Chicago building department

The City of Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) issues building permits, inspects permitted work, licenses construction trades, and enforces the Chicago Construction Codes inside city limits. Cook County Building and Zoning has no permitting role inside Chicago. Every project also needs zoning approval from the Department of Planning and Development before a permit is issued.

Which permit program to use

Program	Used for	How it works
Express Permit Program (launched Nov. 6, 2023)	Most repairs and small projects: re-roofing, window and door replacement, fences, masonry, porch and deck repair, nonstructural interior alterations, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, small solar PV, and contractor or owner changes	Fully online at ipi.cityofchicago.org: apply, pay, track status, and view inspection results. Many permits are issued the same day.
Standard Plan Review	Work that needs architectural drawings: new buildings up to 80 ft, non-residential up to 150,000 sq ft, residential under 50 units, excavation up to 12 ft	Submitted in E-Plan. A Project Manager is your single point of contact through the technical reviews.
Self-Certification	Eligible residential, business, mercantile, and assembly projects	An Illinois architect or structural engineer registered for Self-Cert seals the drawings and certifies compliance. Permits are typically issued within 10 business days after zoning approval, if contractor licenses are valid and the property has no violations or stop-work orders.
Developer Services	Moderate to complex projects above the Standard Plan Review limits	Specialized program for larger developments

Separate permits are required for demolition (wrecking), signs, sewer work (which needs a licensed drainlayer), water service, elevators, and tents or stages.

Work that does not need a building permit

From DOB’s published exemption list. Many exemptions apply only to residential buildings up to 4 stories and their garages.

Work	No permit needed when
Fence	Up to 5 ft high (measured on both sides) and compliant with the Zoning Ordinance
Shed, gazebo, playhouse	Single story, 150 sq ft or less footprint, no more than 15 ft tall, no plumbing
Roofing (residential up to 4 stories)	Repair, recover, or replacement on a roof with a pitch of 2:12 or steeper. Low-slope and structural work need a permit.
Roof repair (any building)	Patching limited to 25% of a roof surface
Windows, doors, siding (residential up to 4 stories)	In-kind replacement in the existing opening
Masonry (residential up to 4 stories)	In-kind replacement of up to 50 sq ft
Porch, deck, or stair (residential up to 4 stories)	In-kind replacement no more than 6 ft above ground with a landing of 50 sq ft or less
Furnace, boiler, A/C, water heater (residential up to 4 stories)	In-kind repair or replacement
Walkways and patios	Concrete or brick, not in the public way, 30 in or less above grade
Interior finishes	Paint, tile, cabinets, and up to 1,000 sq ft of drywall or plaster replacement without MEP changes
Retaining wall	4 ft or less, no surcharge

Emergency stabilization may start before a permit is issued, but you must file an application the next business day.

Fees and the senior waiver

Many permit fees are adjusted every year for inflation (CPI). On September 28, 2026, DOB posted the fee tables that take effect January 1, 2027. DOB’s online calculator estimates permit cost from construction type, occupancy, square footage, and scope.

Seniors can have 100% of building permit fees waived for repairs, alterations, or additions to a 1–3 unit building or an individually owned condo if the owner:

• is 65 or older,
• has household income at or below 80% of area median income,
• has owned and lived in the building for at least 10 years, and
• requests the waiver before paying.

Bring proof to the DOB counter on the 9th floor of City Hall. A Cook County Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze bill covers every criterion except the scope of work.

Inspections

Permit inspections must be requested through DOB’s online form. Phone requests are not accepted. Requests are handled first-come, first-served. If you want a specific date, allow at least 4 business days. The general contractor, or a homeowner acting as general contractor, schedules inspections as work progresses.

A Certificate of Occupancy is required for:

• buildings with 4 or more units,
• non-residential work over 10,000 sq ft,
• institutional or assembly occupancies, and
• changes of occupancy classification.

These projects must be inspected at set intervals. Single-trade permits and smaller projects schedule inspections as needed with each bureau.

Codes

Chicago enforces its own Chicago Construction Codes (Title 14 of the Municipal Code). These include the 2019 Chicago Building Code (based on the IBC), the Chicago Electrical Code (based on NFPA 70), the Conveyance Device Code, and the 2022 Chicago Energy Transformation Code.

Under Phase 3 of code modernization, applicants may use the new 2026 Chicago Fuel Gas, Mechanical, and Energy Transformation Codes and the amended Building, Rehabilitation, and Administrative Provisions starting October 1, 2026. They become mandatory for applications started on or after December 1, 2026.

Trade licensing

Most construction, alteration, repair, and demolition work requires a City of Chicago general contractor license. A GC doing residential work does not need a separate home repair license. Electrical, plumbing, mason, elevator, crane, and boiler work need their own City trade licenses. Continental Testing Services, (800) 359-1313, handles most exams and applications. Use DOB’s Contractor License Lookup to check a contractor before hiring.

In-person service

The DOB front desk on the 9th floor of City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for questions and document drop-off. Applications are not processed on a walk-in basis. Pay most fees online or at a Department of Finance payment center (including City Hall Room 107). Payments are not accepted on the 9th floor. Email general questions to [email protected]. Report unsafe conditions or work without permits to 311.