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

Citywide permit type

Wrecking & Demolition processing times

Across Chicago, 4,023 issued wrecking & demolition permits had a median processing time of 0 days.

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

Records checked4,0232021–Sep. 15, 2026

The short answer

For Wrecking & Demolition processing times, 4,023 issued permit records show a median processing time of 0 days; 75% were issued within 55 days and 90% within 109 days, covering January 2021 through September 15, 2026.

Typical wait0 daysmedian issued permit
Usually within55 days75% of records
Long-wait edge109 days90% of records
Evidence4,023issued permits

The median was 29 days slower than the previous 12 months.

Wrecking & Demolition processing times: wait distribution

For Wrecking & Demolition processing times, 4,023 issued permits are distributed across five elapsed-time bands from same-day issuance through waits of 91 days or longer.

Same day
63.8%
1–7 days
0.7%
8–30 days
2.8%
31–90 days
19.1%
91+ days
13.5%

Change over time

Wrecking & Demolition processing times: annual permit timing

Wrecking & Demolition processing times has 6 publishable issue-year cohorts spanning 2021–2026, representing 4,023 issued records in the annual table.

Issue yearRecordsMedian75th percentile90th percentile
202188658 days95 days170 days
20227840 days70 days149 days
20236090 days0 days0.2 days
20246340 days0 days0 days
20256580 days0 days0 days
2026*45252 days79 days117 days

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

Context

Wrecking & Demolition processing times: All permit types, from shortest to longest median

Wrecking & Demolition processing times has 4,023 issued records, a 0 days median, and a 55 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 Wrecking & Demolition processing times comparisons

The Wrecking & Demolition processing times cohort contains 4,023 issued records; related links retain separate location and permit-category cohorts.

Near 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 detailHumboldt Park Area detail