For structural porch repair in Chicago, the City requires plans by an Illinois-licensed architect or an Illinois-licensed structural engineer. Either qualifies. Replacing columns, beams, stringers, floor joists or foundations always needs a permit with those plans. Nonstructural fixes, like deck boards, stair treads and railing pickets, can skip drawings. Choose a structural engineer when the problem is load and framing, and an architect when the porch is also changing in layout or design.
If your porch needs structural work, Chicago does not make you choose between an architect and a structural engineer. The City accepts plans from either, as long as they are Illinois-licensed. The better question is which one fits your porch. This page gives the City's rule, how the two roles differ in practice, and the porch work that needs neither.
What the City requires for porch plans
The Department of Buildings says a permit is always required to repair or replace structural elements of a porch (columns, beams, foundations, stringers, floor joists), with plans by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. The wider rule is that structural porch repair requires plans by an Illinois architect or structural engineer. Professional engineers (PEs) are accepted only for a limited range of work, so for a porch, ask for a structural engineer specifically.
Work on the other side of the line is lighter. Per the same City page, no permit is needed for routine maintenance like power washing or painting. If you have not received a violation, no permit is needed to replace nonstructural parts such as deck boards, stair treads or railing pickets (City of Chicago). A residential porch less than 6 feet off the ground with no more than 50 square feet of landing also skips the permit.
Architect or structural engineer: how to choose
Both can prepare the plans. They differ in what they do best.
| Your situation | The better fit |
|---|---|
| Rotted columns, sagging beam, failing joists or stringers, on a porch you are keeping as it is | Structural engineer |
| Rebuilding the porch in a new size, shape or location | Architect, with structural input |
| Replacing wood framing with steel | Either, drawn to the structural load |
| A porch that is part of a larger renovation | Architect leading the set |
The reasoning is simple. A structural engineer's job is load: what carries what, and whether it will keep carrying it. An architect's job is the whole design, including layout, appearance and how the pieces fit the building. For a straight structural repair, an engineer is often the direct route. Once the porch changes shape or ties into other work, an architect leads. Ask whichever you hire whether they work with the other.
When drawings are involved, the City's Express porch route allows replacing wood with steel, updating railings to current guard height and opening size, and reinforcing members to meet current structural minimums. Without drawings it covers repair and in-kind replacement only. Express does not cover new structures, a different size, location or configuration, enclosed porches, or legalizing a porch built without a permit. Those need a plan-based permit (City of Chicago).
What about the contractor?
A contractor does not stand in for either professional. Akats coordinates drawings with licensed design professionals, then builds and handles the permit. Our job starts where the stamped plans do. If you already have a violation that points to your porch, see when a violation needs drawings. For the City's wider rules on who needs an architect or engineer, read do you need an architect for a building permit in Chicago, and keep in mind that as-built drawings may be a first step if the porch was never documented.
When the porch is the problem and you are not sure which pro to call, start with our architectural services team or the design-build guide.
Common questions
For structural repair, the City requires plans by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer, and either qualifies. A permit is always required for structural elements. Simple nonstructural repairs, like replacing deck boards or railing pickets, can skip drawings if no violation was issued.
The City says PEs are accepted only for a limited range of work, and that most projects need an architect or a structural engineer. For a porch, hire a structural engineer or architect, and confirm your case with the Department of Buildings.
Sources
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: When Is a Licensed Architect or Engineer Required?
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Porch and Deck Safety
- City of Chicago: Express Permit Program: Porch, Deck, Balcony, or Fire Escape Repair
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Self-Certified Permit Application Program
Facts last checked: October 7, 2026.
This article explains general rules and common situations in Chicago. It is not legal advice, and City rules change. For a specific property, check with the Chicago Department of Buildings or a licensed professional.