Building Permit — City of Chicago
Chicago restaurant build-outs require a Department of Buildings permit; architectural plans are reviewed via E-Plan.
What it is. The building permit for construction, alteration, or repair of the space.
Who issues it. City of Chicago — Department of Buildings (City layer).
When you need it. Before most construction/alteration. Restaurant architectural plans must be submitted through E-Plan for Department of Buildings review; inspectors also inspect for certain business/liquor licenses.
How to apply. Apply via the City's Inspection, Permitting & Licensing portal; schedule and pass inspections.
Fees. Per the Department of Buildings fee schedule — see source (⟢ VERIFY).
What SpoonSeal tracks. The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
References
- City of Chicago, Permits (Department of Buildings) — https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bldgs/provdrs/permits.html — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.