Do You Need a Roofing Permit in Chicago?
Depends on slope
On a house or other residential building up to 4 stories, repairing, recovering or replacing a roof with a pitch of at least 2:12 needs no building permit. Low-slope (flat) roofs and any structural repair need a permit, usually an Express Permit, with an Illinois-licensed roofing contractor doing the work.
Source: Chicago DOB: Roofing Work (work not requiring a permit)
Chicago Roofing Permits at a Glance
- Permits, last 12 months
- 2,791
- Issued, last 30 days
- 288
- Median application to issue
- 2 days
- Median declared job value
- $29,000
- Issuing office
- Chicago Department of Buildings
- Rule last checked
- October 30, 2026
Permits Issued per Month
Counts are approximate: we match permit types and descriptions to roofing work. Data from Chicago Building Permits, refreshed October 30, 2026.
What Chicago's Rules Say
- No permit: repair, recover or replacement of a roof pitched 2:12 or steeper on a residential building up to 4 stories (Municipal Code 14A-4-402).
- Permit needed: any work on a low-slope roof and any structural repair.
- Express reroofing permits require an Illinois roofing contractor license; a recover over 2 or more existing layers needs structural calculations.
- Landmark properties and landmark districts may not qualify for the exemption.
Chicago Roofing Permit Fees
| Item | Official fee |
|---|---|
| Roof recover (no tear-off) or roof repair | $185 per area up to 5,000 sq ft |
| Roof replacement | $475 per area up to 5,000 sq ft |
From Chicago DOB Building Permit Fee Tables (2026) (listed under Sources below). Fees are set by the city and can change.
Busiest Areas for Roofing Permits
| Community area | Permits (12 mo) |
|---|---|
| Community area 24 | 130 |
| Community area 6 | 123 |
| Community area 7 | 111 |
| Community area 25 | 108 |
| Community area 8 | 93 |
| Community area 15 | 74 |
How to Get a Roofing Permit in Chicago
- Confirm the rule for your exact job on the official page cited above. Size, height, structure and location (historic district, floodplain) can change the answer.
- Choose who applies. Many permits here must be pulled by a licensed contractor; ask any contractor to name the license they will use.
- Apply with the Chicago Department of Buildings through the official department website.
- Schedule inspections as the permit requires, and keep the final approval with your house records.
Recent Chicago Roofing Permits
| Issued | Address | Work |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-28 | 3009 N Whipple St | SPR 2019 CBRC: FULL GUT INTERIOR REMODEL OF EXISTING 2-STORY, TYPE VA FRAME, 28' HT., 2-UNIT RESIDENCE WITH BASEMENT FOR |
| 2026-10-28 | 1210 N State Pkwy | REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AFFECTING 1 SYSTEMS : 2 COOLING TOWER(B.A.C. FLUID COOLERS M/N PFI-1012N-2D4EZ-M1 ROOF) . ELECTRICAL |
| 2026-10-28 | 6127 S Keating Ave | SCOPE: ROOF REPLACEMENT. AREA: 18 SQ. FT. ROOF COVERING: ASPHALT SHINGLES. LOCATION: ROOF HOUSE. IL ROOFING CONTRACTOR L |
| 2026-10-28 | 1427 N Astor St | SCOPE: ROOF REPLACEMENT. AREA: 1800 SQ. FT. ROOF COVERING: OTHER. LOCATION: SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE. IL ROOFING CONTRACT |
| 2026-10-28 | 8516 S Bennett Ave | SCOPE: ROOF REPLACEMENT. AREA: 13 SQ. FT. ROOF COVERING: ASPHALT SHINGLES. LOCATION: HOUSE ROOF. IL ROOFING CONTRACTOR L |
| 2026-10-28 | 1741 S Ruble St | INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING GAS STATION/CONVENIENCE STORE. BUILDING WILL BE REMODELED THROUGHOUT AND T |
| 2026-10-28 | 5237 W Roscoe St | NEW DETACHED WOOD FRAME GARAGE. DIMENSIONS AND SETBACKS PER APPLICATION. BUILDING OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS: 22'-0' ' X22'-0' ' |
| 2026-10-28 | 1340 N Dearborn St | SCOPE: ROOF REPLACEMENT. AREA: 568 SQ. FT. INCLUDES STRUCTURAL REPAIRS TO ROOF. ROOF COVERING: OTHER. LOCATION: PENTHOUS |
| 2026-10-28 | 3409 W 116Th St | NEW DETACHED WOOD FRAME GARAGE. DIMENSIONS AND SETBACKS PER APPLICATION. BUILDING OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS: 22'-0' ' X20'-0' ' |
| 2026-10-27 | 1429 N Astor St | SCOPE: ROOF REPLACEMENT. AREA: 2300 SQ. FT. ROOF COVERING: OTHER. LOCATION: HOUSE AND COACH HOUSE ROOF. IL ROOFING CONTR |
Addresses and work descriptions as published by the city. Owner names and phone numbers are removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a roofing permit in Chicago?
Depends on slope. On a house or other residential building up to 4 stories, repairing, recovering or replacing a roof with a pitch of at least 2:12 needs no building permit. Low-slope (flat) roofs and any structural repair need a permit, usually an Express Permit, with an Illinois-licensed roofing contractor doing the work.
How many roofing permits does Chicago issue?
Chicago issued 2,791 permits matching roofing work between October 30, 2025 and October 30, 2026, about 233 a month. The busiest month was Aug 2026 with 338.
How much does a roofing permit cost in Chicago?
From the official fee schedule: Roof recover (no tear-off) or roof repair: $185 per area up to 5,000 sq ft; Roof replacement: $475 per area up to 5,000 sq ft.
How long does it take to get a roofing permit in Chicago?
Based on the city's records, the median time from application to issue for these permits was 2 days over the last 12 months.
Who issues roofing permits in Chicago?
The Chicago Department of Buildings.
Related Permit Guides
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- Chicago Roofing Permit Leads
- Roofing Permits by City
- Roof Replacement Permit Rules in 13 US Cities
Sources
Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.
- Chicago DOB: Roofing Work (work not requiring a permit) (linked above) (chicago.gov)
- Chicago DOB Express Permit Program: Reroofing (chicago.gov)
- Chicago DOB Building Permit Fee Tables (2026) (chicago.gov)