Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 13-20 § 13-20-600
Suspension of permit privileges (Chicago Building Inspection Code (Chapter 13-20))
Operative Text
The commissioner of buildings may suspend the ability of any person licensed, registered or certified, or required to be licensed, registered or certified under this Chapter to submit new applications or complete pending applications for a building permit or other permit issued by the department of buildings for cause as provided in Section 14A-3-304 . (Added Coun. J. 2-22-17, p. 43876, § 20; Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. VI, § 17) Editor's note - Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 5, repealed former § 13-20-600, which pertained to permit violation penalties.
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 13-20 § 13-20-600, the Commissioner of Buildings has the authority to suspend the permit-application privileges of any individual or entity that is licensed, registered, or certified—or required to be—under Chapter 13-20. This suspension can prevent the affected party from submitting new building permit applications or completing ones already in progress. The grounds for such a suspension are tied to the 'cause' standards set out in Section 14A-3-304 of the Municipal Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who rely on licensed contractors, registered agents, or certified professionals to pull permits in Chicago should be aware that those individuals' permit privileges can be suspended under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 13-20 § 13-20-600. A compliant operator generally verifies that all parties submitting or managing permit applications on their behalf are in good standing with the Department of Buildings before work begins. Monitoring the status of any pending applications is also a practice consistent with avoiding project delays that could result from a mid-process suspension.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 13-20 § 13-20-600 gives the Commissioner of Buildings the power to suspend permit privileges for contractors or other licensed parties working on residential buildings, which can affect the progress of permitted construction or renovation work. Tenants who believe unpermitted or improperly permitted work is occurring in their building may consider contacting the Chicago Department of Buildings to inquire about permit status. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can also help residents understand how permit issues may relate to habitability concerns or other protections available under local law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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