Contact: 312.744.3200

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks (CCL) is responsible for recommending buildings, structures, sites and districts for legal protection as official Chicago landmarks. Staffed by the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), the commission is also responsible for reviewing proposed alterations to existing landmarks and districts, as well as proposed demolitions of structures considered to be historically or architecturally significant. Established in 1968, the commission has nine members that are appointed by the mayor with City Council consent. Meetings are generally held on the first Thursday of every month at City Hall, 121 N. La Salle St., Room 201-A and begin at 12:45 p.m.

Members

Upcoming CCL, Permit Review Committee (PRC), and Program Committee meetings may be hosted virtually per City Ordinance, state guidelines, and a recently adopted CCL rules amendment.

Due to the recent gubernatorial disaster declaration, the October 7, 2021 meeting will be by remote means only. Please see instructions below for how to access the meeting, provide written comment and participate in public testimony.

Rules for virtual CCL, PRC, and Program Committee meetings are available now for review. A brief summary of the public comment section of the rules is available below:

• Written statements are the preferred method of public comment and will be accepted up to 24 hours in advance of the meeting at ccl@cityofchicago.org.
• Verbal statements for all agenda items will take place at the beginning of each meeting, versus after each presentation.
• Members of the public wishing to speak must fill out a speaking request form. Forms must be submitted at least 48 hours before the meeting to ccl@cityofchicago.org.
  •  Public Testimony Speaking Request Form (.pdf)
• A maximum of 15 members of the public will be permitted to comment on each proposal due to technical limitations. Selected speakers will be chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each will be given instructions on how to provide up to three minutes of testimony.
• The PRC will meet immediately after CCL concludes and follow identical rules on public comment.

Questions on the rules can be directed to ccl@cityofchicago.org.

Click here to access the live stream on the day of CCL, PRC, and Program Committee meetings.

2021 Meeting Schedule

Upcoming Public Hearings

Public hearings are distinct from regular commission meetings. Hearings are scheduled regarding certain proposed landmark designations, permit applications, or other processes and provide the opportunity for all interested persons to present evidence and testimony with regard to the matter under consideration. Hearings allow the commission to gather relevant facts and information to assist the commission in its decision-making process.

Public Hearing on Landmark Designations

Upcoming public hearings for the Commission on Chicago Landmarks will also be held virtually in accordance with a set of rules on the conduct of remote public hearings for landmark designations effective July 7, 2021.

Agenda: | Access the live stream on the day of the hearing

Members of the public interested in appearing at an upcoming hearing must fill out one of the forms below and submit it to CCL@cityofchicago.org. Those seeking party status should fill the first appearance form below. Property owners and members of the general public who do not want party status but do want to make a statement should fill out the second appearance form below. Questions on the process can be directed to CCL@cityofchicago.org.

• Public Hearing Appearance Form: Party to the Hearing (.pdf)
• Public Hearing Appearance Form: Statement from Non-Party (.pdf)

Public Hearing on Permit Applications

Upcoming public hearings for the Commission on Chicago Landmarks will also be held virtually in accordance with a set of rules on the conduct of remote public hearings for permit applications effective July 27, 2020.

None currently scheduled

Members of the public interested in appearing at an upcoming hearing must fill out one of the forms below and submit it to CCL@cityofchicago.org. Those seeking party status by right or by request should fill out one of the first two forms, while the general public should fill out the third form. Questions on the process can be directed to CCL@cityofchicago.org.

• Public Hearing Appearance Form: Party as a Matter of Right (.pdf)
• Public Hearing Appearance Form: Party by Request (.pdf)
• Public Hearing Appearance Form: Statement of Interested Person (.pdf)

Program Committee

*Meeting of the Program Committee:  Review of Suggestions** Received from the Public for Chicago Landmark Designation will be held:
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 1103

In the event that a gubernatorial disaster declaration is in effect on September 22, 2021, finding that an in-person meeting is not feasible, attendance at this meeting will change from in-person to remote means only. If this happens, instructions for how to access the meeting will be provided on this page. 

**Deadline for suggestions: Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.
All suggestions must be submitted on a suggestion form available on the Chicago Landmarks website at: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/chicago_landmarks-publicationsandadditionalinformation.html

2020 Preservation Excellence Awards

DPD and the CCL hosted the annual Preservation Excellence Awards virtually on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. The Commission honored nine unique projects with 2020 “Preservation Excellence Awards,” including the restoration of a former rapid transit building in Washington Park, the adaptive re-use of a former YMCA/YWCA headquarters on the Near West Side, and the mixed-use repurposing of historic structures in Pullman.

For more information on the winners, see the DPD news section.