Northbrook Commercial Real Estate
Selling or leasing a commercial building in Northbrook? Jason Bitton is the #1 RE/MAX Commercial broker in Illinois (2022, 2024, 2025), and his Northbrook record is public: he leased up and then sold Sky Harbor Business Park, a 25-unit flex campus on Melvin Drive, for $2,250,000, representing the seller. He handles retail, office, industrial, flex and investment property from Skokie Boulevard and Northbrook Court to the Willow Road industrial belt, from his base in nearby Libertyville, about 20 minutes north.
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Who is the best commercial real estate broker in Northbrook?
Jason Bitton of RE/MAX Commercial — the #1 RE/MAX Commercial broker in Illinois (2022, 2024, 2025) — serves Northbrook from his base in nearby Libertyville. He represents buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants across retail, office, industrial, flex, and investment property in Northbrook, from Skokie Boulevard and Northbrook Court to the Willow Road industrial belt. In Northbrook he leased up and then sold the Sky Harbor Business Park flex campus at 310–340 Melvin Drive, representing the seller, for $2,250,000 in 2022.
Jason works for sellers: as of September 22, 2026, he represented the seller in more than 80% of the sales on his public Sold & Leased ledger, including sales where he represented both sides. His Northbrook closing is below, and the 40 sales recorded in the village in the two years to June 30, 2026 are in the market report.
Closed in Northbrook: Sky Harbor Business Park
Jason’s Northbrook closing is on his public Sold & Leased ledger: a multi-tenant flex campus, sold for the family that inherited it. It closed in April 2022, before the two years the market report below covers, so it is not one of those 40 sales.
310–340 Melvin Dr
A family inherited the campus, a former construction yard, with more than two dozen tenants, a half-time caretaker and a rent roll nobody fully understood. Jason got every tenant current and mapped, leased the vacancies and ran a competitive, tour-driven marketing process. When the institutional buyer stepped up, he steered the close: the attorney work, the environmental review and estoppel agreements across the entire tenant base. It sold for $200,000 above its 2021 asking price of $2,050,000.
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What do commercial buildings sell for in Northbrook?
In the two years to June 30, 2026, the Village of Northbrook recorded 40 arm’s-length sales of office, retail, commercial and industrial property, at a median price of $1.91 million — 18 in the latest 12 months and 22 in the year before.
| Property type | Sales | Median price |
|---|---|---|
| Retail & commercial | 18 | $1,975,000 |
| Office | 9 | $1,400,000 |
| Industrial | 13 | $2,500,000 |
A group median appears only where enough sales qualify; all three types do.
| Period | Sales | Median price |
|---|---|---|
| Latest 12 months | 18 | $1,581,500 |
| The year before | 22 | $2,112,500 |
The mix of property types changes from year to year, so these two medians are not a price trend.
Industrial buildings sold at a median of $101 per square foot, across the 10 single-parcel industrial sales matched to a building area in the county records, for a typical building of about 20,600 SF; the 10 ranged from $49 to $121 per square foot. The report gives retail, commercial and office buildings no per-square-foot figure: in those sales the land and the tenants often set the price as much as the building does, so a per-square-foot median would mislead.
How long does it take to sell a commercial building in Northbrook?
About four months, once the building is on the market: sellers who marketed a commercial building in Northbrook reported a median of 4 months (17 sales over the two years to June 30, 2026), and 12 of the 17 sold within six months. 16 of the 17 sold within a year. Another 11 of the 28 sales that reported a marketing time never went on the market at all.
Many sales never reach the open market. Jason keeps a live board of buyers and tenants who are looking now. See who is looking → · Ask what your building would sell for → · Compare with other towns →
Source: Jason Bitton RE/MAX Commercial’s database from public records: arm’s-length sales of office, retail, commercial and industrial property in Northbrook, dated July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026; updated September 24, 2026. Sales are counted per transaction; one sale may cover several parcels, and a building resold on the same day is counted once, at the final price. Price excludes personal property. Price per square foot uses single-parcel industrial sales matched to the building area in the county records. Marketing time is the seller’s own estimate (28 of the 40 sales report it). A group median appears only where enough sales qualify. Filings can trail a sale by weeks, so the latest quarter may still rise slightly. Aggregates only. Next update: late November 2026, for sales through September 30.
Northbrook property for sale and for lease, by type
Listing sites show what is on the market this week. This is the Northbrook record by property type: what sold and for how much, and what the county has on file. Across all types, sellers who marketed a building here took a median of 4 months to sell (17 sales).
Warehouses & industrial buildings for sale or lease
Retail, storefronts & shopping centers for sale or lease
Office & medical office for sale or lease
Convenience stores, gas stations & auto for sale or lease
Looking to buy or lease in Northbrook? Tell Jason the type, size and use. See the deals he has closed here, or the buyers and tenants looking now. Own a building here? Ask what it would sell for.
Sales figures come from the market report on this page (arm’s-length sales only). Building counts: Jason Bitton RE/MAX Commercial’s database from public records, updated September 7, 2026. Counted by parcel: a building on two parcels counts twice, and the 201 parcels with no building type recorded are left out.
What does commercial space rent for in Northbrook? Industrial, flex, office, medical office and retail rents for Northbrook and the four neighboring north Cook towns, with the leases behind each figure. North Cook County commercial rent →
Why Northbrook sellers hire Jason
Beyond pricing, marketing and negotiating, a seller gets the bench Jason has built over years of closings. Across the Chicago area, Jason has closed deals of up to 98,905 square feet and has sold contractor units, mixed-use, multifamily, medical and office buildings, manufacturing warehouses and national retail stores.
What a Northbrook sale has to answer
The rent roll
A multi-tenant building sells on its rent roll, and institutional buyers discount for every unknown, or walk. At Sky Harbor, Jason got every tenant current and mapped (who was in what space, on what terms, paying what) and filled the vacant units before marketing.
The last mile
The attorney work, the environmental review and estoppel agreements across the whole tenant base: on a 25-unit sale, that last mile is where deals quietly die. Jason steered Sky Harbor through it to a clean close.
How the rent is quoted
Northbrook space is usually quoted modified gross, with the property taxes already in the rate; Lake County space is usually quoted triple net. For industrial and flex, a Northbrook rent and a lower-sounding Lake County rent can land at about the same all-in cost, and a buyer reading the rent roll needs to know which is which.
What the new code allows
Northbrook adopted an entirely new zoning code in 2025, and the legacy C-1 district is frozen at what it allowed then. The use a buyer has in mind has to be confirmed against the new code before anyone commits.
People and tools Jason can bring to your sale
- A tested starting point — Mainstreet commercial contract forms, reviewed and revised by many attorneys over the years, give your attorney an established starting point and can reduce drafting time.
- Flat-fee counsel — real estate counsel who works on a flat rate, when you want one.
- Fast environmental — environmental consultants who turn time-sensitive reports around quickly.
- Lenders who answer — lenders who pick up Jason’s call directly and get a buyer’s financing moving.
- Village zoning, handled — Jason works zoning and use questions directly with the village.
- Honest trades — roofers, window contractors and other trades with fair pricing, to get a building ready to sell.
- Class 6B, in practice — Cook County industrial experience with warehouse acquisitions and Class 6B property-tax incentive strategy on qualifying buildings, as in the Bellwood case study.
- No competing portfolio — Jason doesn’t own or develop commercial property, so no building of his ever competes with yours for a buyer.
Value, likely buyers, marketing and closing are laid out in Jason’s guide to selling commercial property.
Trusted by commercial owners & investors
“Jason was professional and went above and beyond helping us to sell our property. He was prompt in responding and helpful with our questions. He shows up and follows through. I recommend him for your real estate needs.”
“Jason recently sold one of my commercial condo properties. His communication is great, very responsive. Jason utilized multiple platforms to get eyes on my listing. He showed the unit a number of times — once the prospective buyer had him there for nearly an hour. I’m very happy with how Jason handled my listing and the sale of my unit!”
“Jason’s been a huge asset in our commercial real estate deals. He’s quick, professional, and detail oriented. Highly recommend him!”
Jason Bitton
Jason Bitton is a commercial-only broker based in Libertyville, ranked #1 by commercial production among RE/MAX brokers in Illinois in 2022, 2024, and 2025 and a 2025 RE/MAX Hall of Fame inductee. With more than a decade working exclusively in commercial property, he represents buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants across retail, industrial, office, multifamily, mixed-use, NNN, and land throughout Lake County, the north and northwest suburbs, and the O’Hare corridor.
The Northbrook Commercial Market
Northbrook’s commercial market pairs super-regional retail at Northbrook Court with a deep office base along the Edens Expressway (I-94), the Skokie Boulevard and Lake-Cook Road corridors, and an established industrial/flex belt near Willow Road and O’Hare. The village adopted an entirely new zoning code in 2025, reshaping how each corridor develops. By the county records, Northbrook has 512 industrial parcels and 10,681,737 SF of industrial space.
Market Highlights
- ✓ Skokie Boulevard (IL-41) — retail & office spine
- ✓ Northbrook Court — super-regional mall in redevelopment
- ✓ Lake-Cook Road at the I-94 / I-294 interchange
- ✓ Willow Road industrial/flex belt near O’Hare
- ✓ Edens Expressway office zone (~9 mi from O’Hare)
- ✓ New 2025 village zoning code
Retail
Northbrook Court regional retail, Skokie Boulevard centers, restaurant and service storefronts.
Office
Corporate campus and boulevard office along the Edens Expressway (I-94) and Skokie Boulevard.
Industrial & Flex
Small-bay flex, warehouse, and contractor space in the Willow Road belt near O’Hare and rail.
Investment Sales
Multi-tenant flex, net-leased retail, and mixed-use assets — like the Sky Harbor campus Jason sold.
Who Actually Works in Northbrook
Northbrook holds 40,238 jobs inside village 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.
The village itself counts 34,585 residents in 13,302 households, with a median household income of $157,782 (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 Northbrook, not residents. Updated annually.
What Can You Open in Northbrook?
Look up a Northbrook address
Northbrook adopted an entirely new zoning code in 2025. It sorts commercial property into C-series retail districts, O-series office districts, industrial districts (ICS, I-1, I-2), and three mixed-use districts combining housing and commercial uses (MFRC, RLC, VGRC). Here is how the common uses generally map.
C-2 Neighborhood Commercial covers day-to-day retail and restaurants, while C-3 Central Business District is the walkable, vertical mixed-use downtown core.
C-4 Regional Shopping anchors major retail like Northbrook Court, and C-5 Boulevard Commercial handles horizontal mixed-use along Skokie Boulevard.
Northbrook layers four office districts — O-1 Campus for park-like corporate headquarters, O-2 Limited and O-3 General for standard office, and O-4 Boulevard Office for high-rise Skokie Boulevard office near the Edens.
ICS Industrial and Commercial Services supports flex, warehouse, contractor, and indoor sports/entertainment uses; I-1 Restricted covers nuisance-free manufacturing and warehousing; and I-2 Light Industrial handles more intensive manufacturing and warehousing near Willow Road and the rail corridor.
Northbrook Zoning Districts
The commercial, office and industrial districts in Northbrook, with the uses allowed by right and the uses that need special-use approval — 15 districts, 521 listed uses. Open any district for its full list.
C-1 Specialty Commercial Legacy District — 13 permitted, 30 by special use+
Legacy district for small shops, stores and boutiques in older areas next to the central business area, where residential character is retained alongside business activity. Not applied to any new areas since the 2025 code took effect; its rules are frozen at what was permitted at adoption. Min lot 8,500 sq ft; FAR 0.25; max 35 ft / 2 stories. (Section 6-109.)
Permitted by right: Agricultural Production-Crops, Arrangement Of Passenger Transportation, Business And Professional Offices Not Elsewhere Classified, Electrical Substations, Holding And Other Investment Offices, Insurance Agents, Brokers & Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Training Facilities, One-on-One Schools and Educational Services, Not Elsewhere Classified, Real Estate Agents And Managers, Required Retention/Detention Facilities, Security And Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services, Vacant Land, Vacant Unit/Building
Special use approval required: Apparel And Accessory Stores, Barber Shops, Beauty Shops, Correspondence Schools, Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores, Engineering, Accounting, Research, Mgmt. & Related Services, Florists, Food Stores, General Merchandise Stores, Hardware Stores, Health Services, Home Furniture & Equipment Stores, Individual And Family Social Services, Laundry and Garment Services, Not Elsewhere Classified, Legal Services, Liquor Stores, Membership Organizations, Miscellaneous Retail Stores Not Elsewhere Classified, Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores, Optical Goods Stores, Paint, Glass And Wallpaper Stores, Photographic Studios, Portrait, Physical Fitness Facilities, Religious Organizations, Religious Organizations with an associated Elementary or Secondary School, Retail Nurseries, Lawn & Garden Supply Stores Excluding Open Yards, Services, Not Elsewhere Classified, Shoe Repair Shops And Shoeshine Parlors, Tailor Shops, Used Merchandise Stores
C-2 Neighborhood Commercial District — 31 permitted, 18 by special use+
Neighborhood commercial serving day-to-day shopping and consumer-service needs of nearby residential neighborhoods. Pedestrian oriented, buildings or low-intensity shopping centers scaled to the surrounding area. Min lot 6,250 sq ft; front and corner setback 25 ft; max 35 ft / 2 stories in the base district; inside the Village Green Overlay, 55 ft / 4 stories by right and 65 ft / 5 stories by special permit (Section 9-104-A.1). (Sections 6-102, 6-103, 6-105.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Alcohol/Liquor Sales, Amusement and Recreation Services, 2,500 sq ft or less, Artisan Manufacturing, Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Bar/Tavern, Commercial Kitchen, Coworking Space, Crops and Horticulture, Dry Cleaning Facility, Processing On-Site, Electrical Substations, General Office, General Retail, Indoor Agriculture, Medical Clinic, Medical Spa, Meeting/Event Facility, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With or Without Tasting Room, Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor Only, Nursery & Garden Center, Without Open Sales Lot, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Veterinary and Animal Care Services, indoor only, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Amusement and Recreation Services, More than 2,500 sq ft, Cannabis Dispensary, Adult Use, Cannabis Dispensary, Medical Use, Car Wash, Contractor Facility, Day Care, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), Funeral Home, Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Nursery & Garden Center, With Open Sales Lot, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more, Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Cultural and Community Facilities, Public Utility Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, Tobacco Retail Sale, Transit Facilities, Vehicle Services - Minor Maintenance/Repair
C-3 Central Business District — 30 permitted, 15 by special use+
Downtown Northbrook. Pedestrian oriented, primarily vertical mixed-use buildings with commercial on the ground floor and residential or office above; storefronts complemented by gathering space and outdoor dining. Min lot 6,250 sq ft; zero front, corner and side setbacks; max 35 ft / 2 stories in the base district; inside the Village Green Overlay, 45 ft / 3 stories by right and 55 ft / 4 stories by special permit (Section 9-104-A.1). (Sections 6-102, 6-103, 6-105.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Alcohol/Liquor Sales, Amusement and Recreation Services, 2,500 sq ft or less, Artisan Manufacturing, Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Bar/Tavern, Commercial Kitchen, Coworking Space, Crops and Horticulture, Dry Cleaning Facility, Processing On-Site, Electrical Substations, General Office, General Retail, Indoor Agriculture, Medical Clinic, Medical Spa, Meeting/Event Facility, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With or Without Tasting Room, Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor Only, Nursery & Garden Center, Without Open Sales Lot, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Amusement and Recreation Services, More than 2,500 sq ft, Cannabis Dispensary, Adult Use, Cannabis Dispensary, Medical Use, Day Care, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Nursery & Garden Center, With Open Sales Lot, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more, Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Cultural and Community Facilities, Public Utility Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, Tobacco Retail Sale, Transit Facilities, Vehicle Services - Minor Maintenance/Repair
C-4 Regional Shopping District — 28 permitted, 24 by special use+
Regional shopping - mixed-use development anchored by a major retail center with dense residential, entertainment, recreation and fashionable retail. Mapped only north of the I-294 Tollway Spur, south of Lake Cook Rd and west of Lee Rd. Min lot 1,000,000 sq ft; FAR 4; max 55 ft / 4 stories (up to 135 ft / 12 stories by special permit). NOTE: since October 30, 2023 no land in C-4 may be developed except as an approved planned development. (Sections 6-102, 6-103, 6-105, 6-110.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Alcohol/Liquor Sales, Amusement and Recreation Services, 2,500 sq ft or less, Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Bar/Tavern, Commercial Kitchen, Coworking Space, Crops and Horticulture, Electrical Substations, General Office, General Retail, Indoor Agriculture, Medical Clinic, Medical Spa, Meeting/Event Facility, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With or Without Tasting Room, Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental, Without Open Sales Lot, Nursery & Garden Center, Without Open Sales Lot, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Amusement and Recreation Services, More than 2,500 sq ft, Cannabis Dispensary, Adult Use, Cannabis Dispensary, Medical Use, Day Care, Dwelling, Duplex, Dwelling, Townhouse, Dwelling, Triplex/Quadplex, Hotel, Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Multi-Unit Building, 13+ Units, Multi-Unit Building, 5-12 Units, Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex, Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor Only, Nursery & Garden Center, With Open Sales Lot, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more, Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Cultural and Community Facilities, Public Utility Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, Senior Living Facility, Dependent, Senior Living Facility, Independent, Tobacco Retail Sale, Transit Facilities, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
C-5 Boulevard Commercial District — 31 permitted, 19 by special use+
Boulevard commercial - horizontal mixed-use with a wide variety of commercial uses including entertainment, dining, service and retail. Limited to areas along Skokie Blvd surrounded by major roads and isolated from residential. Min lot 40,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 80 ft; max 45 ft / 3 stories. Inside the Techny Overlay (the core of the Techny property: southeast of the Chicago and North Western tracks, northeast of the Soo Line tracks, southwest of Waukegan Road and north of Willow Road), Table 9-103-C-3 adds uses to this district, including physical fitness facilities of any size by right, and the overlay's rules control (Sec. 9-103-B, 9-103-C). (Sections 6-102, 6-103, 6-105.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Alcohol/Liquor Sales, Amusement and Recreation Services, 2,500 sq ft or less, Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Bar/Tavern, Commercial Kitchen, Coworking Space, Crops and Horticulture, Dry Cleaning Facility, Processing On-Site, Electrical Substations, General Office, General Retail, Indoor Agriculture, Medical Clinic, Medical Spa, Meeting/Event Facility, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With or Without Tasting Room, Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental, Without Open Sales Lot, Nursery & Garden Center, Without Open Sales Lot, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Veterinary and Animal Care Services, indoor and outdoor, Veterinary and Animal Care Services, indoor only, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Amusement and Recreation Services, More than 2,500 sq ft, Cannabis Dispensary, Adult Use, Cannabis Dispensary, Medical Use, Car Wash, Day Care, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), Hotel, Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental, With Open Sales Lot, Nursery & Garden Center, With Open Sales Lot, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more — permitted by right inside the Techny Overlay (Table 9-103-C-3; Sec. 9-103-B), Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Cultural and Community Facilities, Public Utility Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, Tobacco Retail Sale, Transit Facilities, Vehicle Services - Minor Maintenance/Repair, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
O-1 Campus Office District — 8 permitted, 1 by special use+
Campus office for regional, national and international headquarters in a landscaped park-like setting with direct access to the metropolitan transportation system. The most restrictive district in the code - the use list is very short. Min lot 650,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 150 ft; max 65 ft / 4 stories. (Sections 5-102, 5-103, 5-105.)
Permitted by right: Crops and Horticulture, Electrical Substations, General Office, Indoor Agriculture, Industry, Light, Required Detention Facilities, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Wireless Telecommunications Tower
O-2 Limited Office District — 20 permitted, 11 by special use+
Limited office for business and professional offices needing a limited amount of space and generating moderate vehicular and truck traffic; bulk rules preserve a smaller-site development pattern without direct access to the metropolitan transportation system. Min lot 25,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 30 ft; max 35 ft / 2 stories. (Sections 5-102, 5-103, 5-105.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Coworking Space, Crops and Horticulture, Electrical Substations, General Office, Indoor Agriculture, Industry, Light, Medical Clinic, Medical Spa, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Tobacco Retail Sale, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Day Care, Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Personal / Self Serve Storage, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more, Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, School Vocational/Technical, School, Elementary and Middle Private, School, Elementary and Middle Public, School, High, Specialty Medical Care Facility, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
O-3 General Office District — 21 permitted, 11 by special use+
General office for business and professional offices across a wide range of office space, generating higher vehicular and truck traffic. Limited to areas between the Edens Expressway and the Chicago and North Western tracks, and within the Techny Overlay. Min lot 80,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 80 ft; max 70 ft / 5 stories. Inside the Techny Overlay (the core of the Techny property: southeast of the Chicago and North Western tracks, northeast of the Soo Line tracks, southwest of Waukegan Road and north of Willow Road), Table 9-103-C-3 adds uses to this district, including physical fitness facilities of any size by right, and the overlay's rules control (Sec. 9-103-B, 9-103-C). (Sections 5-102, 5-103, 5-105.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Coworking Space, Crops and Horticulture, Electrical Substations, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), General Office, Indoor Agriculture, Industry, Light, Medical Clinic, Medical Spa, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Tobacco Retail Sale, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Car Wash, Day Care, Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more — permitted by right inside the Techny Overlay (Table 9-103-C-3; Sec. 9-103-B), Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Utility Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, School, Elementary and Middle Private, School, Elementary and Middle Public, School, High, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
O-4 Boulevard Office District — 24 permitted, 12 by special use+
Boulevard office along Skokie Blvd - higher-intensity office with supporting commercial and multi-family residential. Limited to areas between the Edens Expressway and the Chicago and North Western tracks, and within the Techny Overlay. Min lot 120,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 80 ft; max 110 ft / 10 stories. Inside the Techny Overlay (the core of the Techny property: southeast of the Chicago and North Western tracks, northeast of the Soo Line tracks, southwest of Waukegan Road and north of Willow Road), Table 9-103-C-3 adds uses to this district, including physical fitness facilities of any size by right, and the overlay's rules control (Sec. 9-103-B, 9-103-C). (Sections 5-102, 5-103, 5-105.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Coworking Space, Crops and Horticulture, Electrical Substations, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), General Office, Hotel, Indoor Agriculture, Industry, Light, Live-Work Unit, Medical Clinic, Medical Spa, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor Only, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Tobacco Retail Sale, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
Special use approval required: Cannabis Dispensary, Medical Use, Car Wash, Day Care, Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more — permitted by right inside the Techny Overlay (Table 9-103-C-3; Sec. 9-103-B), Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Utility Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, School, Elementary and Middle Private, School, Elementary and Middle Public, School, High, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
ICS Industrial and Commercial Services District — 31 permitted, 11 by special use+
Industrial and Commercial Services - heavier commercial service uses alongside industrial, warehouse, flex space and building-contractor facilities, plus indoor sports and entertainment. Mapped only where the Comprehensive Plan designates industrial and commercial services. Min lot 40,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 30 ft; max 45 ft / 3 stories. (Sections 7-102, 7-103, 7-105.) The code's two fitness rows read "2,500 sq ft or less" (permitted) and "2,500 sq ft or more" (special), so a facility of exactly 2,500 sq ft fits both; confirm with the Village.
Permitted by right: Artisan Manufacturing, Brewery/Winery/Distillery, Contractor Facility, Crops and Horticulture, Dry Cleaning Facility, Processing On-Site, Electrical Substations, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), General Office, Indoor Agriculture, Industry, Light, Medical Clinic, Membership Organizations, 2,500 sq ft or less, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With or Without Tasting Room, Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental, Without Open Sales Lot, Nursery & Garden Center, Without Open Sales Lot, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Personal Service, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Required Detention Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Vehicle Services - Minor Maintenance/Repair, Veterinary and Animal Care Services, indoor and outdoor, Veterinary and Animal Care Services, indoor only, Warehouse, Distribution/Storage, Wholesale Trade, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
Special use approval required: Car Wash, Day Care, Membership Organizations, More than 2,500 sq ft, Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental, With Open Sales Lot, Nursery & Garden Center, With Open Sales Lot, Personal / Self-Serve Storage, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more, Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Utility Facilities, Restaurant, Transit Facilities
I-1 Restricted Industrial District — 27 permitted, 14 by special use+
Restricted industrial for nuisance-free manufacturing, transportation, warehousing and wholesaling conducted fully indoors and compatible with office and service uses. No use may have a direct or indirect adverse aesthetic, environmental or economic impact on another use. Min lot 40,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 30 ft; max 55 ft / 3 stories. (Sections 7-102, 7-103, 7-105.)
Permitted by right: Artisan Manufacturing, Brewery/Winery/Distillery, Building Material, Machinery, and Equipment Sales or Storage, Contractor Facility, Crops and Horticulture, Dry Cleaning Facility, Processing On-Site, Electrical Substations, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), Indoor Agriculture, Industry, Light, Materials Salvage Yard/Recycling Operations, Medical Clinic, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With or Without Tasting Room — the code's separate commercial row 'Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room' is blank (prohibited) in I-1 and I-2 (Table 7-105-A); confirm a tasting room with the Village, Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental, Without Open Sales Lot, Nursery & Garden Center, Without Open Sales Lot, One-on-One Educational Services, One-on-One Personal Fitness Facilities, Required Detention Facilities, School Vocational/Technical, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Vehicle Services - Minor Maintenance/Repair, Veterinary and Animal Care Services, indoor and outdoor, Veterinary and Animal Care Services, indoor only, Warehouse, Distribution/Storage, Wholesale Trade, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
Special use approval required: Cannabis Craft Grower, Cannabis Infuser, Cannabis Processor, Car Wash, Commercial Kitchen, Funeral Home, Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental, With Open Sales Lot, Nursery & Garden Center, With Open Sales Lot, Personal / Self-Serve Storage, Public Utility Facilities, Restaurant, Transit Facilities, Trucking Company, Vehicle Services - Major Repair/Body Work
I-2 Light Industrial District — 20 permitted, 8 by special use+
Light industrial for more generalized industrial operations near the collector transportation system; more intensive than I-1. Limited to defined areas south of Raymond Dr / east of Shermer Rd and north of Willow Rd, and south of Willow Rd east of the railroad right-of-way. Min lot 40,000 sq ft; front and corner setback 30 ft; max 55 ft / 3 stories. (Sections 7-102, 7-103, 7-105.)
Permitted by right: Artisan Manufacturing, Brewery/Winery/Distillery, Building Material, Machinery, and Equipment Sales or Storage, Contractor Facility, Crops and Horticulture, Dry Cleaning Facility, Processing On-Site, Electrical Substations, Fuel Sales (inclusive of EV charging stations), Industry, Light, Materials Salvage Yard/Recycling Operations, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With or Without Tasting Room — the code's separate commercial row 'Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room' is blank (prohibited) in I-1 and I-2 (Table 7-105-A); confirm a tasting room with the Village, Required Detention Facilities, Trucking Company, Vacant Land/Vacant Building, Vehicle Services - Major Repair/Body Work, Vehicle Services - Minor Maintenance/Repair, Warehouse, Distribution/Storage, Wholesale Trade, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, Wireless Telecommunications Tower
Special use approval required: Cannabis Craft Grower, Cannabis Infuser, Cannabis Processor, Commercial Kitchen, Industry, Heavy, Personal / Self-Serve Storage, Public Utility Facilities, Transit Facilities
MFRC Multiple Family Residential and Commercial District — 15 permitted, 2 by special use+
Mixes housing with retail, entertainment and related uses to widen living, entertainment and business options without harming nearby residential neighborhoods; the code says it should sit where there is convenient access to major arterials, expressways or tollways. Min lot 460,000 sq ft (about 10.6 acres) for a multi-unit building and 40,000 sq ft for all other uses; min lot depth 300 ft; front and corner setback 40 ft; interior side 75 ft and rear 40 ft, both subject to buffer yards; max 4 stories / 55 ft for multi-unit buildings and 3 stories / 50 ft for other uses; lot coverage 50%. The commercial uses allowed by right are banks, coworking, hotels, medical clinics, restaurants and microbreweries with a tasting room; general retail, general office and personal service are not listed. More than one principal use or principal building on a parcel requires a Special Permit. (Sections 4-102, 4-103, 4-104-E, 4-105.)
Permitted by right: Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Coworking Space, Dwelling, Cottage Court, Dwelling, Townhouse, Dwelling, Triplex/Quadplex, Hotel, Live-Work Unit, Medical Clinic, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Multi-Unit Building, 13+ Units, Multi-Unit Building, 5-12 Units, Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor Only, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Vacant Land/Vacant Building
Special use approval required: Electrical Substations, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
RLC Residential and Limited Commercial District — 20 permitted, 9 by special use+
Housing plus certain limited, community-based commercial uses that complement the Central Business District; intended to strengthen the gateways to downtown Northbrook and make them more walkable. Min lot 45,000 sq ft; min width 200 ft; front and corner setback 100 ft; interior side 6 ft; rear 25 ft; max 4 stories / 65 ft; lot coverage 70% (the code gives these RLC figures only under "All Other Uses"). More than one principal use or principal building on a parcel requires a Special Permit; a use listed "Above Ground Floor Only" may occupy only the second story or higher; size limits in a use's name apply to the building or tenant space. (Sections 4-102, 4-103, 4-104-D, 4-104-E, 4-105.)
Permitted by right: Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services, Coworking Space, Dwelling, Cottage Court, Dwelling, Duplex, Dwelling, Single-Family Detached, Dwelling, Townhouse, Dwelling, Triplex/Quadplex, General Office, General Retail, Live-Work Unit, Medical Clinic, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Multi-Unit Building, 13+ Units, Multi-Unit Building, 5-12 Units, Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex, Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor Only, Personal Service, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Vacant Land/Vacant Building
Special use approval required: Alcohol/Liquor Sales, Electrical Substations, Nursery & Garden Center, Without Open Sales Lot, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Utility Facilities, Senior Living Facility, Independent, Tobacco Retail Sale, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment
VGRC Village Green Residential Commercial District — 12 permitted, 5 by special use+
Townhouse and multi-family housing in or close to the Village's central business area (the purpose statement also names single-family detached homes, which the use table leaves blank), pedestrian oriented and built to the planning and design principles of downtown; neighborhood-serving commercial uses are also allowed. The purpose statement also names parks, which the use table does not list for VGRC; places of worship need a Special Permit. Min lot 25,000 sq ft. For uses other than housing: front and corner setback 10 ft, interior side 5 ft, rear 15 ft, max 45 ft / 4 stories, and a Planned Development may build to 65 ft or 5 stories, whichever is less, by right. Multi-unit housing: max 45 ft / 4 stories, lot coverage 80%. More than one principal use or principal building on a parcel requires a Special Permit; a use listed "Above Ground Floor Only" may occupy only the second story or higher. (Sections 4-102, 4-103, 4-104-D, 4-104-E, 4-105.)
Permitted by right: Community Residences (up to 8 residents), Dwelling, Townhouse, General Office, General Retail, Live-Work Unit, Microbrewery/Winery/Distillery With Tasting Room, Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex, Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor Only, Personal Service, Required Detention Facilities, Restaurant, Vacant Land/Vacant Building
Special use approval required: Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or less, Physical Fitness Facilities, 2,500 sq ft or more, Place of Worship, 2,500 sq ft or less, Place of Worship, More than 2,500 sq ft, Public Utility Facilities
Source: Northbrook Zoning Code (Ord. 2025-55, adopted 9-9-2025, effective 9-22-2025), article PDFs published by the Village of Northbrook, as amended through Ord. 2026-39 (7-14-2026; articles footed "07/15/2026 – Most Recent Amended Date"). No later text amendment through the 9-22-2026 Board meeting. Overlay districts, planned developments and parking rules can further limit what a specific parcel can do.
Northbrook’s 2025 code is new, so confirm any address directly against the village code before you commit — or use the Commercial Zoning Lookup and tell Jason what you’re trying to open.
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