Temporary Outdoor Stage Permitting Procedures

This page describes permitting procedures for outdoor stages that will be temporary (installed at the same location for 180 days or less). Outdoor stages and other structures that will be installed at the same location for more than 180 days must follow permitting requirements and processes for permanent structures.

Is a Building Permit Required?

Stages up to 24" high

A temporary stage that will not be higher than 24 inches above the ground and will not have any elements such as a roof, backdrop, or sound and lighting supports that will exceed 15 feet above the ground does not require a building permit. The structure and installation must still meet all applicable requirements of the Chicago Construction Codes.

Stages exceeding 24" high, coverage up to 400 square feet

A temporary stage that is more than 24 inches above the ground, will cover a ground area of 400 square feet or less, and will not have any elements such as a roof, backdrop, or sound and lighting supports that will exceed 15 feet above the ground does not require a building permit. The structure and installation must still meet all applicable requirements of the Chicago Construction Codes.

Stages exceeding 24" high, coverage from 401 to 600 square feet

A temporary stage that is more than 24 inches above the ground and will cover more than 400 square feet or that will include any elements that exceed 15 feet in height requires a building permit. A temporary stage that is more than 24 inches above the ground, will cover a ground area of 600 square feet or less, and will not have any elements such as a roof, backdrop, or sound and lighting supports that will exceed 15 feet above the ground may obtain a building permit based on drawings prepared by any responsible person, such as an employee of the contractor that will install the stage. A permit application for a stage that meets these criteria may use the Express Permit Program (EPP).

Stages exceeding 24" high and coverage exceeding 600 square feet or with elements taller than 15 feet

A temporary stage that is more than 24 inches above the ground and will cover a ground area of more than 600 square feet, or any size or height of stage that will include elements such as a roof, backdrop, or sound and lighting supports that will exceed 15 feet above the ground requires additional information as part of the permit application, including plans prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. This type of permit application must use either the Standard Plan Review (SPR) process or Self-Certification Permit Program, if eligible. This type of permit application must be submitted through E-Plan.

Permit Application Requirements

The following documents are required as part of the permit application:

A. The site plan must be drawn to scale and indicate dimensions to property lines and any buildings on the site where the temporary structure will be erected.

B. If the stage will include any fabric or fabric-like elements, the permit application must be accompanied by a certificate of fire resistance executed by an approved agency certifying that the structure meets the flame propagation performance requirements of NFPA 701. If the treatment indicated on the certificate is not of the permanent type, the certificate must be dated within 360 days preceding the last date of intended use. If the tent fabric is certified as having been rendered permanently fire-resistant during manufacture, or is made of an inherently fire-resistant fabric, then the certificate must be dated no earlier than seven years prior to the last date of intended use. The certificate must indicate the type of fabric and method of compliance with NFPA 701.

C. The high winds action plan must specify the wind speed and time period before arrival of a storm at which the temporary structure must be evacuated, the means by which the permit applicant will monitor weather conditions, and the individual(s) responsible for carrying out evacuation and/or disassembly, if needed.

D. A weather station, including an anemometer, must be installed on or immediately adjacent to the stage at a height exceeding the highest portion of the stage structure. The equipment must be capable of providing an accurate read-out of the moment-to-moment wind-speed at or above the highest point of the stage structure. The anemometer must have a hardwired connection to the stage weather station. The weather station must also include a laptop computer and screen or other electronic device capable of providing an internet connection an appropriate weather website with Doppler radar display of the Chicago area such as the US Weather Service website. The weather station must be shown on permit plans. Where the stage will be located within a stadium equipped with its own weather monitoring facilities and anemometer this requirement may be met by use of that equipment.
Required Document Category
EPP eligible Not EPP eligible, height less than 20 feet Not EPP eligible, height of 20 feet or more
Express Permit Program (EPP) online application ⚫    
Building Permit Application (Form 400)   ⚫ ⚫
Copy of general contractor's City of Chicago license certificate    ⚫ ⚫
Letter of intent from event manager / organizer including erection and removal dates ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
Scaled site planA drawn by a responsible person ⚫    
Scaled stage plan (showing stairs and guard rails) and elevation drawn by a responsible person ⚫    
Anchorage detail(s) drawn by a responsible person ⚫    
Scaled site planA prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer including name, address/location and dates of event (erection and removal dates)   ⚫ ⚫
Scaled floor plans and elevations prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer   ⚫ ⚫
Structural details, including anchorage details, prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer   ⚫ ⚫
Structrual (wind resistance) calculations prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer   ⚫ ⚫
Flame spread certificate,B if applicable   ⚫ ⚫
High winds action planC ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
Weather station detailsD     ⚫
Chicago Park District letter, if applicable ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
Special events permit, if applicable ⚫ ⚫ ⚫

Reinstatement

Stage permits issued through the Standard Plan Review (SPR) process or Self-Certification Permit Program can be reinstated up to five years from the original permit issue date when using the same quantity, size, connection details and location as well as the same architect or structural engineer and general contractor. Temporary structure reinstatement permits must be submitted electronically using E-Plan. The words “STAGE REINSTATEMENT” followed by the quantity and size of all stages must be included in the field labeled “description of work.” A copy of the previously-approved (City stamped) drawings must be uploaded in the reference drawings folder. All required drawings must be updated for the current year. Resubmission of out-of-date documents/drawings will not be accepted.

Reinstatement applications submitted less than 14 calendar days before the planned erection date are subject to a tripled permit fee.

Permit Fees for Temporary Structures

If the total area of all temporary structures for an event is 2,500 square feet or less, and all structures are submitted on the same permit application, the permit fee is $325 (including a $75 zoning fee). If multiple permit applications are submitted for the same event, this fee will apply to each permit.

If the total area of all temporary structures on a permit application exceeds 2,500 square feet, the minimum permit fee is $377 and the permit fee is calculated as $75 + 9.5 cents per square foot.

Where a complete permit application for installation of a temporary structure is submitted to the City of Chicago less than 14 calendar days before the intended installation date, the permit fee is tripled.

Additional fees may apply if inspections outside of normal business hours are requested or required.