Des Plaines, Illinois Commercial Real Estate
Buying, selling, or leasing commercial property in Des Plaines? Jason Bitton is the #1 RE/MAX Commercial broker in Illinois, working retail, industrial, office and investment sales across Cook and Lake County. Des Plaines sits directly against O’Hare with the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and I-90 through it — the reason its industrial and distribution base is as deep as its retail corridors.
The Des Plaines Commercial Market
Des Plaines is a Cook County city built around access. O’Hare is on its doorstep, the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and I-90 cross it, and the Metra Union Pacific Northwest line runs through a downtown the city zones separately to protect its character. That access is why the city carries three separate manufacturing districts alongside seven commercial ones — a wider industrial range than most of its neighbours, from light manufacturing through heavy, warehouse and distribution.
Three M districts. M-2 is the only one carrying heavy manufacturing; M-1 is light manufacturing and services; M-3 covers light manufacturing, distribution, office and research.
C-3 General Commercial is the city-wide workhorse; C-4 covers regional shopping centres; C-1 keeps neighbourhood convenience under 7,500 square feet per use.
C-5 Central Business District permits only uses the city considers appropriate to downtown, with bulk standards regulated to match.
C-2 is the office-preservation district. C-7 High Density Campus allows large, dense, vertically oriented mixed commercial and residential complexes.
Who Actually Works in Des Plaines
Des Plaines holds 43,792 jobs inside city limits. That is the daytime population a commercial tenant actually draws from — a different, and for commercial purposes more useful, number than the residential count most listings quote.
27.5% of those jobs are industrial — manufacturing, wholesale trade, and transportation & warehousing combined. Transportation & warehousing leads at 4,218 jobs, with Wholesale trade (4,092) and manufacturing (3,750) behind it.
The city itself counts 59,156 residents in 22,537 households, with a median household income of $97,875 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, LEHD LODES8 2023 (workplace area characteristics). Figures count jobs located in Des Plaines, not residents. Updated annually.
What Can You Open in Des Plaines?
Des Plaines marks every use in its zoning code as P (permitted as of right) or C (conditional — allowed only with a conditional use permit under Section 12-3-4). A blank means the use is not allowed in that district. Below is every commercial and manufacturing district with both lists in full.
Des Plaines Zoning Districts
Every commercial, office and industrial district in Des Plaines, with the uses allowed by right and the uses that need special-use approval — 10 districts, 322 listed uses. Open any district for its full list.
C-1 Neighborhood Shopping District — 9 permitted, 11 by special use+
Convenience businesses close to residential neighbourhoods. No individual use in C-1 may exceed 7,500 sq ft of floor area. (Section 12-7-3, Table 3.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Convenience retail store, Libraries, public, Parks, Pharmacies/drugstores, Retail goods establishments, Retail service establishments, Specialty food stores, Studios, artist, dance and music
Special use approval required: Adult Day Service Center, Animal clinic, Bed and breakfast, Childcare center, Childcare center with accessory dwelling unit, Funeral homes, Libraries, private, Offices, Planned developments, Residential care homes, small, Taverns and lounges
C-2 Limited Office Commercial District — 15 permitted, 15 by special use+
Preserves existing office development and provides locations for new office. Office-led rather than retail-led. (Section 12-7-3, Table 3.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Brewpub, Commercial indoor recreation, Convenience retail store, Government facility, Libraries, private, Media print establishments, Offices, Public utilities, Restaurant, Class A, Restaurant, Class B, Retail goods establishments, Schools, commercial, Specialty food stores, Studios, artist, dance and music
Special use approval required: Adult Day Service Center, Childcare center, Colleges and universities, Commercial outdoor recreation, Drive-through facility (located adjacent to residential use), Drive-through facility (not located adjacent to residential use), Dwellings, single-family detached, Financial institutions, Funeral homes, Hotels, Planned developments, Post Office, Radio transmitting towers, public broadcasting, Retail service establishments, Taverns and lounges
C-3 General Commercial District — 38 permitted, 27 by special use+
The city-wide general commercial district - the broadest retail and service list in Des Plaines, including automotive and drive-through uses by conditional use. (Section 12-7-3, Table 3.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Animal clinic, Animal hospital, Artisanal retail establishments, Auto filling station, Brewpub, Cannabis dispensaries, Commercial art gallery, Commercial indoor recreation, Commercial shopping center, Convenience mart fueling or charging station, Convenience retail store, Drive-through facility (not located adjacent to residential use), Dry cleaners with plants on premises, Financial institutions, Food processing establishment, Funeral homes, Grocery retail, Hotels, Leasing/rental agents, moving vehicles, Leasing/rental agents, vehicles (non-moving), Libraries, private, Libraries, public, Media broadcast stations, Media print establishments, Offices, Parks, Pharmacies/drugstores, Post Office, Public transportation centers, Public utilities, Restaurant, Class A, Restaurant, Class B, Retail goods establishments, Retail service establishments, Specialty food stores, Studios, artist, dance and music, Taverns and lounges
Special use approval required: Accessory off site parking lots, Adult Day Service Center, Alternative tobacco establishments, Assisted living facility, Auto body repair, Auto service repair, Body art establishments, Car wash, Childcare center, Commercial outdoor recreation, Commercial parking garage, Commercial parking lot, Commercially zoned assembly uses, Congregate housing, Consumer lender, Domestic pet service, Drive-through facility (located adjacent to residential use), Dwellings, single-family detached, Leasing/rental agents, small equipment, Massage establishments, Motor vehicle sales, Planned developments, Planned developments, mixed use, Radio transmitting towers, public broadcasting, Schools, commercial, Trade contractors, Wholesale goods establishments
C-4 Regional Shopping District — 28 permitted, 16 by special use+
Shopping centres serving the general public; uses commonly concentrated within a commercial shopping centre are allowed as of right. (Section 12-7-3, Table 3.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Artisanal retail establishments, Auto filling station, Brewpub, Cannabis dispensaries, Commercial art gallery, Commercial indoor recreation, Commercial shopping center, Convenience mart fueling or charging station, Convenience retail store, Dry cleaners with plants on premises, Financial institutions, Grocery retail, Libraries, private, Libraries, public, Motor vehicle sales, Offices, Parks, Pharmacies/drugstores, Post Office, Public utilities, Restaurant, Class A, Restaurant, Class B, Retail goods establishments, Retail service establishments, Specialty food stores, Studios, artist, dance and music, Taverns and lounges
Special use approval required: Adult Day Service Center, Alternative tobacco establishments, Animal clinic, Car wash, Childcare center, Congregate housing, Domestic pet service, Drive-through facility (located adjacent to residential use), Drive-through facility (not located adjacent to residential use), Food processing establishment, Hotels, Leasing/rental agents, small equipment, Massage establishments, Planned developments, Radio transmitting towers, public broadcasting, Wholesale goods establishments
C-5 Central Business District — 32 permitted, 16 by special use+
Downtown Des Plaines. Permits only uses appropriate to the downtown character, with bulk standards regulated to match. (Section 12-7-3, Table 3.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Artisanal retail establishments, Brewpub, Commercial art gallery, Commercial indoor recreation, Commercial parking garage, Convenience retail store, Dry cleaners with plants on premises, Dwellings, multiple-family, Financial institutions, Funeral homes, Government facility, Grocery retail, Hotels, Leasing/rental agents, vehicles (non-moving), Libraries, private, Libraries, public, Media broadcast stations, Media print establishments, Offices, Parks, Pharmacies/drugstores, Post Office, Public transportation centers, Public utilities, Restaurant, Class A, Restaurant, Class B, Retail goods establishments, Retail service establishments, Specialty food stores, Studios, artist, dance and music, Taverns and lounges
Special use approval required: Adult Day Service Center, Animal clinic, Assisted living facility, Cannabis dispensaries, Childcare center, Colleges and universities, Commercial parking lot, Commercially zoned assembly uses, Congregate housing, Drive-through facility (located adjacent to residential use), Drive-through facility (not located adjacent to residential use), Massage establishments, Planned developments, Schools, commercial, Schools, private - elementary and high school, Transitional treatment facility
C-6 Casino District — 7 permitted, 3 by special use+
Narrow district for a licensed casino and certain related uses, developed under an approved plan of development. (Section 12-7-3, Table 3.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Brewpub, Casino, Hotels, Restaurant, Class A, Specialty food stores, Taverns and lounges
Special use approval required: Planned developments, Retail goods establishments, Retail service establishments
C-7 High Density Campus District — 14 permitted, 1 by special use+
Large, dense, vertically oriented complexes combining commercial and residential uses. (Section 12-7-3, Table 3.)
Permitted by right: Brewpub, Childcare center, Dwellings, multiple-family, Financial institutions, Hotels, Livery service, Offices, Restaurant, Class A, Restaurant, Class B, Retail goods establishments, Retail service establishments, Schools, commercial, Specialty food stores, Studios, artist, dance and music
Special use approval required: Planned developments
M-1 Limited Manufacturing District — 11 permitted, 19 by special use+
Light manufacturing uses and associated services. (Section 12-7-4, Table 5.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Auto body repair, Auto filling station, Auto service repair, Leasing agents, moving vehicles, Leasing/rental agents, small equipment, Manufacturing - light, Offices, Research, testing and development industries, Schools, commercial, Trade contractors
Special use approval required: Brewery, Cannabis Infuser, Commercial indoor recreation, Commercial motor vehicle sales and leasing, Commercial outdoor recreation, Distillery, Domestic pet service, Food processing establishment, Grocery retail, Leasing agents, vehicles (non-moving), Leasing/rental agents, large equipment, Manufacturing service establishments, Planned developments, Public utilities, Radio transmitting towers, public broadcasting, Recycling center, Retail goods establishments, Warehouse, Wholesale goods establishments
M-2 General Manufacturing District — 24 permitted, 26 by special use+
General manufacturing and related uses in conformance with the comprehensive plan - the widest industrial list, including heavy manufacturing. (Section 12-7-4, Table 5.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Auto body repair, Auto filling station, Auto service repair, Brewery, Cannabis Dispensaries, Commercial storage, Distillery, Distribution facilities, Food processing establishment, Leasing agents, moving vehicles, Leasing agents, vehicles (non-moving), Leasing/rental agents, small equipment, Manufacturing - heavy, Manufacturing - light, Manufacturing service establishments, Motor vehicle sales, Offices, Public utilities, Research, testing and development industries, Restaurant, Class B, Trade contractors, Warehouse, Wholesale goods establishments
Special use approval required: Animal hospitals, Cannabis Craft Grower, Cannabis Cultivation Center, Cannabis Infuser, Cannabis Processor, Car wash, Childcare center, Commercial indoor recreation, Commercial motor vehicle sales and leasing, Commercial outdoor recreation, Commercial shopping center, Commercial truck parking lot, Contractor’s storage yard, Domestic pet service, Grocery retail, Leasing/rental agents, large equipment, Livery service, Outdoor bulk material facility, Planned developments, Radio transmitting towers, public broadcasting, Recycling center, Restaurant, Class A, Retail goods establishments, Schools, commercial, Shooting range, indoor, Vehicle towing
M-3 Special Manufacturing District — 8 permitted, 2 by special use+
Light manufacturing, distribution, office and research-related facilities. (Section 12-7-4, Table 5.)
Permitted by right: Accessory uses and structures, Brewery, Distillery, Distribution facilities, Manufacturing - light, Offices, Research, testing and development industries, Warehouse
Special use approval required: Planned developments, Radio transmitting towers, public broadcasting
Source: the Des Plaines municipal zoning code. Overlay districts, planned developments and parking rules can further limit what a specific parcel can do.
Confirm any address with the City before you sign or close — or run it through the Commercial Zoning Lookup and tell Jason what you’re trying to open.
Why Work With Jason in Des Plaines?
Des Plaines runs on industrial and distribution as much as retail, and the two trade on different logic. Jason identifies the properties with the most upside and connects sellers with buyers who see the same opportunity — with a senior broker, not a junior associate, on every deal.
Maximum Exposure
Every Des Plaines listing syndicated across CoStar, LoopNet, Crexi Pro, MLS, and our investor network simultaneously.
Full-Service Execution
From valuation through close — coordinating attorneys, lenders, inspectors, environmental diligence, and municipal approvals.
Established — With Global Reach
Over a decade of Lake County and Chicagoland commercial transactions, backed by the international referral and buyer network of RE/MAX Commercial.
Des Plaines Commercial Real Estate FAQ
What zoning do I need to open a business in Des Plaines?+
What is the difference between a permitted use and a conditional use in Des Plaines?+
Which Des Plaines districts allow warehouse and distribution space?+
Can I put a restaurant or tavern in downtown Des Plaines?+
Who is the best commercial real estate broker in Des Plaines?+
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