Before You Apply

Please consult with a Department of Buildings supervisor before beginning an Express Permit Program application for “Other Work.” If you submit an application that is determined to be ineligible for the Express Permit Program you will not receive a refund of any review fee or permit fee that you have paid.

After your project is approved to use the “Other Work” category, and before you start the online application, you should have:

• Property address
• Property PIN (lookup available on Cook County Assessor website)
• 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)
• Details of the proposed work
• Required documents (see below)
• Required contractors (see below): exact names or Chicago license numbers
• Required design professional (if any, see below): exact name or Illinois license number

Required Documents

Because the “Other Work” category is designed to allow flexibility for a range of unique situations, the specific types of documents you will need to submit will vary based on your project. Please discuss this with a Department of Buildings supervisor before beginning a permit application in this category.

Work on, over, or below public street or sidewalk

If the work to be permitted will be partially or completely on, over, or below a public street, sidewalk, or alley (the “public way”), you must upload:

• Copy of related permit or approval

Depending on the type of use of the public way, this permit or similar authorization for work in the public way might be issued by the Department of Transportation (CDOT), Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), or Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

Work on condominium property

If the work to be permitted is on property that is part of a condominium association (including work in an individually owned condominium unit) you must upload:

• Condominium association approval letter

This letter must briefly describe the work to be performed (example: interior renovations in unit 9A) and be signed by an authorized representative of the condominium association, such a property manager or officer of the association.

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.

Project receiving construction funding from a government entity

If the work to be permitted or is receiving construction funding from a government entity (such as a Small Business Improvement Fund grant) you must upload:

• Government ownership or funding letter

The letter must be from the government entity providing the construction funding.

Work required to address fire damage

If work is required to address fire damage, you must have the Department of Buildings assess the scope of fire damage before you apply for a building permit. The Department’s assessment will be documented on a form called the “Tax and Demolition Form,” per the Illinois Insurance Code. You must upload:

• Tax and demolition form

Property owner as general contractor, property owner as mason contractor, or property owner as plumber

If the property owner will be acting as general contractor or mason contractor or self-performing plumbing work, you must upload:

• Owner as contractor form (Form 401)
• Copy of government issued identification

The government issued identification must show that the property owner lives at the address where work will be performed.