Chicago Back Porch Replacement Permit Requirements

My wife and I are in our two-flat just off Sedgwick and we've got a classic Chicago problem: the back porch is starting to look sketchy. A few of the floorboards are getting soft and one of the main support posts has some rot at the base. It's a standard wooden porch, two stories. We want to replace it before winter. My question is, can I just hire a carpenter to rebuild it exactly as it is, a 'repair and replace' job? Or am I opening a can of worms with the city? I've heard horror stories about needing an architect, drawings, and months of waiting for a permit. The 43rd Ward office is always helpful but I wanted to get some real world advice first. We don't have a spare $20k to fix a problem that gets created by pulling a permit.

You absolutely need a permit. The city has been extremely strict on porches for almost 20 years. If you're replacing any structural members, which it sounds like you are with that rotting post, it's not a simple repair. It's considered new construction. An inspector sees an unpermitted porch going up and they will shut you down with a big orange sticker so fast. Your first step should be the city's Department of Buildings website. They have a section for homeowners, and some simpler projects can go through the Easy Permit Process.

Beth is right about what the code says, but let's be realistic. On my block in Bucktown, if it's a true like-for-like replacement of just the decking and stairs, guys do it over a long weekend for cash. No permit. The second you change the footprint or touch the main ledger board attached to the house, you're rolling the dice. If you have a nosy neighbor or you're on a busy street where inspectors might drive by, it's a huge risk. A permitted job with architectural drawings might cost you double what a handyman quotes you, but that buys you certainty.

Do not roll the dice. My neighbor two doors down tried the no-permit route two years ago. Another neighbor called 311. The city slapped a Stop Work Order on their building, and they got fined. They had to tear down the half-built work, hire an architect to create drawings that met the current code (which was different from their old porch), and then get in line for a proper permit. The whole ordeal took eight months and cost them way more than if they had just done it legally from the start. It was a nightmare for them.

The key is to find a contractor who specializes in Chicago porches. Not just a general carpenter. The good ones have relationships with architects and permit expediters who literally walk the plans through the Department of Buildings for you. For our bungalow out in Jeff Park it was a pretty smooth process. The contractor handled everything from the drawings to the final inspection. It costs more, but they know exactly what the city inspectors are looking for. Pay the extra for someone who does this every day.

Wow, thank you all. The story from Albany Park is exactly what I was afraid of. And I think Bucktown_Rob is right, since our job involves a main support post, it's not a simple repair and the risk is just too high for us. Peace of mind is worth something. I'm going to follow the advice and look for a licensed porch specialist who can handle the whole permit process. A little more money upfront sounds a lot better than a big fine and a Stop Work Order later.