Chicago Building Violations Data: What the Dataset Shows and Doesn't

The City of Chicago publishes its building violations data on the Chicago Data Portal, and anyone can open it. It is a useful starting point if you own, manage or are thinking of buying a building. It is also easy to read too much into. This article covers what the dataset contains, what the City itself says you should not use it for, and what to do when the data and a real property file disagree. If you just want to look up one address, start with how to look up Chicago building violations by address. For the whole process, see our guide to Chicago building violations.

What the dataset covers

The Chicago Data Portal's "Building Violations" dataset covers violations issued by the Department of Buildings from 2006 to the present (Chicago Data Portal). It is a public record of citations, published by the City itself, so it is a primary source, not a third-party copy.

Separately, the Department of Buildings has a "Search Building Department Records" tool that lets you search permit, inspection and violation records by address (Department of Buildings). The portal is the raw data. The records search is the lookup by address. Both draw on Department of Buildings records, but they are different front ends, so check which one you are in.

We do not describe individual columns or codes here. The portal publishes the field definitions on the dataset page, and the City can change them. Read the data dictionary on the dataset page before you rely on any field.

What the data does not tell you

This is the part that matters, and the City says it plainly. The dataset notice says the data is historical, should not be relied on for real estate transactions, does not necessarily reflect current condition, and includes both liable and not liable findings (Chicago Data Portal).

Take those one at a time.

• Historical. An old entry may describe a problem that was fixed years ago. An entry is not proof the condition still exists.
• Not for real estate transactions. Do not use the dataset as your closing check. See below.
• Not necessarily current. A property with no entries is not proof of a clean building. A property with entries is not proof of a broken one.
• Liable and not liable. A violation can appear in the data even if the case ended in a finding that the owner was not liable. A line in the table is an allegation unless you confirm the outcome.

And a point that surprises people: the data comes from the Department of Buildings. The Department of Administrative Hearings does not investigate, file or prosecute cases. The issuing department files the notice, and questions about why you were cited go there (Department of Administrative Hearings). So the portal tells you what the Department of Buildings cited. It does not by itself tell you what the hearing officer ruled.

Why a clean search is not a clean title

If you are buying, the City's own notice is clear. It tells lenders and title companies to check the title commitment for outstanding enforcement actions in the Circuit Court of Cook County or at the Department of Administrative Hearings (Chicago Data Portal). A case can end in a default judgment, which can be used to place a lien on the property (Department of Administrative Hearings). That kind of lien is a title matter, not a thing you will find by scrolling a spreadsheet.

So the right order for a purchase is:

1. Use the portal and the records search to get a first picture.
2. Get the title commitment and read it for open enforcement cases.
3. Have the building walked by someone who can read exterior conditions.

We go deeper on the buyer side in buying a two-flat in Chicago with open violations. The point here is narrower: do not treat "nothing in the data" as "nothing to find."

How to read an entry like a property owner

A violation record is the Department of Buildings saying a condition was observed. It helps to translate it into the physical thing behind it.

For exterior items, the rule behind many entries is Title 14X, which requires the exterior of a structure to be kept in good repair, structurally sound and sanitary. Its list of unsafe conditions includes masonry joints that are not weather tight, veneer, cornices and trim not properly anchored, and exterior stairs, porches, balconies, guards and handrails that are not sound (Title 14X). When you see a masonry or porch entry, that is the kind of condition the inspector was describing. For the common ones, see the most common Chicago building code violations on two-flats.

When you look at your own address, ask four questions:

1. What is the cited condition? Match the entry to something you can see on the building.
2. When was it issued? An old entry may be resolved. A recent one probably is not.
3. Where did the case go? A case can end in several ways, including liable, not liable, nonsuit, default or dismissal (City of Chicago). The portal entry does not always tell you which.
4. Is the work done and documented? If you fixed it, you need the proof, not just the repair.

What the data is good for

Used honestly, the dataset helps in a few ways.

• Owners: a quick check that nothing is open on your own address that you do not know about. This is also a good way to catch a notice that went to an old mailing address.
• Buyers and investors: a first screen on a building's history, before you pay for deeper checks.
• Neighbors and block groups: a look at how many entries cluster on a street.
• Contractors: a way to see the type of condition the Department of Buildings cites most in an area. We use it to understand what inspectors write up, not to predict what any one inspector will do.

It is not good for proving a building is clear. For that you need the closed case and the proof of repair in hand.

What to do when the data shows something

If your address has an entry you did not know about, do not panic and do not assume it is dead. Find the case, read the notice, and see whether a hearing date is coming or has passed. An entry you ignore can turn into a default judgment and a lien, which is a much bigger problem than the original condition. Our article on how long a violation stays on a property covers the timing question.

If the entry matches a real condition, get it looked at. We read the cited item, look at the actual building, and tell you what the repair involves and whether it needs a permit, in English or Spanish. See our building code violation service.

Common questions

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.