Environmental Permitting & Inspection

workers at a recycling center sorting plastics

The Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Environmental Permitting and Inspections team aims to protect public health and the environment by reducing environmental risks throughout the city. Staff in this program respond to citizen complaints, inspect sites and facilities, and enforce the environmental ordinances in the Chicago Municipal Code.

Our work also includes permitting - approximately 8,000 permits are issued each year for operations and activities that have an impact on the environment. For example, permits are issued for work involving above ground and underground storage tanks, recycling facilities, waste handling facilities, construction site rock crushers, sandblasting, grinding, chemical washing, and the installation and operation of any equipment that has the potential to create or control air pollution.

Our team of environmental inspectors visit permitted facilities across the city every day, routinely monitoring to make sure they comply with the conditions of their permits. We partner with businesses to help them understand and meet our rules, and we hold them accountable by issuing citations when necessary.

We’ve expanded public engagement for consequential large recycling, reprocessable construction/demolition material and waste handling facilities! All current permit materials are posted on our Community Environment Information page. To learn how you can get involved in the permit process, review our CDPH Permit Process flowchart.

To apply for a permit, please follow the instructions beneath the applicable permit type below:

A permit is required to install or remove an Above Ground Storage Tank (AST) for dispensing and non-dispensing with a volume greater than 110 gallons. City ordinance allows two dispensing tanks per site for a maximum capacity of 1000 gallons each, for a total of 2000 gallons on any one site.

According to AST Installation Guidelines, tanks must be enclosed within a two-hour fire-rated assembly. Tank assembly must provide 100-percent secondary containment of the flammable liquid. Refer to Chapter 15-24 of the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago for above-ground storage tank requirements.

Please call 312.745.8295 with any questions about requirements for Above Ground Storage Tank permits.

Preventing and Reporting Leaks

Owners and operators of ASTs are responsible for ensuring their ASTs do not leak. Anyone who suspects that an AST is leaking should call the Illinois Emergency Management Agency at 800.782.7860 within 24 hours of the suspected leak.

To apply for an AST permit, submit the required permit application, site plans, payments, and materials through the Chicago Inspection, Permitting & Licensing Portal.

Resources

The Environmental Permitting & Inspection Program aims to protect public health and the environment by reducing the risk of exposure to dust and debris during demolition and renovation activities. Many buildings in Chicago, especially those built before 1978, were constructed or decorated with materials that may contain lead-based paint or asbestos. It is imperative that such materials be properly handled during demolition, renovation, alteration, repair, cleaning and maintenance activities to protect anyone who might come into contact with the debris, from the workers and waste haulers to the general public.

Therefore, contractors doing such work must comply with certain requirements set forth in the Chicago Municipal Code, including Sections 11-4-2150 - 11-4-2190, and must provide certain notifications to CDPH.

Please note, CDPH does not accept permit applications or payments by mail or walk-in at any location. All notices and applications must be submitted online. To apply online, visit the City of Chicago Permit Portal.

If you have never used the website before, you will need to create an account, sign in and then choose Apply For New Permit.

Starting September 1, 2021, demolition contractors will need to comply with new requirements from the Department of Buildings. Visit the Department of Buildings website for more information.

All demolition permit applicants must submit a Demolition Notice of Intent Form to CDPH. The form has been updated to include requirements for more detailed reporting to ensure the protection of public health and the environment, such as planned measures to control dust and abate asbestos and other hazardous materials, as applicable. The updated form is a first step to strengthening the CDPH demolition review process. There will eventually be new rules that include further details on additional reports and controls that may be required under certain circumstances.

After filing the Demolition Notice of Intent through the online permit portal and paying the environmental review fee, email your DOB demolition permit application number, CDPH ENVGEN number and worksite address to CDPHPermits@cityofchicago.org with “Demolition Approval Request” in the subject line to obtain CDPH email approval for your demolition permit. Questions? Contact CDPHPermits@cityofchicago.org.

Asbestos and Demolition Fees:

  • Residential, 4 units or less: $300
  • Residential, more than 4 units: $450
  • Industrial/Commercial: $600

Resources

For more information, please see the information and documents below:

A permit is required to install, operate, erect, construct, reconstruct, alter or add a piece of regulated equipment or area as defined in the Chicago Municipal Code, Section 11-4-610. Regulated equipment or area means “any combustion equipment, pollution control device, process equipment, or process area.” In general, this refers to equipment and areas that have a potential to emit any air contaminant into the atmosphere. Neither the size of the facility nor the amount of the air contaminant has any bearing on whether or not you need a permit.

In addition, an annual Certificate of Operation is required for facilities that have equipment or areas subject to an air pollution control (APC) permit.

If you are uncertain as to whether a permit is needed for the activity you wish to perform, read Frequently Asked Questions about Air Pollution Control Permit.

An Architectural Surface Cleaning Permit is also required for sandblasting, grinding, and chemical washing.

Please note, CDPH will no longer accept air permit applications or payments by mail or walk-in at any location. All permits must be applied for online on the City of Chicago Permit Portal.

If you have never used the website before, you will need to create an account, sign in and then choose Apply For New Permit.

Air Pollution Control Permit Fee(one-time fee): $150/piece of equipment or area

Air Pollution Control Certificate of Operation Fee (annual fee): Every applicant for a certificate of operation shall pay a fee based on the potential or actual emissions of the facility for which the certificate of operation is sought. Facilities are categorized and fees shall be levied as follows:

Category Emissions Fee
A1 Facility whose potential and actual emissions are 100 tons or more per year. $1,250
A2 Facility with potential to emit more than 100 tons per year, but whose actual emissions are less than 100 tons per year. $750
B Facility whose potential and actual emissions are more than 5 tons per year but less than 100 tons per year. $250
C Facility whose potential and actual emissions are 5 tons or less per year. $50

Architectural Surface Cleaning Permit Fee: $150.00/building or structure for the first calendar month; $100.00 per month for each calendar month, or fraction thereof, thereafter.

Old Applications and Forms (for reference only):

Permit application requirements for landfills, liquid waste handling facilities and transfer stations are set forth in the Rules and Regulations for Landfills, Liquid Waste Handling Facilities and Transfer Stations Operated within the City of Chicago. For ease of use, the Rules document has been divided into four sections:

The City Council of the City of Chicago has approved a change in the Chicago Municipal Code, specifically in section 11-4-2535, through the passage of the management ordinance, effective January 1, 2024. As a result, all recycling and waste-handling facilities are now mandated to submit a written annual report to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). This report should encompass a summary of waste and recyclable material disposition, handling, and treatment activities conducted throughout the calendar year. All facilities must complete the updated Annual Recycling Reporting Form, ensuring accurate details are provided and referencing MCC 11-4-2535 for compliance. Please contact envwastepermits@cityofchicago.org with questions.

All permit applicants should read Landfill/Waste Handling Permit Application Instructions. The remaining files above describe specific requirements for landfill facilities, liquid waste facilities and transfer stations. Read only those sections that apply to you. Please note: prior to receiving an operating permit, applicants must meet the financial security requirements described in Section 11-4-370 of the Municipal Code of Chicago and in the document Regulations and Security Requirements.

To apply for a landfill, liquid waste facility, and/or transfer station permit:

1. Prepare the required permit application. A permit application consists of a design report and operating plan prepared in accordance with applicable sections of the Rules and Regulations for Landfills, Liquid Waste Handling Facilities and Transfer Stations, referenced above.

Mail the application (without the fee at this time) to:

  • Attn: Landfill, liquid waste, transfer facility permit
  • Chicago Department of Public Health
  • 2160 W. Ogden Avenue
  • Chicago IL 60612

(Please do not send payment to this address. Any payment sent to this address will be returned and may delay the permit issuance.)

2. Permit review. Following CDPH’s Permit Process Guidelines, CDPH will review the permit application and notify the applicant if any changes are required, or if the application meets all applicable requirements, including applicable financial security requirements. CDPH permit staff may contact the applicant for additional information or request a meeting prior to issuing a final permit. After approval, an invoice will be issued for permit fee payment.

3. Mail Payment: Attach a check or money order to the invoice provided after permit approval payable to the City of Chicago for the permit fee. (Permit fees are provided in Section 11-4-1527 of the Municipal Code and listed below.)

Complete Invoice Payment and prepare a check or money order made payable to the City of Chicago. Mail invoice and payment to:

  • City of Chicago
  • City Hall
  • Cashier Window
  • 121 N LaSalle Rm. 107
  • Chicago, IL 60602

Walk up payments are also available at this location.

4. Upon approval of the application and receipt of payment, a permit will be mailed to you. For questions please call 312.745.3136.

Liquid Waste Fees:

  • $15,000/year

Transfer Station Permits and Modified Transfer Station Permit Fees:

*Please follow instructions below for downloading and opening this form:

  1. Right-click on the form link and then left-click on "Save link as..."
  2. In the Save As dialog box that appears, save the file to your computer. Note the directory where you saved the file.
  3. Run Adobe Acrobat Reader. In Reader, open the file you downloaded from the step above. If you do not have Reader, it can be downloaded for free.
  4. Complete the form following the instructions contained in the file.

Operation of a recycling facility in Chicago requires a permit from the CDPH. Permits for recycling facilities are categorized into five classes:

  • Class I Recycling Facilities – May collect, manually separate, and temporarily store Type A and Type B recyclable materials only.
    • Type A material includes scrap metal, glass, paper, rubber, textiles, and plastic.
    • Type B material includes organic material such as landscape waste.
  • Class II Recycling Facilities – May perform the same activities as Class I facilities, and may also perform processing.
  • Class III Recycling Facilities – May perform the same activities as Class I and Class II facilities, and may also engage in composting.
  • Class IV Recycling Facilities – May collect and temporarily store Type A and Type C recyclable materials only.
    • Type A material includes scrap metal, glass, paper, rubber, textiles, and plastic.
    • Type C material includes motor vehicles and vehicle parts.
    • Class IVA Facilities – May engage in processing, such as cleaning, bundling, compacting or packing of recyclable materials, and may engage in manual dismantling, including the use of small power tools.
    • Class IVB Facilities – May perform the same activities as Class IVA facilities, and may also engage in the shredding, crushing or other large-scale processing of vehicles.
  • Class V Recycling Facilities – May collect, manually sort, and temporarily store Type D recyclable material only. Type D material includes non-hazardous construction and demolition debris.

The City Council of the City of Chicago has approved a change in the Chicago Municipal Code, specifically in section 11-4-2535, through the passage of the management ordinance, effective January 1, 2024. As a result, all recycling and waste-handling facilities are now mandated to submit a written annual report to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). This report should encompass a summary of waste and recyclable material disposition, handling, and treatment activities conducted throughout the calendar year. All facilities must complete the updated Annual Recycling Reporting Form, ensuring accurate details are provided and referencing MCC 11-4-2535 for compliance. Please contact envwastepermits@cityofchicago.org with questions.

For more information, please see the Recycling Facility Ordinance, in Chapter 11-4, Article XX of the Chicago Municipal Code, and the Rules and Regulations for Recycling Facilities.

In addition, large recycling facilities are subject to the requirements in the Large Recycling Facility Rules. By definition, a “large recycling facility” is a facility that meets one of the following criteria:

  • authorized to accept 1,000 tons or more per day of Recyclable Materials
  • operates a metal Shredder that Processes vehicles or that has a rated capacity of greater than 25 tons per hour
  • utilizes Mechanical Sorting Equipment in the Processing of Auto Shredder Residue

Large Recycling Facilities that meet the definition of “Consequential Facility” will be subject to CDPH’s Guidelines Regarding Permitting Process For Consequential Large Recycling Facilities.

To apply for a permit for a recycling facility:

  1. Make sure the property where recycling operations will occur is properly zoned and meets all zoning use requirements.
  2. If a Large Recycling Facility, follow the application instructions in the Large Recycling Facility Rules.
  3. If not a Large Recycling Facility, fill out a recycling facility permit application. To open the application form, follow the instructions below:
  4. Right-click on the above link and then left-click on "Save target as...."
  5. In the Save As dialog box that appears, save the file to your computer. Note the directory where you saved the file.
  6. Run Adobe Acrobat Reader and open the file from the directory noted in (b) above. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it here.
  7. Complete the form by following the instructions.
  8. Please call 312.745.3136 if you are having difficulties with the instructions above or have any technical issues with the form.
  9. If a Class V Facility, provide the additional information required in Section 14 of the Rules and Regulations for Recycling Facilities.
  10. Determine the fee amount. Note that the fee is not due until after the permit is issued.
  11. Take the completed form to the Zoning Administrator (City Hall, 121 N LaSalle Street Room 905) to obtain a zoning stamp.
  12. Mail the application to the address below. Note that applications lacking a zoning stamp will be denied.
    • Recycling Facility Permit Application
    • Chicago Department of Public Health
    • Environmental Permitting & Inspection
    • 2160 W. Ogden Avenue
    • Chicago IL 60612
  13. Make the property available for inspection by CDPH and the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
  14. A permit and an invoice for the permit fee will be issued and emailed to the applicant when the application is approved.

Recycling Facility Permit Fees

Pursuant to 11-4-2550, the three-Year Recycling Facility Permit Fees are as follows:

  • Class I: $300/3 years
  • Class II (less than 500 tons/day): $1,500/3 years
  • Class II (from 500 to 1,000 tons/day): $2,250/3 years
  • Class II (more than 1,000 tons/day): $3,000/3 years
  • Class III: $3,000/3 years
  • Class IV - A: $3,000/3 years
  • Class IV - B: $3,000/3 years
  • Class V: $4,500/3 years

(Permits for less than a three-year period shall be assessed a prorated fee.)

Call CDPH at 312.745.3136 if you have any questions about requirements for recycling facility permits.

Resources

There are two types of rock crushing permits: temporary and permanent. Application requirements for temporary rock-crushing permits are described in Temporary Rock Crusher Permit Application. Requirements for a permanent rock-crushing permit are described in Section 11-4-1930 of the Municipal Code of Chicago and in the new Rules for Reprocessable Construction/Demolition Material Facilities, issued on March 7, 2023.

The City Council of the City of Chicago has approved a change in the Chicago Municipal Code, specifically in section 11-4-2535, through the passage of the management ordinance, effective January 1, 2024. As a result, all recycling and waste-handling facilities are now mandated to submit a written annual report to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). This report should encompass a summary of waste and recyclable material disposition, handling, and treatment activities conducted throughout the calendar year. All facilities must complete the updated Annual Recycling Reporting Form, ensuring accurate details are provided and referencing MCC 11-4-2535 for compliance. Please contact envwastepermits@cityofchicago.org with questions.

To apply for a temporary rock crushing permit:

TWO PERMITS ARE REQUIRED in order to authorize use of equipment engaged in temporary rock crushing operations. The first is an Air Pollution Control Permit and the second is Temporary Rock Crushing Permit.

  1. Air Pollution Control Permit - Form B. Permit can only be applied for and payment made online. To apply online, go to the City of Chicago Permit Portal.
  2. Fill out a temporary rock crushing permit application. Consult Construction Site Reprocessing Rules and Regulations, which explains the extent to which reprocessed materials may be used on site. Refer to the following to determine the fee amount.

Please do not send payment to this address. Any payment to this address will be returned and may delay the permit issuance.

Mail the application to:

  • Temporary Rock Crushing Permit
  • Chicago Department of Public Health
  • 2160 W. Ogden Avenue
  • Chicago IL 60612
  1. Permit review. Permit application will be reviewed and you will be notified if any changes are required or if your permit has been approved.
  2. Mail Payment. After your application is approved, you will receive an invoice for payment of the permit fee. Follow the instructions on the invoice to remit payment. A permit will be mailed to you approving a permit application.

If you have questions about temporary rock crushing permits, please call 312.745.7235.

To apply for a permanent rock crushing permit:

  1. Prepare the required permit application. A permit application consists of a design report and operating plan. See the new Rules for Reprocessable Construction/Demolition Material Facilities for requirements on submitting designs and operational plans for the proposed facility. Review the Rules for Reprocessable Construction/Demolition Material Facilities.

Please do not send payment to this address. Any payment sent to this address will be returned and may delay the permit issuance.

Mail the application to:

  • Permanent Rock Crushing Permits
  • Chicago Department of Public Health
  • 2160 W. Ogden Avenue
  • Chicago IL 60612

Note that prior to receiving an operating permit, applicants must meet the financial security requirements described in Section 11-4-370 of the Municipal Code of Chicago and in the document Regulations—Security Requirements.

  1. Permit review. Permit applications will be reviewed and you will be notified if any additional information is required or if your permit has been approved and applicable financial security requirements have been met. CDPH permit staff may contact you for additional information or to request a meeting prior to issuing a final permit. An invoice will be issued for permit fee payment.
  2. Mail Payment: Upon receipt of a payment invoice for the permit fee, attach to the invoice a check or money order payable to the City of Chicago.

Mail invoice and payment to:

  • City of Chicago
  • City Hall
  • Cashier Window
  • 121 N LaSalle Rm. 107
  • Chicago, IL 60602

Walk up payments are also available at this location.

  1. A permit will be mailed to you following approval of the permit application and receipt of the permit fee.

Call 312.745.3136 with questions regarding permanent rock crushing permits.

Rock Crushing Facility Permit Fees:

  • Up to 25 acres: $2,500/year
  • 26-50 acres: $5,000/year
  • More than 50 acres: $10,000/year

Temporary Rock Crushing Permit Fees:

  • $750/month plus $0.50 per cubic yard surcharge fee

Application and Forms

Pursuant to Section 11-4-1100 of the Chicago Municipal Code, radiation surveillance is required prior to subsurface soil-disturbing work in areas where radiologically contaminated material is potentially present. Thorium-contaminated materials may exist in some portions of the Streeterville Area. If subsurface thorium wastes are uncovered without proper environmental controls, workers and the public may be exposed to unhealthy radiation levels.

An applicant seeking a permit for any underground work in the Streeterville Area must ensure proper monitoring takes place any time excavation or ground breaking occurs. Please note that permits which involve work in the Thorium Monitoring Area will have a hold in the City Permit System and the applicant must schedule an appointment with CDPH before the hold can be released and a permit can be issued. Radiation monitoring is required for ground breaking work on private property or in the Right-of-Way in the Thorium Monitoring Area.

If CDPH determines that radiation monitoring is required, the applicant must then complete a form agreeing to conduct proper radiation monitoring. This form must be completed and submitted to CDPH prior to each instance of scheduled soil excavation or ground exposure. Failure to complete this form may result in the delay of permits. Please call (312) 745-8332 to schedule an appointment.

Please view the aerial map to see if the proposed work might be located in the Thorium Monitoring Area. Note: this map is for informational purposes only.

For more information regarding thorium contamination in Streeterville, please visit the USEPA’s website and see the fact sheets available below.

For underground work in the Right-of-Way please complete the form CDPH.ROW.04 and bring the original to the CDPH Office, 2160 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612.

For underground work on properties outside of the Right-of-Way please complete the form CDPH.PRPTY.03 and bring the original to the CDPH Office, 2160 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612. Questions? Call 312.745.8332.

An Underground Storage Tank system (UST) is a tank or combination of tanks and connected piping with at least 10% of its combined volume located underground. The tank system includes the tank, underground connected piping, underground ancillary equipment and any containment system.

Over time, USTs may corrode, leaking their contents into the surrounding soil and eventually our groundwater supply. For this reason, any UST with a capacity for storing petroleum products of 110-gallons or greater is regulated under the Municipal Code of Chicago by CDPH.

Preventing and Reporting Leaks

Owners and operators of USTs are responsible for ensuring that their USTs do not leak. To assist them, CDPH has developed the UST Operation and Maintenance Manual for Owners and Operators. 

Anyone who suspects that a UST is leaking should call the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) at 800.782.7860 within 24 hours of the suspected leak.

Permits

To install, upgrade, repair, remove, abandon or to conduct interior lining inspection, you must first obtain a permit from CDPH. Underground Storage Tank Permit Fee: $200/activity

Apply for a Permit

CDPH will no longer accept UST permits or payments for processing. Any permits or payment to this address will be returned and may delay the permit issuance. Currently, the UST applications are available online to all active UST contractors at the OSFM Contractor Portal:

Read through the instructions in the Help Manual, look closely at all the information on the permit application screens, take your time getting used to the new process, and call if you need help to the following:

Notification for Underground Storage Tank Activity

Contractors must notify CDPH in writing of any UST activity. Notice of the removal of a UST must be given at least 30 days prior, unless the removal is in response to a known or suspected release, which has been assigned an incident number by Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). In the event of a known or suspected release, CDPH may waive the 30-day waiting period; however, a permit is still required. No UST activity or portion thereof is to be performed without a UST inspector from CDPH.

Temporary Closure: USTs may be temporarily closed for up to five years. During this period, the UST must continue to be monitored for leaks and corrosion. If a release is detected, it must be quickly abated and reported to the IEMA 800.782.7860 within 24 hours. If the UST is temporarily closed for longer than three months, all lines, pumps, manways, and ancillary equipment must be capped and secured except for vent lines, which may remain open. After five years, the UST system must be removed.

Permanent Closure: Contractors may either remove a UST from the ground or fill it with inert solid material. In both cases, the tank must be emptied and cleaned by removing all liquids, dangerous vapor levels, and accumulated sludge.

Tank Installation: The proper design and installation of a UST is necessary to ensure that normal operational loads will not cause the tank to deform and rupture. The most common cause of structural failure is improper installation. The environment surrounding an underground tank must be adequately characterized before a tank is installed. Environmental factors that can affect sitting and installation decisions include: bedding and backfill characteristics; high water level, requiring a tank to be anchored; location and magnitude of soil loads over a tank. Read about proper tank installation procedures in CDPH's Required Checklist for Underground Storage Tank Installation.

Tank Removal: All personnel involved in this recommended practice should be familiar with the potential hazards and be knowledgeable in the appropriate health and safety measures needed to ensure a safe working environment. USTs should be handled with extreme care during removal and disposal off-site. Read about proper tank removal procedures in CDPH's Required Checklist for Underground Storage Tank Removals.

Tank Abandonment In Place: Tank abandonment in place is granted due to the loss of adjacent or subjacent support of nearby structures, railroad tracks, streets, or other USTs or in unusual situations where removal is not feasible. Contractors seeking a waiver must provide documentation including four copies of a completed permit application, statement of need and site plans. Read about proper tank abandonment in place procedures in CDPH's Required Checklist for Underground Storage Tank Abandonment in Place.