What happens if I start work without a required building permit?

Except for emergency work, do not start work on your project before obtaining the required building permit(s). Building permit requirements are designed to protect you, your neighbors, workers, and first responders. The City of Chicago takes unpermitted work very seriously.

When unpermitted work is discovered:

• A city employee will issue a stop work order and post warning notice(s) on the property.
• Work can only resume after you obtain the required building permit(s) and pay the stop work order penalty ($1,000+).
• In most cases, the fee for a building permit issued after a stop work order is tripled.
• The City of Chicago may initiate an administrative enforcement case or lawsuit against you to recover penalties or compel you to correct unsafe or illegal conditions caused by the unpermitted work.
• You will be required to correct any conditions that violate the Chicago Construction Codes or Chicago Zoning Ordinance and may be required to remove any work that can’t be corrected, all at your own expense.