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

Citywide permit type

Signs processing times

Across Chicago, 13,362 issued signs permits had a median processing time of 23 days.

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

Records checked13,3622021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

For Signs processing times, 13,362 issued permit records show a median processing time of 23 days; 75% were issued within 61 days and 90% within 138 days, covering January 2021 through September 15, 2026.

Typical wait23 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within61 days75% of records
Long-wait edge138 days90% of records
Evidence13,362issued permits

The median was 4 days slower than the previous 12 months.

Signs processing times: wait distribution

For Signs processing times, 13,362 issued permits are distributed across five elapsed-time bands from same-day issuance through waits of 91 days or longer.

Same day
1.5%
1–7 days
23.8%
8–30 days
32.7%
31–90 days
25.3%
91+ days
16.8%

Change over time

Signs processing times: annual permit timing

Signs processing times has 6 publishable issue-year cohorts spanning 2021–2026, representing 13,362 issued records in the annual table.

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
20212,28113 days78 days182 days
20222,5877 days38 days134 days
20232,37110 days42 days111 days
20242,31033 days65 days146 days
20252,41133 days67 days126 days
2026*1,40237 days76 days138 days

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

Context

Signs processing times: All permit types, from shortest to longest median

Signs processing times has 13,362 issued records, a 23 days median, and a 61 days 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 Signs processing times comparisons

The Signs processing times cohort contains 13,362 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