Does the Commission control things like landscaping, driveways and sidewalks?
No. However, if you have a historic fence or garden wall, that may be included in the landmark designation and therefore wouldn’t be able to be removed or altered. But, these historic elements would be identified to the owner in the designated report. • Is the Commission going to force me to restore my house back to the way it looked at the time it was built? No. When a building is drawn into a new Landmark District, it’s grandfathered in its present condition. You are not required to do anything to the home except maintain it to the minimum standards of the building code, something that is required of ALL property owners in the City of Chicago. You can replace non-historic elements in kind, like vinyl windows, or aluminum siding, or an asphalt roof, it that is what currently exists on your home. If you choose to do a full restoration in keeping with the Landmark district’s character, the CCL will assist you in your renovation project to assure that it conforms to the original architec
