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

Official community area

Near North Side permit processing times

For 14,726 issued permits in Near North Side, the median processing time was 4 days; 75% were issued within 20 days.

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

Records checked14,7262021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

For Near North Side permit processing times, 14,726 issued permit records show a median processing time of 4 days; 75% were issued within 20 days and 90% within 59 days, covering January 2021 through September 15, 2026.

Typical wait4 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within20 days75% of records
Long-wait edge59 days90% of records
Evidence14,726issued permits

The median was 1 day slower than the previous 12 months.

Near North Side permit processing times: wait distribution

For Near North Side permit processing times, 14,726 issued permits are distributed across five elapsed-time bands from same-day issuance through waits of 91 days or longer.

Same day
35.9%
1–7 days
25.3%
8–30 days
20.2%
31–90 days
12.5%
91+ days
6.1%

Change over time

Near North Side permit processing times: annual permit timing

Near North Side permit processing times has 6 publishable issue-year cohorts spanning 2021–2026, representing 14,726 issued records in the annual table.

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
20212,5520 days12 days50 days
20222,7280 days13 days51 days
20232,6851 day18 days65 days
20242,5948 days28 days68 days
20252,4746 days21 days52 days
2026*1,6937 days25 days75 days

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

Context

Near North Side permit processing times: Nearby points in the citywide timing distribution

Near North Side permit processing times has 14,726 issued records, a 4 days median, and a 20 days 75th-percentile wait in this release.

ReportMedian75% withinRecords
Near North Side4 days20 days14,726
West Town4 days32 days7,607
East Garfield Park3 days28 days1,600
Grand Boulevard3 days34 days1,871
Lincoln Park3 days28 days6,764
North Park3 days18 days1,222
Uptown3 days21 days2,727
Woodlawn3 days27 days2,225

More Near North Side permit processing times comparisons

The Near North Side permit processing times cohort contains 14,726 issued records; related links retain separate location and permit-category cohorts.

Express Permit Program 3 daysRenovation & Alteration 13 daysSigns 32 daysEasy Permit Process 0 daysElevator Equipment 0 daysNew Construction 7 daysScaffolding 0 daysReinstated Permit 0 daysWrecking & Demolition 50 days