Do You Need Drawings to Rebuild a Chicago Porch?

Chicago porch drawings are required whenever the work is structural or goes beyond repairing what is already there. They are not required for cosmetic and non-structural fixes. Here is where the line sits.

When are drawings required?

The Department of Buildings says a permit is always required to repair or replace structural elements of a porch, such as columns, beams, foundations, stringers and floor joists, with plans by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer (City porch safety page). A full rebuild touches all of those.

The City's Express porch page draws the other edge. Express is allowed for repair of existing structures, including replacing up to 50 percent of an existing single-story porch of conventional materials, and for in-kind replacement. It is not allowed for new structures, structures that are larger, smaller or in a different location or configuration, rebuilding something built without a permit, replacing steel with wood, or enclosed porches. Those need a plan-based permit.

The City also says any plan-based permit needs plans by an Illinois-licensed architect or engineer. For most projects that means an architect or a structural engineer, and structural porch repair specifically calls for an architect or structural engineer (City architect and engineer FAQ).

When are drawings not required?

The same porch page lists what does not need a permit, and therefore no drawings:

• Routine maintenance such as power washing or painting.
• Replacing non-structural pieces such as deck boards, stair treads and railing pickets, if you have not received a violation.
• Repairing or replacing a residential porch less than 6 feet off the ground with no more than 50 square feet of landing.

If a violation notice is involved and the repair is non-structural, the City says the Express Permit may be used (PORCH-06). Express is for repair work and is its own worktype, "Porch, Deck, Balcony, or Fire Escape Repair" (Express worktypes).

What do the drawings actually do?

They show how the porch will carry its load: post sizes, beam and joist sizes, how the porch attaches to the building, and what it sits on. The City has long published a porch design guide for wood porches. Its May 2011 guidelines include load tables, a checklist and a process, but they cite code chapters that predate today's code, so treat them as 2011 City guidance and check with the Department of Buildings before you rely on a number (DOB porch guidelines, May 2011).

A porch is the kind of structure where being a little off matters, because it carries people. The reviewer is checking that someone qualified took responsibility for the structure.

What to ask before you sign

1. Is my job structural, and does it need plans? Who is drawing them, and are they Illinois-licensed?
2. Who is pulling the permit, and what is the permit number?
3. Is anything in the plan bigger, different or enclosed compared to what is there now?
4. When does the inspection get scheduled?

Read how a Chicago porch rebuild works start to finish for the order of operations, and Chicago porch permits for the permit side. A brand-new roof or covered porch is its own question, covered in covered porch permits. Our porch crew works with architects and engineers so you are not chasing signatures. The porch guide covers the rest.

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.