2 unit with a basement unit

[Wick Ra]

Recently purchased a 2 unit brick building with a basement. Basement is fully finished with 2 door for entry and exit. Ceiling hewing the is around 7 feet. No kitchen. Are they are good architects or builders in Chicago who can help get a zoning certification to make it a legal 3 unit? Thanks! 

[Prashanth Mahakali]

@Danny Polanski Thank you! 

@Wick Ra Congrats on the purchase. There are two ways of getting a basement unit legalized. If the property is within the ADU pilot areas, you can search for city of Chicago's adu program, complete the online form and wait if you get the approval. Upon getting the approval, you can contact an architect to help go through the design and permit process. Remember that even though the existing basement work is already complete (perhaps without a permit) you may have the architect evaluate the layout and show the changes in the drawings so the unit will be compliant.

If its not part of the ADU pilot areas, your best bet is through a zoning change AND a zoning variation, for which you would need a zoning attorney AND an Architect. There are many architects that you can find through the chicagocityscape website that specialize in ADU permits. I am one of them but you always want to talk to more than one architect before you select one.

Hope this information help. Good luck!