Usually yes, when the steps are attached to a house, porch or landing and carry foot traffic. Concrete poured on loose backfill settles, tilts and cracks. The only City figure we can point to is a 2011 porch guideline of 42 inches below grade for footings, and that is old guidance for wood porches, not a rule for poured steps. Check the required depth and permit with the Department of Buildings before anyone digs.
Do concrete steps need footings in Chicago? If the steps sit against a house, a porch or a landing and people use them every day, plan on a footing or a properly prepared base under them. Steps poured on loose fill beside the foundation are the ones that sink and pull away from the wall.
What does a footing do under concrete steps?
A footing spreads the load onto soil that will not move. Without one, steps rest on whatever was shoveled back against the foundation when the house was built. Backfill often settles over the years (University of Minnesota Extension), and settlement is one of the typical causes of concrete cracking (ACI repair guidance).
The same logic applies to the base. NRMCA advises a well compacted subgrade with topsoil and soft spots removed, and never concrete on a frozen subgrade (NRMCA). For footings, soil conditions should be assessed and the footing should bear on undisturbed or well compacted soil (NRMCA).
What depth does Chicago require?
We could not verify a current City rule that sets a footing depth for poured concrete steps. Don't let a contractor or a website quote you "Chicago's frost depth" as settled code for steps.
Here is the one City figure on file. The Department of Buildings' 2011 Porch Design and Construction Guidelines say porch footings must have the bottom at least 42 inches below grade. That is 2011 guidance for wood porches and decks, written against older code chapters, so treat it as a reference point and confirm against the current code. Inspectors on porch jobs do look at stairs and footings (City of Chicago).
The permit question is separate. The City exempts some concrete flatwork, but only a walkway not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below (City of Chicago). Steps up to a porch or a raised landing may not fit that. Work that is not exempt still needs a permit (City of Chicago). Ask the Department of Buildings, and read our rundown of the concrete permit rules.
Front steps that were poured on backfill next to the foundation wall. Years later there is a gap between the top step and the house, the treads tilt away from the door, and the cracks step down the face. That is a base problem, not a surface problem.
How do you know if steps need a new base?
- A gap opening between the steps and the house wall.
- Treads that tilt outward or risers that are no longer even.
- Cracks that run through the steps and keep widening.
- A top landing that has dropped below the threshold.
Any of these means resurfacing or patching will not last. We explain the failure in why a concrete stoop sinks and how to choose between repair and replacement. Our concrete crew can look at the base and tell you what is under there. The wider picture is in the Chicago concrete guide.
What to ask before you sign
- What will the steps bear on, and how deep will the footing go?
- How will the soil be prepared and compacted?
- Who confirms the permit and depth requirements with the Department of Buildings?
Common questions
We could not verify a current City rule for poured steps. The only City figure on file is the 2011 porch guideline of 42 inches below grade for wood porch footings. Confirm the required depth with the Department of Buildings before digging.
Concrete on loose or uncompacted soil settles, and the steps tilt or pull from the house. NRMCA advises a well compacted subgrade and never pouring on frozen ground. For steps that carry traffic, ask for a footing or a properly engineered base.
It depends on the work. The City exempts some concrete flatwork that is no more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement. Steps to a porch or raised landing may not qualify, so confirm with the Department of Buildings first.
Sources
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Porch Design and Construction Guidelines (PDF, May 2011)
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings: Porch and Deck Safety
- University of Minnesota Extension: Moisture in Basements: Causes and Solutions
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association: Concrete in Practice 7: Cracks in Residential Basement Walls (PDF)
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association: Concrete in Practice 4: Cracking Concrete Surfaces (PDF)
- American Concrete Institute: RAP Bulletin 1: Structural Crack Repair by Epoxy Injection (PDF)
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: Mason Contractor License FAQ
- City of Chicago: Guide to Building Permits: What Types of Work Do Not Require a Building 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.