A Chicago permit inspection is the Department of Buildings checking that the work you pulled a permit for was actually done, and done to code. You request it, an inspector visits, and the work passes or it does not. Skip that step and the permit sits open, which can cause problems later. Here is how the request works, what to do so you pass, and where the City's own pages stop giving a clear answer.
How do I request a permit inspection in Chicago?
For permit work, the Department of Buildings uses an online permit inspection appointment form. The City's porch page says this directly: if there are no open porch violations, you request the permit inspection through that online form (City of Chicago). That is the clearest statement we can verify. For other kinds of permit work, the form's details, such as what it asks for and how far ahead you can book, are not something we can promise, and they change. Confirm the current steps with the Department of Buildings before you call a job finished. The broader picture of which permit applies is in our Chicago building permits guide.
Who makes the request? That depends on who pulled the permit. Normally the contractor on the permit schedules inspections. If you pulled it yourself as an owner acting as your own contractor, the responsibility is yours: the City says an owner in that role takes on responsibility for worker safety, scheduling inspections and code compliance (City of Chicago). Our article on owner-as-contractor permits covers who qualifies.
If you hired a contractor, ask one question before the job starts: who calls for the inspection, and will you get a copy of the result?
When do inspections happen?
Not at the end only. A permit job can need an inspection before something gets closed up, not just a final look. The City's emergency work rule shows the logic: work may not be concealed without inspector approval (City of Chicago). The practical lesson is general. Do not cover work, whether that is drywall, a finished surface or backfill, until you know whether an inspector needs to see it first. Ask the Department of Buildings or the contractor which inspections your permit requires.
The City's records show where you stand. Searching your address shows permit and inspection records (City of Chicago). Our article on reading the Chicago permit record walks through what to look for, including permits with no inspection history.
How do I pass the inspection?
The City does not publish one pass list for every job, and we will not invent one. What we can say is what makes inspections go wrong in Chicago repair work, and these are patterns, not City rules:
- The work does not match the permit. The permit describes one job and the crew did a bigger or different one. Match the permit description to the scope before you start.
- The work is covered before it is seen. See above. Ask what must be exposed.
- The permit holder is not the person doing the work. If the licensed contractor named on the permit is not the one on site, expect questions.
- Nobody is there. An inspector arrives and cannot get access. Make sure someone can open the building, gangway or rear yard.
- A related violation is still open. If a notice is tied to the same building, the inspection may not go the way you expect. The next section explains why.
A good contractor pre-checks the work against the permit description and the applicable code before requesting the visit. That is the single best way to pass. It also means photographing the work at each stage, so that if the inspector asks what is behind a finished surface, you have something to show.
On porches, stairs and masonry repairs, the failed inspection is rarely a bad repair. It is a permit that describes less than the crew built, or work that was finished before anyone confirmed the inspector would see it. Both are fixable with a call before the visit, not after.
What about inspections tied to a violation case?
This is a different track. The City says follow-up inspections tied to Administrative Hearings or Circuit Court cases are scheduled through the case, not the online permit inspection form. If your case is in Circuit Court, a court inspector is assigned and you call the number on your notice. If it is in Administrative Hearings, you bring proof of compliance, meaning the permit and before and after photos, to the hearing date (City of Chicago).
If you are holding a notice, treat the case schedule as the controlling one. For the process, read what happens when work was done without a permit. Whether and how to request a non-hearing compliance reinspection is not clearly spelled out on the City pages we can verify, so ask the Department of Buildings.
What happens if the permit is never inspected?
It expires. For an Express permit, the City says the permit expires if the first inspection is not passed within 540 days (about 18 months) of when work may begin, and a follow-up must pass within 730 days of the last inspection. The Department of Buildings says it does not have legal authority to reinstate an expired permit (City of Chicago). These periods are volatile, so confirm current numbers with the City.
An expired permit leaves finished work with nothing on record to back it up. That is a headache at resale, with a lender and with the next inspector. See what happens when a Chicago permit expires for the next step.
Work that was never permitted is a separate and worse problem. The City describes a stop work order, a tripled permit fee in most cases and a possible enforcement case (City of Chicago).
When should I call a pro?
Call before you request the visit if any of these are true: you are not sure what the permit covers, someone else pulled the permit and cannot tell you the inspection schedule, a violation notice is tied to the same area, or the permit is old. Our permit expediting team handles the City side, and the repair crew handles the work, so what gets inspected matches what was permitted.
Common questions
Normally the contractor on the permit. If you pulled the permit as an owner acting as your own contractor, scheduling inspections is your responsibility under the City's owner-as-contractor rules. Ask before work starts who will call it in.
The Department of Buildings uses an online permit inspection appointment form for permit work. The City's porch page confirms this when there are no open violations. Check the City's site for the current form and steps, since they change.
Follow-up inspections tied to a case are scheduled through the case, not the online form. In Circuit Court you call the number on your notice. In Administrative Hearings you bring proof of compliance, such as the permit and before and after photos.
Yes. An Express permit expires if the first inspection is not passed within 540 days of when work may begin, and the City says it cannot reinstate an expired permit. Confirm current periods with the Department of Buildings.
Sources
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Porch and Deck Safety
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: Does My Building Permit Expire?
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: What Types of Work Do Not Require a Building Permit?
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Search Building Department Records
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: What Happens If I Start Work Without a Required Permit?
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.