Independent analysis of City of Chicago recordsData through Sep. 15, 2026

Community area × permit type

Signs permits in Loop

The typical signs permit issued in Loop took 38 days. The 75th-percentile wait was 77 days.

Records checked6622021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

Typical wait38 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within77 days75% of records
Long-wait edge134 days90% of records
Evidence662issued permits

The median was 16 days slower than the previous 12 months.

How the waits are distributed

Median is only the middle. This shows how often issued permits fell into each elapsed-time band.

Same day
1.8%
1–7 days
13.4%
8–30 days
30.1%
31–90 days
35.5%
91+ days
19.2%

Change over time

Annual permit timing

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
20219648 days95 days140 days
202214219 days72 days188 days
202313533 days63 days82 days
20247935 days58 days95 days
202512535 days86 days119 days
2026*8549 days102 days129 days

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

Context

Signs timing in comparable community areas

ReportMedian75% withinRecords
Loop38 days77 days662
Jefferson Park37 days64 days89
Lincoln Square37 days150 days197
Greater Grand Crossing35 days71 days57
Lincoln Park35 days77 days639
Edgewater34 days62 days181
Forest Glen33 days138 days55
Lower West Side33 days77 days169