Last summer, the Department of Buildings completed a broad and extensive review of our permitting and inspection processes, including the Homeowner Assistance Program, to find new ways to streamline our processes, improve our services and reduce the time it takes to obtain a building permit. Last year, we issued just 270 permits out of a total of 37,000 permits at our Neighborhood Residential Permit Centers. Since this is not the best use of valuable city resources, we have made the decision to relocate the Homeowners Assistance Program to City Hall, Room 900, effective December 1, 2015.

At City Hall, we will have a designated person available every day to assist homeowners as opposed to the current two days a week allocated at the neighborhood centers. Further, managers and supervisors will be immediately available at City Hall to resolve any questions or issues that may arise during the process. Most important, the Zoning Division is located on the same floor of City Hall so homeowners may address their zoning issues concurrent to the building permit process, and may often be able to obtain their zoning approval and building permit on the same day.

Please note that other city services including the Revenue offices at both the Kedzie and Addison locations as well as the Administrative Hearing rooms at the Addison location will remain open.