Citywide permit type
Express Permit Program processing times
Across Chicago, 91,329 issued express permit program permits had a median processing time of 1 day.
Records checked91,3292021–Sep. 15, 2026
The short answer
Typical wait1 daymedian issued permit
Usually within8 days75% of records
Long-wait edge25 days90% of records
Evidence91,329issued 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.
Change over time
Annual permit timing
| Issue year | Records | Median | 75th percentile | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,475 | 0 days | 3 days | 22 days |
| 2022 | 11,531 | 0 days | 4 days | 31 days |
| 2023 | 11,938 | 0 days | 8 days | 37 days |
| 2024 | 21,035 | 2 days | 9 days | 25 days |
| 2025 | 20,186 | 3 days | 9 days | 21 days |
| 2026* | 14,164 | 2 days | 9 days | 20 days |
*2026 is partial through Sep. 15. Year labels use the permit issue date, not the application date.
Context
All permit types, from shortest to longest median
| Report | Median | 75% within | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Permit Process | 0 days | 1 day | 33,486 |
| Elevator Equipment | 0 days | 0 days | 6,546 |
| Reinstated Permit | 0 days | 0 days | 1,775 |
| Scaffolding | 0 days | 0 days | 1,019 |
| Wrecking & Demolition | 0 days | 55 days | 4,023 |
| Express Permit Program | 1 day | 8 days | 91,329 |
| Signs | 23 days | 61 days | 13,362 |
| New Construction | 27 days | 92 days | 8,073 |
| Renovation & Alteration | 28 days | 85 days | 36,906 |