Do You Need a Permit to Repair Brick in Chicago? (Chicago Masonry Permit Rules)

If you are asking about a Chicago masonry permit for brick repair, the answer depends on how much brick, what kind of repair, and what the wall is holding up. A few replaced bricks on a two-flat can be exempt. A rebuilt section of wall almost never is. The City publishes both sides of that line, and this article walks through them in plain English so you can ask the right questions before anyone takes a chisel to your wall.

What does Chicago require for brick repair?

The City's baseline rule is that a building permit is required before most construction, demolition, rehabilitation and repair work, with a limited list of exemptions (City of Chicago). Work done under an exemption must still meet all the construction codes.

Most small repair permits now run through the Express Permit Program, which launched in November 2023 and replaced the old paper Easy Permit process (City of Chicago). "Masonry Work" is one of its listed worktypes, and so is "Scaffolding" (City of Chicago). If a contractor tells you to "get an Easy Permit" for your brick, they are working from old information.

The City's Express masonry page lists what fits the category: routine maintenance and repair of masonry walls (tuckpointing is named), replacing the outer layer (wythe) of a masonry wall, replacing a lintel up to 6 feet, and rebuilding a masonry parapet wall up to 2,500 square feet. Brick replacement beyond the exemption below falls in this category. Tuckpointing has its own explainer: see do you need a permit for tuckpointing.

When don't you need a permit to replace brick?

There is one masonry exemption that matters for most owners. On a residential building up to four stories, plus accessory buildings like a garage, the City allows in-kind replacement of up to 50 square feet of masonry (brick, stone or concrete) without a permit (City of Chicago). In-kind means the same material, size and shape. Replacing a patch of common brick with matching brick qualifies. Swapping it for a different material does not.

Fifty square feet is a real patch, not a handful of bricks. It is still small next to a full elevation of a three-flat.

The general repair exemption has limits that apply here too. Repair skips the permit only if it does not involve cutting away part of an exterior wall, removing or cutting a structural beam, column or load-bearing support, or changing required exits, and exterior work on a designated Chicago Landmark still needs a permit (City of Chicago). Landmark and proposed-landmark properties may not get the "no permit" exemptions at all (City of Chicago).

What isn't eligible for the Express Permit?

The City is explicit about work that does not fit Express masonry (City of Chicago):

• Constructing a new masonry structure.
• Rebuilding all layers (wythes) of an exterior wall.
• Replacing a lintel over 25 feet.
• Rebuilding a parapet wall taller than 48 inches.
• Reconfiguring concrete elements.

Drawings from an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer are required for a lintel over 6 feet (up to 25 feet) and for concrete repair over 100 square feet (City of Chicago). "Not eligible for Express" does not mean "not allowed." It means the work goes through a different, slower review, and the Department of Buildings tells you which one. For lintel specifics, see lintel replacement in Chicago. For parapets, see what the City allows for parapet repair.

Who is allowed to pull a masonry permit?

A masonry permit requires a City-licensed mason contractor, unless an owner qualifies to act as their own contractor (City of Chicago). The mason license applies to work in stone, concrete and clay brick, and the business must own or employ at least one person who passed the City mason exam. Only employees, not 1099 workers, work under the license (mason contractor license). For brick, that means a Class A or Class B mason contractor. Class C covers site-formed concrete only.

The license has exceptions, including repairs that do not need a permit, and an owner of a primary residence that is single-family or a multifamily of three stories or fewer and six units or fewer, one property per calendar year (City of Chicago). For an Express permit the owner route requires the City's owner-as-contractor form plus government ID showing you live there, and you take on responsibility for worker safety, inspections and code compliance (City of Chicago). That last part is not paperwork. If the wall comes down on someone, it is yours.

What else needs its own permit?

A building permit covers the wall. If scaffolding, a dumpster or material storage sits on the sidewalk, alley, street or parkway, that is the public way, and it needs a separate permit from CDOT (City of Chicago). Brick on a lot-line building almost always touches the public way.

Emergency work is the exception to timing. If something must be done right away to prevent imminent harm, the work can go first, but the permit application is due the next business day, and the work cannot be concealed without inspector approval (City of Chicago). Emergency scaffolding needs its own application within 3 business days.

Also keep in mind that dust control rules apply even when a permit is not needed, and the City notes that masonry grinding can require a separate air quality permit (City of Chicago). Ask your contractor how they handle it.

Why does the City care about loose brick?

Because brick that falls is a public safety problem, and the code puts the duty on you. Chicago's code requires the exterior of a structure to be kept in good repair and structurally sound, and its list of unsafe conditions includes masonry joints that are not weather resistant or water tight, and veneer, cornices and facings that are not properly anchored (City of Chicago). An inspector who visits after a 311 complaint can cite those conditions whether or not any work was ever permitted.

What to ask before you hire a mason

1. Is my repair under the 50 square foot in-kind exemption, or does it need a permit? Why?
2. Which mason class is your license, and who is the supervising mason?
3. What is the permit number, and is it in my name or yours?
4. Is scaffolding going on the sidewalk or alley, and who pulls that permit?
5. If you open the wall and find a bad lintel or a bowed section, how does the scope and permit change?

For the full picture of brick problems and repair options, start with our Chicago brick and masonry repair guide. When you want a straight read on your wall, our masonry crew can walk it with you.

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.