Porch Repair Done: How Do You Get It Inspected?

Porch inspection after repair in Chicago depends on which situation you are in: a plain permit with no violation, a violation going through Administrative Hearings, or a case in Circuit Court. The Department of Buildings (DOB) lays out each path on its porch safety page.

No open violation: request the permit inspection

If you pulled a permit and have no open porch violations, the City says to request the inspection through DOB's online permit inspection appointment form (City porch safety page). The permit is what ties the inspection to your job, so have the permit number ready, and make sure the work is finished and accessible before you book. Inspectors need to see the framing, connections and footings, not just a new deck surface, so do not close up anything the inspector still has to see.

Permits do not wait forever. An Express permit expires if the first inspection is not passed within 540 days of when work may begin, and after a first inspection a follow-up must pass within 730 days of the last one. DOB says it has no legal authority to reinstate an expired permit (City of Chicago). Do not let a finished porch sit uninspected.

Repairs that need no permit, such as painting or replacing deck boards, do not generate an inspection. If you are not sure whether your job needed one, see Chicago porch permits.

Violation case at Administrative Hearings

If your porch violation is going through the Department of Administrative Hearings, the City says to bring the permit and before and after photos to the hearing (City porch safety page). The case itself ends when the Administrative Law Judge enters a finding. That can be liable, not liable, nonsuit (including when the owner has timely provided proof the violations are fixed), default, or dismissal for want of prosecution (City violation enforcement guide). Showing the work is done is your evidence.

If liability is found and you have begun correcting the problem, the hearing officer may order a reinspection to verify compliance before fines are decided (Hearings ordinance). So fixing the porch first, then walking in with proof, is the stronger position. For how that process runs, see got an unsafe porch violation. Whether to appear, hire an attorney or contest anything is a legal decision, so talk to an attorney.

Violation case in Circuit Court

If you are in Circuit Court, the City says a court inspector handles the follow-up (City porch safety page). Ask your attorney or the City's attorney's office how your inspector schedules the visit.

What to have ready

• The permit number and the permit itself.
• Before and after photos of the same spots, including posts, connections and stairs.
• Plans or engineer paperwork if the permit needed them.
• Your contractor's name and license details.

If the porch does not pass, read why Chicago porches fail inspection and does Chicago inspect porches for what inspectors look for. Our porch crew documents the work and handles the permit steps. The porch guide covers the full rebuild.

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.