Build-out and occupancy permits in Chicago

Plan review, building and occupancy approvals for the space. Chicago has 2 filings on this. None of them has a fixed government fee and 2 fees are set by the space or the business.

Updated October 21, 20262 filingsSources: the agencies' own sitesSources checked October 21, 2026

Fees and timelines at a glance

Filing	Agency	Government fee
Building permit for the interior alteration	Chicago Department of Buildings	Varies
Food establishment plan review	Chicago Department of Public Health, with the Department of Buildings	Varies

Building permit for the interior alteration

Chicago Department of BuildingsChicago

Nonstructural interior alterations up to 2,000 square feet can use the Express Permit Program.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed on the agency's portal

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Food establishment plan review

Chicago Department of Public Health, with the Department of BuildingsChicago

For new construction or a rehab, a city health sanitarian reviews the plans as part of the building permit application, coordinated between Public Health and Buildings. Public Health isn't on E-Plan and doesn't review plans filed under the self-certification program.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed in person

File on the agency's site How to fill it

Guides for each business in Chicago

Every filing links to the agency's own page, and every fact comes from an official form or agency page. Agency requirements change; check the agency's page before you file. How we source and check these guides

Get the plan for your business in Chicago

This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.

The full list for your address, in filing order
The official forms, filled line by line
Renewal and inspection reminders