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Create Drawings

CREATE DRAWINGS

E-Plan requires submission of drawings—sometimes called “plans” or “construction documents.” Please use the information in this section when creating drawings for submission as part of a permit application. Submitting incomplete or inconsistent drawings will delay the issuance of your permit.

Plan-Based Building Permits Fire Alarm or Stormwater Management (Express Permits)

Plan-based building permit applications require drawings prepared by a licensed architect or structural engineer.

The information on this tab applies to plan-based building permit applications:

The Drawing Set

Having a clear, comprehensive, and coordinated set of drawings is important at every step in the process. High-quality drawings facilitate contractor bidding, permit application review, construction, and permit inspections.

Use drafting software. We strongly encourage the use of computer-aided design (CAD) or similar software to prepare vector drawings and generate electronic files for submission. This helps with both legibility and coordination. Scanned copies of printouts or hand-drafted material are only acceptable if they meet all other requirements listed below.

Use an acceptable page size. Drawing sheets must be formatted with a height between 11 and 36 inches and a width between 16 and 48 inches. The following standard page sizes are acceptable: 11" × 17" (ledger), 17" × 22" (ANSI C), 22" × 34" (ANSI D), 34" × 44" (ANSI E), 12" × 18" (Arch B), 18" × 24" (Arch C), 24" × 36" (Arch D), 36" × 48" (Arch E), 30" × 42" (Arch E1), A0, A1, A2, and A3.

Use landscape orientation. Drawing submittal files must be formatted in landscape orientation (wider than tall).

Include an acceptable title block on every sheet. Every sheet of the drawing set, other than the cover sheet, must include a title block that meets the requirements described in the Title Block section of this checklist.

Leave the upper right corner blank on every sheet. Every sheet of the drawing set must have a blank 3-inch by 3-inch square space in the top right corner. The city will place a review stamp in this location.

Include an Illinois-licensed design professional’s seal and signature on every sheet. Every drawing submittal sheet must include the professional seal of an Illinois-licensed architect, structural engineer, or (where allowed) professional engineer. The seal must include the license number and license expiration date. The individual’s signature and the date of approval must be adjacent to the seal. Seals and signatures may be added electronically.

Include required front matter. The first sheet or sheets of the drawing set must include each item described in the Front Matter section of this checklist.

Use high contrast line drawings. Required drawings (site plans, floor plans, building sections, building elevations, construction details, MEP diagrams, etc.) must be high-contrast line drawings on a white background. Appropriate line weights must be used. Renderings, photographs, and full color diagrams may be provided to supplement the required drawings.

Use legible text. All text (titles, labels, tables, notes, etc.) on drawings must be legible when printed at full scale. We recommend that all text be at least 10 points (1/8-inch) high and black on a white background. We discourage the use of decorative or unusual typefaces (fonts).

Avoid patterns and hatches. We recommend avoiding the use of vector patterns and hatches, which tend to exponentially increase file size and sometimes display poorly in the ProjectDox viewer. Use solid light gray shading as an alternative.

Front Matter

The first sheet or sheets of the drawing set must meet the following requirements:

Provide an index. An index listing each sheet in the drawing set is required. Make sure that each sheet has a descriptive title. Sheets should be organized in a logical manner that is appropriate to the scope of the proposed work.

Provide a Chicago Zoning Ordinance compliance matrix. Every drawing set must include a Chicago Zoning Ordinance compliance matrix. The required format is available in the Documents section of the Guide to Building Permits.

Provide a Chicago Construction Codes compliance matrix or narrative. Every drawing set must include either a matrix or narrative demonstrating how the proposed work complies with the Chicago Construction Codes. There is no required format, but a suggested format is available in the Documents section of the Guide to Building Permits.

Identify applicable code editions. Prominently list the edition for each code used. For example: 2018 Chicago Electrical Code, 2019 Chicago Building Code, 2022 Chicago Energy Transformation Code. (Currently, the Chicago Plumbing Code and Chicago Mechanical Code are undated.)

Include a general compliance statement. Section 14A-4-411.4.1 of the Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions requires an Illinois-licensed architect, structural engineer, or (where allowed) professional engineer to certify that the drawings submitted with a building permit application comply with the Chicago Construction Codes. The following statement is recommended:

“I certify that these drawings were prepared under my direct supervision and to the best of my professional knowledge they comply with the Chicago Construction Codes.”

[Professional Seal / Signature / Date]

Include an accessibility compliance statement (if applicable). For work that is subject to the Illinois Accessibility Code, the drawing set must include the following certification statement:

“I have prepared, or caused to be prepared under my direct supervision, the attached plans and specifications and state that, to the best of my knowledge and belief and to the extent of my contractual obligation, they are in compliance with the Environmental Barriers Act [410 ILCS 25] and the Illinois Accessibility Code (71 Ill. Adm. Code 400).”

[Professional Seal / Signature / Date]

Include meeting notes (if applicable). If city staff have provided input on the scope of work or application of code requirements to the proposed work, include a copy of notes or minutes from that meeting or conversation in the drawing set.

Include project-specific approvals (if applicable). If project-specific approvals, such as an Alternative Code Approval Request (ACAR) or zoning variation have been obtained for the proposed work, include a copy of the approval in the drawing set.

Title Block

Every sheet of the drawing set, other than the cover sheet, must include a title block that meets the following requirements:

Align the title block to the bottom or right side of each sheet. The title block must be aligned to either the bottom or right side of the sheet.

Use a uniform title block. A uniform title block must be used for all sheets in the drawing set. Minor variations are allowed for sheets prepared under the direction of different professionals.

Include the sheet designation (page number) in the lower right corner. Whether the title block is aligned to the bottom or right side of the sheet, the sheet designation (sheet number) must always be in the lower right corner.

List the project address. The title block must include the same street address used in the permit application.

Include a revision history. The title block must include a revision history. This revision history must list the date of each change made to the sheet after initial submission. Each change to the sheet must also be clouded and keyed to an entry in the revision history.

List professional design firm information. For drawing sheets prepared by an Illinois professional design firm, the name, registration number, and contact information for the firm must be included in the title block. Recognizing that one drawing set may include sheets prepared by more than one professional or professional design firm, this information may vary throughout the set.

Graphic Requirements

Following industry standards for graphic representation of existing conditions and proposed work helps to ensure consistent interpretation of drawings. Using this checklist will streamline the review process.

Use high contrast line drawings. Required drawings must be high contrast line drawings on a white background. Appropriate line weights must be used. Renderings, photographs, and full color diagrams may be included to supplement the required drawings.

Include a number and descriptive title for each drawing. Each drawing on a sheet must be numbered. Each drawing must have a title that clearly describes the contents. For example, “27th Floor Plan” instead of “Floor Plan.”

Draw to scale. Required floor plans, elevations, sections, and details must be drawn to scale. Indicate the scale using a text label below the title for each drawing. Diagrams and illustrations that are not drawn to scale must be clearly labeled “NOT TO SCALE.”

Choose a legible scale. Drawings must be legible when printed at full size. Choose a scale that allows the intended information to be read clearly. For most purposes, other than details, 1/8" = 1'-0" is an appropriate scale.

Include a graphic scale. A graphic scale is required in addition to a text label. Where all drawings on a sheet use the same scale, a single graphic scale may be provided for the sheet.

Label dimensions required to establish code compliance. Drawings must be labeled with dimensions that are needed to determine code compliance, such as the width of egress components. Use U.S. conventional units (feet and inches).

Provide a north arrow for each plan. Indicate the orientation of plans by providing a graphic north arrow for each. Whenever possible use the standard convention of north being the top of the sheet.

Use a uniform orientation for all plans. Whenever possible, use a uniform orientation for all plans in a drawing set. At a minimum, all drawings on a sheet must use the same orientation.

Label rooms and spaces to describe the intended use(s). Labels or names for rooms and spaces should communicate the intended use or uses. For example, “dining room” and “customer seating” are more descriptive than “lounge.” When it is not feasible to include descriptive labels on a plan, the intended use or uses must be described in notes adjacent to the plan.

Provide a glossary of abbreviations. When abbreviations are used in labels, notes, or tables, a glossary of these abbreviations must be provided in the drawing set.

Provide a symbol legend. When symbols are used in drawings or diagrams, a legend explaining the meaning of each symbol must be provided in the drawing set.

Graphically distinguish proposed work from existing conditions (if applicable). For work in an existing building, drawings must graphically distinguish proposed work from existing conditions. Where the scope or complexity of work makes it difficult to differentiate proposed work from existing conditions in a single drawing, provide a separate drawing of existing conditions or preparatory demolition/removal work.

Graphically distinguish areas not in scope (if applicable). Where drawings show areas or conditions that are not within the scope of work to be permitted, the area or areas that are not in scope must be labeled with text and graphically distinguished using shading, line weight, or a low-density hatch pattern.

Required Drawings

The content that is required in the drawing set (construction documents) for a building permit application will vary based on the proposed scope of work. In general, the drawings must be sufficiently clear and complete to convey the location, nature, and extent of work proposed. The drawings must also include details and dimensions necessary to establish the proposed work will comply with the Chicago Construction Codes and Chicago Zoning Ordinance.

Site Plan

A basic site plan is required as part of the drawings for every application. A detailed line drawing site plan is required for new construction, exterior alterations, additions, changes of occupancy, and interior work in buildings with party walls. The site plan must be consistent with any survey provided.

The information on this tab applies to Express Permit Program applications, including fire alarm system permits and stormwater management plan approvals:

Fire Alarm System Permit Applications

The content that is required in the drawings submitted with a fire alarm system permit application will vary based on the proposed scope of work. The drawings and documents submitted for review must include complete plans and specifications for the fire alarm system. The drawings must also be sufficiently clear and complete to convey the location, nature, and extent of work proposed and include details and dimensions necessary to establish the proposed work will comply with NFPA 72 and the Chicago Construction Codes.

Stormwater Management Plan Approvals

The drawings and documents submitted with an application for stormwater management plan approval must comply with the Stormwater Management Ordinance Regulations and Stormwater Manual.

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