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

Citywide permit type

Reinstated Permit processing times

Across Chicago, 1,775 issued reinstated permit permits had a median processing time of 0 days.

Records checked1,7752021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

Typical wait0 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within0 days75% of records
Long-wait edge0 days90% of records
Evidence1,775issued 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
90.5%
1–7 days
6.1%
8–30 days
2.1%
31–90 days
0.6%
91+ days
0.6%

Change over time

Annual permit timing

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
20212280 days0 days3.3 days
20222220 days0 days1 day
20232290 days0 days5.2 days
20243360 days0 days0 days
20254200 days0 days0 days
2026*3400 days0 days0 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

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

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