What's Required in Chicago
- A single-story detached storage shed, gazebo or playhouse up to 150 square feet, no more than 15 feet tall and without plumbing needs no building permit.
- A shed over 150 square feet, over 15 feet tall, or with plumbing requires a plan-based building permit with drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
- Storage sheds may encroach only into the required rear setback, may not cover more than 60 percent of it, and may not exceed 15 feet in height there.
- A shed may not be built before the principal house on the lot.
- Any line-voltage wiring to a shed needs an electrical express permit filed by a Chicago-licensed electrical contractor.
- Exempt work must still comply with the Chicago Construction Codes and the exemption may not apply on a Chicago Landmark property.
- The permit application lists a licensed general contractor unless the owner qualifies to act as contractor on their own primary residence.
- A mason contractor license is not required for a shed's slab-on-grade foundation.
What Size Shed Needs a Permit in Chicago?
Anything over 150 square feet. The Department of Buildings lists a single-story detached structure that is not more than 15 feet tall, without plumbing, and used as a tool or storage shed, open gazebo, playhouse, or similar use, provided that the footprint is 150 square feet or less as work that needs no building permit. A 10 by 12 shed is 120 and a 12 by 12 is 144, both under the line; a 12 by 14 is 168, over it. Roofing an exempt shed is also exempt. Exceeding the height, adding plumbing, or using the building as anything but storage or play removes the exemption, and the exemptions may not apply on a designated Chicago Landmark property.
No permit does not mean no rules. Exempt work must still comply with the Chicago Construction Codes, and the Zoning Ordinance controls placement: accessory buildings used for domestic storage may encroach into the required rear setback but not the front or side setbacks, an accessory building may not cover more than 60 percent of the required rear setback, and one located in that setback may not exceed 15 feet in height. A shed also cannot go up before the principal house is built. If you are unsure whether a corner or through lot changes the picture, the DOB assistance counter on the 9th floor of City Hall answers exactly that question.
Chicago Shed Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Storage shed, gazebo or playhouse up to 150 sq ft and 15 ft tall, no plumbing | None | DOB list of work not requiring a permit (Small Permanent Structures) |
| Shed over 150 sq ft, or over 15 ft tall, or with plumbing | Plan-based building permit, architect or engineer drawings, $602 minimum | Table 14A-12-1204.3(3), Group U; 2026 fee tables |
| Running a new circuit to any shed | Electrical express permit, $150 for up to 10 new circuits, licensed electrical contractor | Table 14A-12-1204.2 (Electrical) |
| Adding a light or outlet on an existing circuit | Electrical express permit, $75 per service | Table 14A-12-1204.2 (Electrical) |
| Low-voltage landscape lighting to the shed (home up to 4 stories) | None | DOB exemption list (Site Work and Landscaping) |
| Detached frame garage up to 600 sq ft that can hold a car | Express permit, $500, site plan and photo | EPP Detached Frame Garage; Table 14A-12-1204.2 |
| Shed in the front or side setback, or over 60 percent of the rear setback | Not allowed by zoning without relief | Zoning Ordinance 17-17-0309 and 17-9-0201 |
How Much Does a Shed Permit Cost in Chicago?
Nothing for an exempt shed. A larger shed is not on the flat stand-alone fee list, so it is priced like other plan-based permits: construction factor times scope-of-review factor times area. A wood-frame shed is a Group U, Type V structure, so the 2026 construction factor is $0.23 per square foot and the single-story-structure row carries a 0.75 factor. For a 12 by 16 shed that is 0.23 x 0.75 x 192 = $33.12, which is far below the minimum, so the minimum controls: the row lists $300, but the 2026 tables state that a $602 minimum applies to all permits other than temporary structures, so budget $602. The code collects a non-refundable deposit at submission ($600 for 2026) and the balance at issuance. Because drawings are required, plan on an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer preparing them, and on zoning review before DOB review; the plan-based application still runs through the Hansen Dynamic Portal until the portal upgrade planned for 2027.
Who Files and What They Submit
A plan-based shed permit lists a licensed general contractor, but an individual may act as general contractor on their own primary residence (no more than 6 units, no building over 3 stories) once per calendar year. A mason contractor license is not required for the slab-on-grade foundation of a single-story non-occupiable structure such as a shed. Electrical wiring is different: a licensed electrical contractor is required for all electrical work that needs a permit, and there is no homeowner exception, so any hardwired circuit to the shed is an electrical express permit filed with a Chicago-licensed electrical contractor. If you are really building a place to park a car, the Detached Frame Garage express permit (up to 600 square feet, hip or gable roof, at least 2 feet from lot lines) is a $500 flat fee and needs only a site plan and a photo. Work started without a required permit brings a stop work order penalty of $1,000 or more and, in most cases, a tripled permit fee.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Chicago
Measure the footprint and height
At or under 150 square feet and 15 feet with no plumbing, no building permit is needed; go straight to placement and any electrical permit.
Check zoning placement
Keep the shed in the rear setback, under 60 percent of that setback's area and under 15 feet, using the Chicago Zoning Map to confirm your district and setbacks.
Hire a design professional for a larger shed
Over 150 square feet, an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer prepares the drawings and starts the plan-based application in the online portal after zoning approval.
Pay the deposit and fee
The $600 non-refundable deposit is due at submission and the balance of the $602 minimum at issuance; add $75 to $150 for an electrical express permit if the shed is wired.
Build and pass inspection
Request inspections through the portal; a permit expires if the first inspection is not passed within 540 days.