Independent analysis of City of Chicago recordsData through Sep. 15, 2026
PermitWaitChicago permit timing desk

Official community area

Clearing permit processing times

For 996 issued permits in Clearing, the median processing time was 1 day; 75% were issued within 9 days.

Source: City of Chicago Building Permits · Issued-permit cohort · Updated Sep. 16, 2026

Records checked9962021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

For Clearing permit processing times, 996 issued permit records show a median processing time of 1 day; 75% were issued within 9 days and 90% within 26 days, covering January 2021 through September 15, 2026.

Typical wait1 daymedian issued permit
Usually within9 days75% of records
Long-wait edge26 days90% of records
Evidence996issued permits

The median was 2 days slower than the previous 12 months.

Clearing permit processing times: wait distribution

For Clearing permit processing times, 996 issued permits are distributed across five elapsed-time bands from same-day issuance through waits of 91 days or longer.

Same day
48.8%
1–7 days
23.2%
8–30 days
18.8%
31–90 days
4.7%
91+ days
4.5%

Change over time

Clearing permit processing times: annual permit timing

Clearing permit processing times has 6 publishable issue-year cohorts spanning 2021–2026, representing 996 issued records in the annual table.

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
20211770 days5 days14 days
20221850 days11 days20 days
20231660 days9 days58 days
20241872 days11 days24 days
20251831 day8 days33 days
2026*982.5 days8.5 days30 days

*2026 is partial through Sep. 15. Year labels use the permit issue date, not the application date.

Context

Clearing permit processing times: Nearby points in the citywide timing distribution

Clearing permit processing times has 996 issued records, a 1 day median, and a 9 days 75th-percentile wait in this release.

ReportMedian75% withinRecords
Albany Park1 day14 days2,213
Archer Heights1 day14 days812
Ashburn1 day10 days2,411
Auburn Gresham1 day11 days3,290
Austin1 day14 days5,647
Belmont Cragin1 day13 days2,724
Beverly1 day13 days1,644
Burnside1 day9.5 days227

More Clearing permit processing times comparisons

The Clearing permit processing times cohort contains 996 issued records; related links retain separate location and permit-category cohorts.

Express Permit Program 1 dayEasy Permit Process 0 daysRenovation & Alteration 44 daysSigns 14 days