The Chicago self-certification permit is not a do-it-yourself option for owners. It is a Department of Buildings program for an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer who completed the City's training and became a registered self-certification professional. That professional seals the drawings and takes full responsibility for code compliance. Expediters are not allowed to upload these applications. If your project has drawings, ask your design professional whether they are registered.
The name misleads people. A Chicago self-certification permit does not mean the property owner certifies their own project. It means a licensed design professional certifies the drawings and answers for them. If you are an owner reading this to find a shortcut, the shortcut belongs to your architect, not to you.
What is the Self-Certified Permit Application Program?
It is one of the Department of Buildings' permit programs. The City lists four main routes: the Express Permit Program for most repair work, Standard Plan Review for projects that need architectural plans, the Self-Certified Permit Application Program, and Developer Services for moderate to complex projects (City of Chicago).
Under Self-Cert, an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer who completed the City's training, called a "registered self-certification professional," seals the drawings and takes full responsibility for code compliance (City of Chicago). The professional carries the responsibility. How the City handles review for these applications is a question for the Department of Buildings.
Who qualifies for Chicago self-certification?
Only people who clear two bars:
- They hold an Illinois license as an architect or structural engineer.
- They completed the Department of Buildings training and are registered as a self-certification professional.
The City holds that training every two years. At the time of our research it said the next class would be in late 2027 or early 2028 (City of Chicago). That schedule can change, so check the Department of Buildings site before you count on it.
Notice who is not on the list: the owner, the contractor, and the expediter. A homeowner cannot self-certify a permit, even for their own building and even if they are a licensed contractor. And the City is explicit that expediters are not allowed to assist with uploading self-certified applications (City of Chicago).
What does the design professional take on?
Full responsibility for code compliance, in the City's words (City of Chicago). The professional's seal and license stand behind the drawings.
That also means the City can act against the professional. The Building Commissioner can suspend a state-licensed professional's ability to start new applications (City of Chicago). That is real skin in the game for the professional.
What conditions does the City attach?
The City's page says a self-certified permit issues after zoning approval if the contractor licenses are valid and there are no violations or stop work orders on the property (City of Chicago). Three practical points follow:
- Zoning comes first. Self-Cert does not skip zoning approval.
- Contractor licenses are checked. Verify your contractor's license before you start. The City's Contractor License Lookup is the place.
- Open violations hold things up. If the property has an open violation or stop work order, resolve it before you plan around this route.
The City's page describes a typical issue time, but it depends on a clean file, so do not plan a closing or a tenant move-in around it. Ask the Department of Buildings what to expect for your project.
How is Self-Cert different from Express and Standard Plan Review?
| Program | Who it is for | Drawings? |
|---|---|---|
| Express Permit | Most repair work and some small improvements | Usually not for typical repairs (City) |
| Standard Plan Review | Projects that need architectural plans, within the City's size limits | Yes, prepared by an architect (City) |
| Self-Cert | Projects with drawings sealed by a registered professional | Yes, sealed and certified by that professional |
If your work is a typical masonry, roof or porch repair, you are probably looking at Express, not Self-Cert. If your project needs plans and City review, see Standard Plan Review. Which of the two a given project fits is a question for your architect and the Department of Buildings.
Why would a project go this route?
Honestly, that is mostly the architect's call, not the owner's. Ask your design professional which program fits your project and why.
What an owner should do is ask three questions:
- Is the person drawing my plans a registered self-certification professional?
- If so, is Self-Cert the right route for this project, and why?
- What happens to the permit if the City raises a question later?
Owners sometimes hear "self-cert" from a contractor or friend and assume it means they can file their own paperwork without an architect. It does not. When we see confusion, it is usually about who is allowed to touch the application. The answer for Self-Cert is the registered architect or structural engineer, and nobody else.
If you hire someone to file a self-certified application who is not a registered professional, or you ask an expediter to upload it, the application cannot go in that way. You lose time and may have to restart on a different program. And if work begins without the permit it needs, the City can issue a stop work order, and work resumes only after the permit is obtained and the penalty is paid (City of Chicago). Confirm current rules with the Department of Buildings.
Where does Akats fit?
We build, so we are usually the contractor named on the permit, and we work with the design professional who seals the drawings. If your project needs drawings, we can coordinate with an architect and the filing, and our expediting team handles the City side that Self-Cert allows. Ask us who is filing what before work starts.
For the full permit map, see the Chicago building permits guide. If you are weighing whether to hire help with filings, what a permit expediter does explains the role.
Common questions
No. Self-certification is for an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer who completed the Department of Buildings training and is registered as a self-certification professional. Owners, contractors and expediters cannot use it for themselves.
No. The City says expediters are not allowed to assist with uploading self-certified applications. The registered architect or structural engineer submits it. Expediters can still start plan-based applications through the other routes.
No. The City's page says a self-certified permit issues after zoning approval, provided contractor licenses are valid and there are no violations or stop work orders. Confirm current requirements with the Department of Buildings.
No. They are separate programs. Express covers most repair work and some small improvements. Self-Cert is for projects with drawings sealed by a registered architect or structural engineer who takes responsibility for code compliance.
Sources
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Permits
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Self-Certified Permit Application Program
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Standard Plan Review Permit Program
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Permit Professional Lookup: Help
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: When Is a Licensed Architect or Engineer Required?
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Trade Licensing
- 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.