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.
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