Part 2: Obtaining a City of Chicago Certificate of Occupancy

Obtaining a City of Chicago Certificate of Occupancy requires the following steps:

• The applicant must submit required technical and contact information on the Certificate of Occupancy Form.
• The completed form can be submitted to the Department of Buildings from the City of Chicago website.
• Upon receipt of a completed application, the Department will schedule a certificate of occupancy inspection and notify the applicant. If the applicant wants to change or cancel a scheduled appointment, the applicant must notify the Department at least two business days prior to the appointment.  
• The Department will send the certificate of occupancy application to the Fire Department for approval prior to issuance.

The following inspections ARE REQUIRED and MUST be requested at the following intervals:

• Underground Inspections of underground plumbing and rebar, structural steel prior to concrete pours (initial and ongoing)
• Rough inspections of carpentry (new construction), electrical, iron, plumbing and ventilation
• Final inspections of boilers, carpentry (new construction), electrical, iron, plumbing, refrigeration, ventilation and Certificate of Occupancy inspection.

The applicant or the authorized representative of the applicant must follow these on-site inspection requirements:

• Be present at the time of the scheduled certificate of occupancy inspection;
• Make sure a representative for any technical trade is present at the inspection, if requested by the department;
• Make available at the inspection the full set of stamped permit plans and any technical document approved by the department;
• Make sure that all rooms and spaces required to be inspected can be accessed; and
• Provide all equipment required by the Department to undertake the inspection, including but not limited to, ladders, safety equipment, and lighting.  

A reinspection fee, as provided in section 13-20-051 of the Building Code, shall be assessed whenever any scheduled certificate of occupancy inspection cannot take place because of the absence of, or other action or inaction by, the building’s owner or permit holder. The reinspection fee shall be paid to the director of revenue before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

Additional information can be found on the City of Chicago's website.

Homeowners and Landlords are required by law to make necessary repairs and maintain their property in a safe condition. You should always avoid getting a Building Code Violation in the first place but if you find you need help, Bradford Miller Law, P.C. has extensive experience in defending property owners cited by the City of Chicago for violations of the municipal code. Where violations exist, it is our goal to work with our clients and get them the time they need to bring violations up to code and avoid fines or liens. If the violation does not exist, we will advocate on your behalf to prove that you are not violating the law.

While there can never be a guarantee as to the outcome of your case, having legal representation, whether from us or another firm, can be beneficial to your property and finances. For proper, experienced representation call us at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

We also can assist you with all your real estate needs, from buying, selling, landlord issues and building code violation we are here to help. Our experienced Attorneys have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. also check out our great reviews on Yelp. At bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm along with helpful real estate information.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Part 1: City of Chicago's Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Commissioner for the Department of Buildings certifying that a building conforms to the general, special, and structural requirements of the Chicago Building Code applicable to new multiple dwellings.

A Certificate of Occupancy is required for buildings that meet one of the following criteria:

• New Construction of a Single Family Dwelling and Multiple Dwelling Residence with no more than 3 dwelling units
• Multiple dwelling units consisting of four or more units erected or substantially rehabilitated
• Newly constructed non-residential buildings over 4,000 square feet.
• Alternations or repairs of non-residential buildings exceeding $400,000 in estimated (material) cost.
• Work in existing buildings resulting in a change of occupancy, as "occupancies" are defined in Chapter 13-56 of the Chicago Building Code, "Classification of Buildings by Occupancy." See the code online for more information.
• Substantial work performed in a new or existing building of Institutional of Assembly use, as defined by the code.

Please note that the owner of any newly constructed, altered or modified building and/or the permit holder for the construction, alteration or modification of any building may not occupy the building or cause others to occupy such building.

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can assist you with all your real estate needs, from buying, selling, landlord issues and building code violation we are here to help. Our experienced Attorneys have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. At bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm along with helpful real estate information.

While there can never be a guarantee as to the outcome of your case, having legal representation, whether from us or another firm, can be beneficial to your property and finances. Located in downtown Chicago at 134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040, our firm has been assisting clients with Building Code violations for several years. For proper, experienced representation call us at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago Building Code Violations, Short Sale Attorney, Chicago Landlord Tenant Law Attorney, Illinois Landlord Attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

There are penalties

Don't procrastinate if you have been cited for a building code violation. According to the Chicago Municipal Code, any person found guilty of violating any building code provision shall receive a fine of not less than $300.00 nor more than $500.00 upon conviction for each offense. A separate and distinct offense shall be regarded as committed each day the violation continues. In addition, any license or permit issued to a violator or offending party by the City of Chicago may be revoked and, the city shall also have the right to seek mandatory compliance or in the alternative to seek demolition of a building not in compliance.

Homeowners and Landlords are required by law to make necessary repairs and maintain their property in a safe condition. You should always avoid getting a Building Code Violation in the first place but if you find you need help, Bradford Miller Law, P.C. has extensive experience in defending property owners cited by the City of Chicago for violations of the municipal code. Where violations exist, it is our goal to work with our clients and get them the time they need to bring violations up to code and avoid fines or liens. If the violation does not exist, we will advocate on your behalf to prove that you are not violating the law. 

While there can never be a guarantee as to the outcome of your case, having legal representation, whether from us or another firm, can be beneficial to your property and finances. For proper, experienced representation call us at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

We also can assist you with all your real estate needs, from buying, selling, landlord issues and building code violation we are here to help. Our experienced Attorneys have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. also check out our great reviews on Yelp. At bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm along with helpful real estate information.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.

Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning

134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040

Chicago, IL 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Child Window Safety

The City of Chicago is urging residents and landlords to take measures to keep children safe at home. They advise that too often, children are seriously injured or killed as a result of falling from a window and are providing the following basic steps you can take to help make sure children stay healthy and safe at your home. 

Steps for parents and residents:

• Limit window openings to 4 inches or less.
• Install operable window guards on windows.
• Avoid the placement of furniture such as beds, dressers and cribs near windows to prevent children from climbing onto window sills.
• Keep children away from open windows and doors when playing.

Steps for landlords and building owners:

• Install building code-compliant devices that limit how far windows will open.

To further promote life safety, the Chicago Building Code requires every door opening and every window to have screens in place from April 15th to November 15th of each year. Specifically, every door opening directly from any family unit to the outdoors and every window, or other outside openings used for ventilation purposes, must be supplied with a screen of not less than 16 mesh per inch and every screen door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.

The City of Chicago encourages residents to call 311 if they see windows that present a potential danger and a building inspector will be sent out.

Homeowners and Landlords are required by law to make necessary repairs and maintain their property in a safe condition. You should always avoid getting a Building Code Violation in the first place but if you find you need help, Bradford Miller Law, P.C. has extensive experience in defending property owners cited by the City of Chicago for violations of the municipal code. Where violations exist, it is our goal to work with our clients and get them the time they need to bring violations up to code and avoid fines or liens. If the violation does not exist, we will advocate on your behalf to prove that you are not violating the law. 

While there can never be a guarantee as to the outcome of your case, having legal representation, whether from us or another firm, can be beneficial to your property and finances. For proper, experienced representation call us at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

We also can assist you with all your real estate needs, from buying, selling, landlord issues and building code violation we are here to help. Our experienced Attorneys have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. also check out our great reviews on Yelp. At bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm along with helpful real estate information.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.

Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning

134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040

Chicago, IL 60602

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

May is the City of Chicago's Building Safety Month

The Department of Buildings supports the safety and quality of life for the residents and visitors of the City of Chicago through the enforcement of the Chicago Building Code. They do  this mainly through permits, inspections, trade licensing, and code enforcement. More information can be found at www.cityofchicago.org/buildings.

Building Safety Month is a public awareness campaign to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. The campaign reinforces the need for adoption of modern, model building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system.

The campaign is presented by the ICC and its 57,000 members worldwide along with a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety community. Corporations, government agencies, professional associations, nonprofits and more come together to support Building Safety Month because they understand the need for safe and sustainable structures where we live, work and play.

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can assist you with all your real estate needs, from buying, selling, landlord issues and building code violation we are here to help. Our experienced Attorneys have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. At bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm along with helpful real estate information.

While there can never be a guarantee as to the outcome of your case, having legal representation, whether from us or another firm, can be beneficial to your property and finances. Located in downtown Chicago at 134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040, our firm has been assisting clients with Building Code violations for several years. For proper, experienced representation call us at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.

Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago Building Code Violations, Short Sale Attorney, Chicago Landlord Tenant Law Attorney, Illinois Landlord Attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

City of Chicago's Historic Preservation Division

The City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development's Historic Preservation Division works with property owners, city departments, sister agencies, and the general public to promote the preservation of Chicago's historic resources.

The division researches and prepares landmark designation reports and reviews permit applications for work on proposed and designated landmarks. It also administers the Demolition-Delay Ordinance, maintains the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, and promotes the preservation of historic buildings through incentives, preservation planning, public outreach, and technical assistance. The division staffs the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, which is responsible for recommending potential landmark designations to the City Council.

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can assist you with all your real estate needs, from buying, selling, landlord issues and building code violation we are here to help. Our experienced Attorneys have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. At bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm along with helpful real estate information.

While there can never be a guarantee as to the outcome of your case, having legal representation, whether from us or another firm, can be beneficial to your property and finances. Located in downtown Chicago at 134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040, our firm has been assisting clients with Building Code violations for several years. For proper, experienced representation call us at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.

Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago Building Code Violations, Short Sale Attorney, Chicago Landlord Tenant Law Attorney, Illinois Landlord Attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago Leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.