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

Official community area

South Shore permit processing times

For 2,918 issued permits in South Shore, the median processing time was 2 days; 75% were issued within 16 days.

Records checked2,9182021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

Typical wait2 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within16 days75% of records
Long-wait edge78 days90% of records
Evidence2,918issued permits

The median was unchanged from 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
42.3%
1–7 days
23.3%
8–30 days
16.2%
31–90 days
9.5%
91+ days
8.7%

Change over time

Annual permit timing

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
20215630 days6 days58 days
20225670 days10 days63 days
20234920 days18 days123 days
20245286 days21 days88 days
20254666 days18 days68 days
2026*3026 days27 days89 days

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

Context

Nearby points in the citywide timing distribution

ReportMedian75% withinRecords
Avondale2 days21 days2,361
Bridgeport2 days24 days1,920
Brighton Park2 days19 days1,507
Englewood2 days24 days2,131
Lake View2 days23 days6,844
Logan Square2 days29 days5,067
Loop2 days15 days15,467
Lower West Side2 days31 days2,358

Keep comparing

Express Permit Program 1 dayRenovation & Alteration 32 daysEasy Permit Process 0 daysElevator Equipment 0 daysSigns 24 daysReinstated Permit 0 daysWrecking & Demolition 0 daysNew Construction 7.5 days