Plumbing Maintenance (Monthly)

Plumbing Maintenance (Monthly)

 

A monthly plumbing maintenance permit allows a single licensed plumbing contractor to perform eligible plumbing maintenance work at a property over a 30-day period, while keeping a detailed log of all maintenance work performed.

Eligibility Summary

Additional terms, conditions, and limitations may apply.

Eligible

  • Repairing or replacing (in-kind) an existing plumbing fixture without opening or altering walls or floors
  • Repairing or replacing (in-kind) existing isolation control valves (shut offs)
  • Repairing elements of an existing domestic water heater (thermocouple, flame sensor, blower, etc.)
  • Repairing or replacing (in-kind) existing plumbing piping (water distribution, drain, waste, or vent), not exceeding 10 linear feet per location
  • Performing routine and diagnostic plumbing system maintenance (rodding, flushing, televising, etc.)
  • Repairing or replacing fuel gas piping in a residential building, not exceeding 10 linear feet of pipe per location

Not Eligible

  • Altering, reconfiguring, or extending an existing plumbing system
  • Performing work involving a water meter or connection to a water meter
  • Repairing or replacing an existing plumbing fixture in a manner that requires opening or altering walls or floors
  • Repairing or replacing more than 10 linear feet of existing plumbing piping at the same location
  • Replacing an existing domestic water heater
  • Performing plumbing work more than 5 feet outside a building’s foundation
  • Installing a new plumbing fixture that does not meet the minimum water efficiency requirements of the Chicago Plumbing Code

When is a building permit not required?

Before beginning an Express Permit Program application for monthly plumbing maintenance work, please review:

What Types of Work Do Not Require a Building Permit? : Plumbing Work

Important Considerations

Terms and conditions

See the full Terms and Conditions for Express Permit Program : Monthly Maintenance for further limitations on this type of permit.

Before You Apply

Before you start the online application, you should have:

  • Property address
  • Property owner: name and contact information
  • Designated emergency contact
  • Basic info about the main building on the property (number of stories, number/type of units)
  • Start date of maintenance agreement
  • Duration of maintenance agreement
  • Required documents (if any, see below)
  • Required contractor (see below): exact name or Chicago license number

Required Documents

For most monthly maintenance permits you will not be required to upload any documents as part of the permit application.

Project owned by a government entity

If the work to be permitted in being undertaken by or for a local, state, or federal government entity (such as Chicago Public Schools) you must upload:

  • Government ownership or funding letter

If the government entity has a permit fee waiver ordinance, include a copy of that ordinance as part of this upload.

Required Contractor

For all applications:

  • A licensed plumbing contractor

Ordinances and Rules

Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions, Section 14A-4-403 (Monthly Permits)

Chicago Plumbing Code (Chapter 18-29)