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

Community area × permit type

Signs permits in Lower West Side

The typical signs permit issued in Lower West Side took 33 days. The 75th-percentile wait was 77 days.

Records checked1692021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

Typical wait33 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within77 days75% of records
Long-wait edge138 days90% of records
Evidence169issued permits

Not enough records for a year-over-year comparison.

How the waits are distributed

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

Same day
1.2%
1–7 days
22.5%
8–30 days
22.5%
31–90 days
32.0%
91+ days
21.9%

Change over time

Annual permit timing

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
20213516 days60 days136 days
2022366 days63 days197 days
20232731 days116 days131 days
20243576 days89 days117 days
20251734 days110 days168 days
2026*1933 days40 days112 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
Forest Glen33 days138 days55
Lower West Side33 days77 days169
Edgewater34 days62 days181
Near North Side32 days69 days1,501
Greater Grand Crossing35 days71 days57
Lincoln Park35 days77 days639
Hermosa29 days57 days82
Jefferson Park37 days64 days89