Review comments mean the Department of Buildings found something in your permit application it needs fixed or explained before going further. The sound approach is to sort each comment by type, send each to the person who can answer it (architect, contractor or owner), and reply point by point. We do not have a verified City source for how comments are delivered or how long you have to answer, so read the notice itself and confirm the details with the Department of Buildings.
A Chicago permit review comment is not the end of your project. It is the Department of Buildings (DOB) telling you something in the application needs to be fixed, explained or added. Owners tend to panic, or to go quiet and hope it resolves. Neither works. Here is a steady way to handle comments, with one honest limit: we will not describe DOB's exact process, because we have no verified City source for it.
What does a Chicago permit review comment mean?
In general, a review comment is a reviewer's note that something about your application does not yet meet what the City needs, or that information is missing. It might concern the drawings, the contractor's license, the description of the work, or the property record.
A comment is a request to respond. It is not, by itself, a finding that your project is bad. But an unanswered comment leaves your application waiting, so a slow or sloppy answer costs you time.
Which kinds of comments you see depend a lot on the route your project is on. The City runs several programs: Express for most repair work, Standard Plan Review when architectural plans are required, Self-Certified permits, and Developer Services for moderate to complex projects (City of Chicago). Standard Plan Review, for example, requires an architect to prepare drawings and uses online plan submission through E-Plan, with zoning approval needed for all projects (City of Chicago).
What we can and cannot tell you
Be clear about the limit. DOB's pages we reviewed do not give us a verified description of how comments are delivered, what the response window is, or how many rounds you get. So we will not state those.
What to do instead:
- Read the notice or portal message itself. It will tell you what is being asked and how to reply.
- Note any deadline printed on it and put it on a calendar.
- If anything is unclear, ask DOB which comment applies to which part of your application and how to submit the response.
How do you sort the comments?
Before anyone answers anything, make a list. Copy each comment into a table with four columns: the comment, what it is about, who can answer it, and the response.
Most comments fall into a few buckets:
| Type | Typical examples | Who answers |
|---|---|---|
| Drawings and design | A detail or dimension is unclear or missing | The architect or engineer who prepared the drawings |
| Licenses and parties | Contractor or professional information missing | The contractor, or the professional |
| Description of work | The scope is unclear or does not match the drawings | Whoever filed, with the contractor |
| Property record | Open violation or stop work order on the file | The owner, usually with help |
| Owner paperwork | A form, ID or signature is missing | The owner |
Those categories are our practical sorting, not DOB's official classification. Use them to route the work, not to argue with the City.
Who is allowed to answer?
Match the answer to the person who has the authority.
Drawing comments belong to the design professional. Plan-based permits require plans prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or engineer (City of Chicago). An owner or contractor should not redraw their way out of a comment. If your plans are sealed under Self-Cert, the registered architect or structural engineer is the one who answers, because that professional takes full responsibility for code compliance (City of Chicago).
Expediters can help, with limits. A City-licensed expediter can start plan-based applications (City of Chicago) and can often manage the back and forth. But expediters are not allowed to assist with uploading Self-Certified applications (City of Chicago), and they do not replace the architect for design questions. Our article on what a permit expediter does explains the role.
License and party comments go to the named party. Do not guess a license number. Pull it from the City's lookup and match it to the company name on the contract.
How should you write the response?
Keep it plain and organized.
- Answer in the same order. One response per comment, numbered the way the comment is numbered.
- Quote the comment, then answer it. The reviewer should not have to hunt.
- Point to the exact place. If a drawing sheet changed, name the sheet and the revision.
- Answer only what was asked. Do not volunteer scope changes inside a comment response. If the scope really did change, say that separately and ask DOB how to handle it.
- Do not argue. If you think a comment is wrong, give the reason and the supporting document, calmly. If the issue is a code interpretation, that is the architect's call.
- Keep a log. Date, what you sent, who sent it, and what came back.
If a comment does not make sense, ask DOB to clarify it before you respond. A wrong guess burns a round.
Why do permit applications get comments in the first place?
Without a verified City list, we can tell you the patterns that tend to cause them in practice:
- missing or unclear drawings on a job that needs plans
- a scope description that does not match what the crew will do
- contractor license information that does not check out
- an open violation or stop work order on the property
- the wrong program for the work
That last one is a real cost. If a project is sent down the Express route and turns out to need drawings, or vice versa, it can stall. This is why we start with the Chicago building permits guide and the decision of which permit fits.
What if the comment is about a violation or stop work order?
That is a record problem, not a drawing problem, and the permit may be held until it is dealt with. The City's Self-Cert page says a self-certified permit issues when there are no violations or stop work orders (City of Chicago). A violation is cleared by correcting it and closing the case, not by a better permit narrative. Our Chicago building violations guide explains that process.
What if you are tempted to just start work?
Do not. If work begins without a required permit, the City can issue a stop work order, and work resumes only after the permit is obtained and the penalty paid. The permit fee is tripled in most cases, and an enforcement case can follow (City of Chicago). A pending comment is not a permit. Confirm current details with the Department of Buildings.
A pattern we see: the owner gets a comment, forwards it to a contractor who forwards it to a friend who "knows the City," and nobody answers. Weeks pass. The fix is simple: one person owns the file, every comment has a name next to it, and the answer goes back in the same format it came in.
What if you want help?
If your permit has comments and you are not sure who should answer which, that is where an expediter or a contractor who handles permits earns their keep. Our expediting team will read the comments with you, say which ones belong to an architect, and handle the response. For the clock side of the question, see what sets the clock on a Chicago permit, and for the plan side, Standard Plan Review.
Common questions
It means the Department of Buildings needs something fixed, explained or added before your application can move forward. It is a request to respond, not by itself a denial. Read the notice for exactly what is being asked.
Check the notice or portal message and confirm with the Department of Buildings. We do not have a verified City source for the response window, so do not assume one. Put any printed deadline on your calendar right away.
The Illinois-licensed architect or engineer who prepared the drawings. Plan-based permits require plans prepared by one of them. An expediter can manage the process, but not replace the design professional on design questions.
No. Do not treat a pending application as a permit. Starting work without a required permit can lead to a stop work order, a tripled permit fee in most cases and an enforcement case. Confirm details with the Department of Buildings.
Sources
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Permits
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Standard Plan Review Permit Program
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: When Is a Licensed Architect or Engineer Required?
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Permit Professional Lookup: Help
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Self-Certified Permit Application Program
- 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.