What's Required in Chicago
- Roof repair, recover or replacement on a roof pitched at least 2:12 on a residential building up to 4 stories needs no building permit.
- Any work on a low-slope roof and any structural roof repair requires a permit.
- Roof repair without a permit or under an express permit is limited to 25 percent of the roof surface area.
- Reroofing work must be performed under a valid Illinois roofing contractor license.
- The application lists a licensed general contractor unless the owner qualifies to act as contractor on their own primary residence.
- At least one existing-condition photograph is uploaded with every reroofing application; structural repairs require architect or engineer drawings.
- Recover over two or more existing layers requires structural calculations by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
- The new roof must meet the insulation requirements of the Chicago Energy Transformation Code and the solar reflectance rule in Section 1515 of the Building Code.
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in Chicago?
Usually not on a house. The Department of Buildings' list of work that needs no permit says that on a residential building up to 4 stories above grade or an associated accessory building such as a garage you may perform roof repair, recover, or replacement on a roof with a pitch of at least 2:12 without a building permit, while a building permit is required for any structural repair and any work on low-slope roofs. On any building, patching up to 25 percent of a roof surface that does not cut into a wall or the roof structure is also exempt. So the permit question for most Chicago homeowners is really the flat-roof question: the city's bungalows, two-flats and greystones with low-slope roofs need an express reroofing permit; a pitched shingle roof on a single-family house does not.
When a permit is required, the Express Permit Program (which replaced the Easy Permit process on November 6, 2023) covers roof repair limited to 25 percent of the roof area, a roof recover over one existing layer, and a full roof replacement with no structural work. A recover over two or more existing layers needs structural calculations by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer, and structural repairs to the roof framing need drawings. Reroofing a building that has an unpermitted rooftop feature, such as a rooftop deck built without a permit, is not eligible at all.
Chicago Roof Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Replacing a pitched (2:12 or steeper) roof on a house or garage up to 4 stories | None | DOB list of work not requiring a permit (Roofing Work) |
| Patching up to 25 percent of any roof without cutting the structure | None | DOB exemption list (Roofing Work) |
| Replacing a flat or low-slope roof, no structural work | Express reroofing permit, $450 per area up to 5,000 sq ft | Table 14A-12-1204.2 (Roof) |
| Recover over one existing layer on a low-slope roof | Express reroofing permit, $175 per area up to 5,000 sq ft | Table 14A-12-1204.2 (Roof) |
| Repair over 25 percent, or repair on a low-slope roof | Express reroofing permit, $175 | Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP terms (25 percent limit) |
| Recover over 2 or more existing layers | Express permit plus structural calculations by an architect or engineer | EPP Reroofing eligibility |
| Replacing rotted rafters, decking or other roof structure | Plan-based permit, $900 minimum, architect or engineer drawings | Table 14A-12-1204.3(4); 2026 fee tables |
How Much Does a Roof Permit Cost in Chicago?
Zero for an exempt pitched roof. Where a permit is needed, the fees are flat stand-alone fees from Table 14A-12-1204.2: roof replacement $450 and roof repair or roof recover (no tear off) $175, with the current compiled table pricing replacement and recover per area up to 5,000 square feet, so a typical two-flat roof is one unit. No drawings are required for ordinary reroofing, so the fee is paid at issuance; if the online application must be reviewed first the department may collect a $25 review fee. Reroofing that includes structural repair leaves the flat-fee table and is priced as a plan-based rehabilitation permit at construction factor times 0.25 times area with a $900 row minimum (a $600 non-refundable deposit is collected at submission). Starting in 2026 the stand-alone table gets an annual CPI adjustment effective the following January 1.
Who Files and What They Submit
Every reroofing application lists a licensed general contractor, and the contractor or subcontractor doing the roofing must have a valid Illinois roofing contractor license; the express permit is not available if anyone without that state license performs the work. A homeowner may act as general contractor on their own primary residence (no more than 6 units, no building over 3 stories) once per calendar year, but still cannot substitute for the licensed roofer. Every application uploads at least one existing-condition photograph; structural repairs add architect or engineer drawings. The new roof must meet the insulation requirements of the Chicago Energy Transformation Code and the solar reflectance rule in Section 1515 of the Building Code, recover is not allowed over a water-soaked roof or over slate or tile, and existing solar panels may be removed under the reroof permit but need a separate permit to go back on. The listed contractor must click the emailed acceptance link before the permit issues, and the permit expires if a first inspection is not passed within 540 days.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in Chicago
Identify the roof type
A pitched roof of at least 2:12 on a home up to 4 stories is exempt. Flat or low-slope roofs, structural repairs and larger buildings continue to a permit.
Choose the express worktype
Select Reroofing in the Express Permit portal and classify the job as repair (up to 25 percent), recover over one layer, or replacement without structural work.
Upload the application items
Provide the property PIN, the Illinois roofing contractor license number, the general contractor's name or Chicago license number, and at least one photo of existing conditions.
Pay at issuance
$450 for replacement or $175 for repair or recover, plus a $25 review fee if the application had to be reviewed; the listed contractor e-accepts the job.
Reroof and request inspection
Install insulation and reflective roofing to the energy code, then request the inspection in the portal before the 540-day deadline.