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

Citywide permit type

Easy Permit Process processing times

Across Chicago, 33,486 issued easy permit process permits had a median processing time of 0 days.

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

Records checked33,4862021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

For Easy Permit Process processing times, 33,486 issued permit records show a median processing time of 0 days; 75% were issued within 1 day and 90% within 12 days, covering January 2021 through September 15, 2026.

Typical wait0 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within1 day75% of records
Long-wait edge12 days90% of records
Evidence33,486issued permits

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

Easy Permit Process processing times: wait distribution

For Easy Permit Process processing times, 33,486 issued permits are distributed across five elapsed-time bands from same-day issuance through waits of 91 days or longer.

Same day
73.6%
1–7 days
10.6%
8–30 days
14.1%
31–90 days
1.3%
91+ days
0.4%

Change over time

Easy Permit Process processing times: annual permit timing

Easy Permit Process processing times has 4 publishable issue-year cohorts spanning 2021–2024, representing 33,482 issued records in the annual table.

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
202112,2930 days1 day10 days
202211,6890 days1 day12 days
20239,4640 days1 day13 days
2024360 days99 days139 days

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

Context

Easy Permit Process processing times: All permit types, from shortest to longest median

Easy Permit Process processing times has 33,486 issued records, a 0 days median, and a 1 day 75th-percentile wait in this release.

ReportMedian75% withinRecords
Easy Permit Process0 days1 day33,486
Elevator Equipment0 days0 days6,546
Reinstated Permit0 days0 days1,775
Scaffolding0 days0 days1,019
Wrecking & Demolition0 days55 days4,023
Express Permit Program1 day8 days91,329
Signs23 days61 days13,362
New Construction27 days92 days8,073
Renovation & Alteration28 days85 days36,906

More Easy Permit Process processing times comparisons

The Easy Permit Process processing times cohort contains 33,486 issued records; related links retain separate location and permit-category cohorts.

Loop Area detailNear North Side Area detailNear West Side Area detailWest Town Area detailLake View Area detailLincoln Park Area detailAustin Area detailLogan Square Area detailPortage Park Area detailIrving Park Area detailAuburn Gresham Area detailNorth Center Area detail