or M underlying zoning districts. These are called the "eligible zoning districts". Separately, there is another ruleset that applies in RM-6 and RM-6.5 zoning districts. ## Where does TSL apply? The TSL ordinance applies to all properties in eligible zoning districts (except RM-6 and RM-6.5 zoning districts) that are either - within 1,320 feet of a listed Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus route corridor, a CTA station entrance, or a Metra station entrance - within 2,640 feet of a listed Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus route corridor, a CTA station entrance, or a Metra station entrance, and the property is adjacent to a designated "Pedestrian Street" Chicago Cityscape has maps of all stations and their entrances, and bus route corridors: [CTA stations](/maps/index.php#/?places_type=ctastation), [Metra stations](/maps/index.php#/?places_type=metrastation), and [bus route corridors](/maps/index.php#/?places_type=chicagotodbusroute). In RM-6 and RM-6.5 zoning districts, the distance is limited to 250 feet and CTA bus route corridors are not considered (see section 17-10-0102-B(5) in the Chicago Municipal Code). The easiest way to use Chicago Cityscape to determine if a property complies with the TSL distances is to [look up its address or PIN](/address.php) and check the "TOD status" section. Currently, our database includes unopened stations: Damen Green Line (planned), Metra Auburn Park (under construction). ## Benefit: Parking Projects that take advantage of these requirements are required to comply with other requirements not discussed here (for example, increasing the amount of bike parking). ### Residential uses New construction, renovation, and expansion projects for *residential* uses are instantly granted a 50% reduction in their off-street car parking requirements, "as of right". A reduction of up to 100% is possible through the special use procedure (with the Zoning Board of Appeals), a Type 1 zoning map amendment, or the Planned Development process. (See section 17-10-0102-B(1) in the Chicago Municipal Code.) ### Non-residential uses New construction, renovation, and expansion projects for *non-residential* uses are instantly granted a 50% reduction in their off-street car parking requirements, "as of right". A reduction of up to 100% is possible through an administrative adjustment request (a much easier process than the ones listed above that apply to residential uses). (See section 17-10-0102-B(2) in the Chicago Municipal Code.) ## Benefit: Bulk and density Projects that take advantage of these requirements are required to comply with other requirements not discussed here (for example, the ground floor design must follow "Pedestrian Street" standards). The following increases in bulk and density allowances apply only to projects in -3 zoning districts (for example, B2-3). - Floor area ratio: Increases from 3.0 to 3.5 (this further increases to 3.75 and 4.0 if 50% and 100% of required affordable housing is built on site, respectively) - Maximum building height: Increases by 5 feet for buildings on lots 50 feet or wider, and an additional 5 feet if 50% or more of the required affordable housing is built on site - Minimum lot area per unit: This value decreases by 33%, which increases the number of units allowed; calculate the number of units allowed on the lot by dividing the lot area by 300 (for dwelling units)