Chicago Opportunity Zones

Chicago falls under Illinois's OZ 2.0 selection process. The state's lead agency — Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) — will recommend tracts for nomination by September 29, 2026. Residents, developers, and community organizations in Chicago can typically submit input through the state's community-input window.

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, OZ 2.0 tightens the low-income community criteria to 70 percent of area median income (down from 80 percent under OZ 1.0), eliminates the contiguous-tract option, and requires at least 33 percent of nominated tracts to be entirely rural. That changes which Chicago neighborhoods qualify.

Final designations take effect January 1, 2027. Investments into Qualified Opportunity Funds targeting Chicago tracts on or after that date receive OZ 2.0 benefits: rolling 5-year deferral, 15 percent basis step-up, and 100 percent exclusion of QOF appreciation after a 10-year hold.