Terms and Conditions for Nonstructural Interior Work

General

Work on an existing building or structure

Work authorized by this permit must comply with the General Terms and Conditions for Work on Existing Buildings and Structures.

No structural work

The following types of work are considered structural and cannot use this permit type:

• Altering or replacing the structure of exterior walls or foundation walls
• Altering or replacing the structure of load bearing walls
• Altering, adding, or replacing columns, beams, joists, girders, trusses, or similar structural members
• Altering or replacing the subfloor or floor sheathing in frame construction
• Creating new openings greater than 1 square foot in existing floors (other than basement slabs)
• Work involving replacement of more than 25 percent of the horizontal area of a concrete slab over earth
• Work requiring any shoring or underpinning

No exterior work

The following types of work are considered exterior and cannot use this permit type:

• Work involving new or replacement exterior doors, windows, or skylights
• Work involving new penetrations of exterior walls, such as exhaust vents
• Work involving decks, open porches, exterior balconies, or similar structures
• Work involving outdoor mechanical or electrical equipment
• Work affecting nonstructural elements of exterior walls, such as sheathing or insulation, that can be seen from outside the building

Gross floor area of work

The gross floor area of work entered on the permit application must be determined for each floor level by drawing a single boundary around all work on that level to be performed under the permit. In a residential occupancy, where work will occur on multiple floor levels, the area of work on each floor level must be added together. In a non-residential occupancy, work is limited to a single floor level. Incidental work that must be performed in an electrical, mechanical, or utility room/space that is not immediately adjacent to the remainder of the work may be excluded from this measurement.

Existing occupancy and use

This permit type cannot be used for work involving the following occupancies: educational (Group E), factory/industrial (Group F), high hazard (Group H), institutional (Group I), or storage (Group S). Existing occupancies must be classified in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Chicago Building Code.

Electrical work

Electrical work must comply with the Terms and Conditions for Electrical Work.

Mechanical (HVAC) work

Mechanical work must comply with the Terms and Conditions for Mechanical (HVAC) Work.

Plumbing work

Plumbing work must comply with the Terms and Conditions for Plumbing Work.

Existing openings and penetrations in walls and floors

Where work under this permit will either abandon or reuse an existing opening in or penetration of a floor or wall that separates a residential unit or non-residential unit from another unit, a shared corridor, or a stairway, the opening or penetration must be firestopped or otherwise protected as required by the Chicago Building Code.

Nonstructural interior alteration

No initial buildout

This permit cannot be used for the initial buildout of a space that has never been legally occupied, such as a tenant space originally permitted as an unfinished “shell.”

No change of occupancy

This permit cannot be used for work that will result in a change of occupancy, as that term is defined in the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code.

No new food establishment

This permit cannot be used for work that will create a new food establishment or commercial kitchen site that is subject to inspection by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). This permit can be used for alterations to an existing food service establishment or commercial kitchen site.

No conversion of unconditioned space

This permit cannot be used to convert unconditioned space, such as an unheated basement, attic, or garage, into conditioned living space.

Adequate means of egress

This permit does not authorize work in a space that does not have means of egress (exiting) in compliance with the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings before work begins. It is the responsibility of the permit applicant to determine if existing means of egress are adequate before submitting a permit application through the Express Permit Program.

Electrical service

This permit cannot be used to install a new electrical service exceeding 200 amps.

Water demand

This permit cannot be used for plumbing work that will increase the existing water demand by more than 5 water supply fixture units, as determined in accordance with Appendix A to the Chicago Plumbing Code.

New openings and penetrations in walls and floors

This permit does not authorize any new opening or penetration exceeding 1 inch in diameter in a floor or wall that separates a residential unit or non-residential unit from another unit or from a shared corridor. This permit does not authorize any openings or penetrations in any wall enclosing an exit stairway or other type of exit. Any new opening or penetration must be firestopped or otherwise protected as required by the Chicago Building Code.

Work in residential units—hardwired smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

Where this permit authorizes work in a residential unit, this permit requires the installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the unit in accordance with the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings. In most cases, hardwired alarms must be installed, and battery-powered alarms are not acceptable.

Work in residential units—natural light and ventilation

Where this permit authorizes work in a residential unit, all spaces that are reconfigured under the permit must be provided with natural light and natural ventilation as required by the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code. Existing spaces must have access to natural light and natural ventilation as required by the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings.

Nonstructural preparatory demolition

Associated building permit application

This type of permit will only be issued when there is a plan-based building permit application under review for the same building or building area and the construction documents submitted to the Department of Buildings as part of the plan-based permit application are sealed by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer and show both the scope of demolition and scope of proposed work.

Conditional approval

This permit is conditional upon issuance of the associated plan-based permit. This permit allows nonstructural preparatory demolition work to begin, but if the associated permit is not issued within 1 year, the recipient of this permit is responsible for restoring the space to a safe condition.

Means of egress

This type of permit does not authorize interior demolition work that will affect a corridor or similar egress component that serves an occupied portion of the building. This type of permit does not authorize preparatory demolition of any stairway, whether the building is occupied or not.

Fire protection systems

This permit does not authorize disabling or removing any active fire protection system (fire alarm system, sprinkler system, standpipe system, etc.) without separate written approval or a separate permit from the Chicago Fire Department.

Removal of unpermitted residential unit features

No removal of a legally established residential unit

This permit cannot be used to eliminate a legally established residential unit (dwelling unit or sleeping unit). This permit is only for removing features of a residential unit that were originally built without required permits.

Unsafe conditions

The person performing work under this permit is responsible for fully abating conditions that are unsafe to building occupants. This includes deenergizing and removing unsafe wiring, removing plumbing (water supply and drain piping) that does not comply with the Chicago Plumbing Code, and sealing off sources of sewer gas.

Removal of kitchen elements

This permit requires the complete removal of all kitchen elements, including cabinets, countertops, sinks, refrigerators, cooking appliances (stoves, ovens, microwave ovens), exhaust fans, and associated plumbing and gas piping.

Removal of bathing fixtures

This permit requires the complete removal of all bathing equipment (bathtubs, showers, etc.) and associated plumbing. This permit allows toilets (water closets), lavatories, and laundry sinks that comply with the Chicago Plumbing Code to remain.

Removal of interior doors

Where the use after removal that is identified in the permit application is either storage or utility/laundry, this permit requires removal of all doors that create spaces resembling bedrooms and closets.

Effective November 6, 2023
Revised September 20, 2024