Permits issued by the Department of Buildings in the City of Chicago from 2006 to the present. The dataset for each year contains more than 65,000 records/rows of data and cannot be viewed in full in Microsoft Excel. Therefore, when downloading the file, select CSV from the Export menu. Open the file in an ASCII text editor, such as Wordpad, to view and search. Data fields requiring description are detailed below.
PERMIT TYPE: "New Construction and Renovation" includes new projects or rehabilitations of existing buildings; "Other Construction" includes items that require plans such as cell towers and cranes; "Easy Permit" includes minor repairs that require no plans; "Wrecking/Demolition" includes private demolition of buildings and other structures; "Electrical Wiring" includes major and minor electrical work both permanent and temporary; "Sign Permit" includes signs, canopies and awnings both on private property and over the public way; "Porch Permit" includes new porch construction and renovation (defunct permit type porches are now issued under "New Construction and Renovation" directly); "Reinstate Permit" includes original permit reinstatements; "Extension Permits" includes extension of original permit when construction has not started within six months of original permit issuance. WORK DESCRIPTION: The description of work being done on the issued permit, which is printed on the permit. PIN1 – PIN10: A maximum of ten assessor parcel index numbers belonging to the permitted property. PINs are provided by the customer seeking the permit since mid-2008 where required by the Cook County Assessor’s Office. CONTRACTOR INFORMATION: The contractor type, name, and contact information. Data includes up to 15 different contractors per permit if applicable.

Data Owner: Buildings.

Time Period: January 1, 2006 to present.

Frequency: Data is updated daily.

Related Applications: Building Data Warehouse (https://webapps.cityofchicago.org/buildingviolations/violations/searchaddresspage.html).

This list describes landlords and property owners who are designated "problem landlords". Landlords on this list have had two or more administrative hearing causes brought against them and were found liable or defaulted to one or more serious building violations.

Violations issued by the Department of Buildings from 2006 to the present. Lenders and title companies, please note: These data are historical in nature and should not be relied upon for real estate transactions. For transactional purposes such as closings, please consult the title commitment for outstanding enforcement actions in the Circuit Court of Cook County or the Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings. Violations are always associated to an inspection and there can be multiple violation records to one inspection record. Related Applications: Building Data Warehouse http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bldgs/provdrs/inspect/svcs/building_violationsonline.html. The information presented on this website is informational only and does not necessarily reflect the current condition of the building or property. The dataset contains cases where a respondent has been found to be liable as well as cases where the respondent has been found to be not liable.

The Chicago Building Scofflaw Ordinance (Section 2-92-416 of the Municipal Code of Chicago) is designed to prevent landlords that refuse or refrain from correcting ongoing building code violations from receiving city contracts, including those that subsidize housing. Building owners must have a least three residential buildings with uncorrected violations and have had three or more properties referred to Circuit Court within the applicable 12 month period to be eligible for the list. The building code scofflaw list is updated once a year on the first business day of December, and building owners may appeal being named on the list. Building owners with controlling interest in at least three residential properties that have habitual, extensive or serioues building code violations are now ineligible for any new city contracts in 2015. The following individuals or entities have been placed on the Building Code Scofflaw list for the entire calendar year.

Permits issued by the Department of Buildings in the City of Chicago from 2006 to the present. The dataset for each year contains more than 65,000 records/rows of data and cannot be viewed in full in Microsoft Excel. Therefore, when downloading the file, select CSV from the Export menu. Open the file in an ASCII text editor, such as Wordpad, to view and search. Data fields requiring description are detailed below.
PERMIT TYPE: "New Construction and Renovation" includes new projects or rehabilitations of existing buildings; "Other Construction" includes items that require plans such as cell towers and cranes; "Easy Permit" includes minor repairs that require no plans; "Wrecking/Demolition" includes private demolition of buildings and other structures; "Electrical Wiring" includes major and minor electrical work both permanent and temporary; "Sign Permit" includes signs, canopies and awnings both on private property and over the public way; "Porch Permit" includes new porch construction and renovation (defunct permit type porches are now issued under "New Construction and Renovation" directly); "Reinstate Permit" includes original permit reinstatements; "Extension Permits" includes extension of original permit when construction has not started within six months of original permit issuance. WORK DESCRIPTION: The description of work being done on the issued permit, which is printed on the permit. PIN1 – PIN10: A maximum of ten assessor parcel index numbers belonging to the permitted property. PINs are provided by the customer seeking the permit since mid-2008 where required by the Cook County Assessor’s Office. CONTRACTOR INFORMATION: The contractor type, name, and contact information. Data includes up to 15 different contractors per permit if applicable.

Data Owner: Buildings.

Time Period: January 1, 2006 to present.

Frequency: Data is updated daily.

Related Applications: Building Data Warehouse (https://webapps.cityofchicago.org/buildingviolations/violations/searchaddresspage.html).

The following dataset includes "Active Benchmarks," which are provided to facilitate the identification of City-managed standard benchmarks. Standard benchmarks are for public and private use in establishing a point in space. Note: The benchmarks are referenced to the Chicago City Datum = 0.00, (CCD = 579.88 feet above mean tide New York). The City of Chicago Department of Water Management’s (DWM) Topographic Benchmark is the source of the benchmark information contained in this online database. The information contained in the index card system was compiled by scanning the original cards, then transcribing some of this information to prepare a table and map. Over time, the DWM will contract services to field verify the data and update the index card system and this online database.This dataset was last updated September 2011. Coordinates are estimated. To view map, go to https://data.cityofchicago.org/Buildings/Elevation-Benchmarks-Map/kmt9-pg57 or for PDF map, go to http://cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/water/supp_info/Benchmarks/BMMap.pdf. Please read the Terms of Use: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/narr/foia/data_disclaimer.html.

OUTDATED. See the current data at https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/hz9b-7nh8 -- Building footprints in Chicago. To view or use these files, compression software and special GIS software, such as ESRI ArcGIS, is required. Metadata may be viewed and downloaded at http://bit.ly/HZVDIY.

Vacant and abandoned building violations issued on properties owned by financial institutions since January 1, 2011. Each violation is tied to a Docket Number. A Docket may have more than one violation associated with it. Fees are assessed based on all violations associated with a particular Docket. This dataset displays the most recent action (disposition description) for each violation, the fees and fines associated with the docket and the amount paid or outstanding for the docket. If the docket is a City Non-Suit or the owner is found to be Not Liable, then no payment is required. Note that multiple addresses may be associated with a violation; in these cases, multiple records will be included in this dataset for a single violation. / Data Owners: Administrative Hearings / Finance / Time Period: January 1, 2011 to present / Update Frequency: Data is updated daily

OUTDATED. This dataset will not be updated further due to changes in how the source data are maintained. For more information on the City’s life safety ordinance, see https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bldgs/provdrs/inspect/svcs/life_safety_high-riseordinance.html and the contact information on that page. -- This dataset is a listing of the report status of all residential buildings required to submit a Life Safety Evaluation under city ordinance. Because the Chicago building code has since 1975 required new high-rise residential buildings to be constructed with sprinkler systems, the Life Safety Ordinance mostly impacted high-rise residential buildings constructed prior to 1975. This dataset does not describe the overall safety of a building, only whether or not the life safety evaluation was submitted and approved by the City of Chicago. Please note that the majority of reports “failed” initially as a result of a new reporting process and changes to building standards.

A list of buildings excluded from short-term rental activity under the Shared Housing Ordinance. See https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/provdrs/bus/alerts/2016/july/Prohibited_Buildings_List_Affidavit.html for more information on the exclusion process.

Building footprints in Chicago. Metadata may be viewed and downloaded at http://bit.ly/HZVDIY. The data can be viewed on the Chicago Data Portal with a web browser. However, to view or use the files outside of a web browser, you will need to use compression software and special GIS software, such as ESRI ArcGIS (shapefile) or Google Earth (KML or KMZ), is required.

The following dataset includes "Active Benchmarks," which are provided to facilitate the identification of City-managed standard benchmarks. Standard benchmarks are for public and private use in establishing a point in space. Note: The benchmarks are referenced to the Chicago City Datum = 0.00, (CCD = 579.88 feet above mean tide New York). The City of Chicago Department of Water Management’s (DWM) Topographic Benchmark is the source of the benchmark information contained in this online database. The information contained in the index card system was compiled by scanning the original cards, then transcribing some of this information to prepare a table and map. Over time, the DWM will contract services to field verify the data and update the index card system and this online database.This dataset was last updated September 2011. Coordinates are estimated. To view map, go to http://cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/water/supp_info/Benchmarks/BMMap.pdf. Please read the Terms of Use: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/narr/foia/data_disclaimer.html.

This list describes landlords and property owners who are designated "problem landlords". Landlords on this list have had two or more administrative hearing causes brought against them and were found liable or defaulted to one or more serious building violations.

OUTDATED. See the current data at https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/hz9b-7nh8 -- Building footprints in Chicago. Metadata may be viewed and downloaded at http://bit.ly/HZVDIY. The data can be viewed on the Chicago Data Portal with a web browser. However, to view or use the files outside of a web browser, you will need to use compression software and special GIS software, such as ESRI ArcGIS (shapefile) or Google Earth (KML or KMZ), is required.

OUTDATED. See the current data at https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/hz9b-7nh8 -- Building footprints in Chicago. The data can be viewed on the Chicago Data Portal with a web browser. However, to view or use the files outside of a web browser, you will need to use compression software and special GIS software, such as ESRI ArcGIS (shapefile) or Google Earth (KML or KMZ), is required. Metadata may be viewed and downloaded at http://bit.ly/HZVDIY.

The following dataset includes "Active Benchmarks," which are provided to facilitate the identification of City-managed standard benchmarks. Standard benchmarks are for public and private use in establishing a point in space. Note: The benchmarks are referenced to the Chicago City Datum = 0.00, (CCD = 579.88 feet above mean tide New York). The City of Chicago Department of Water Management’s (DWM) Topographic Benchmark is the source of the benchmark information contained in this online database. The information contained in the index card system was compiled by scanning the original cards, then transcribing some of this information to prepare a table and map. Over time, the DWM will contract services to field verify the data and update the index card system and this online database.This dataset was last updated September 2011. Coordinates are estimated. To view map, go to https://data.cityofchicago.org/Buildings/Elevation-Benchmarks-Map/kmt9-pg57 or for PDF map, go to http://cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/water/supp_info/Benchmarks/BMMap.pdf. Please read the Terms of Use: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/narr/foia/data_disclaimer.html.

The following dataset includes "Active Benchmarks," which are provided to facilitate the identification of City-managed standard benchmarks. Standard benchmarks are for public and private use in establishing a point in space. Note: The benchmarks are referenced to the Chicago City Datum = 0.00, (CCD = 579.88 feet above mean tide New York). The City of Chicago Department of Water Management’s (DWM) Topographic Benchmark is the source of the benchmark information contained in this online database. The information contained in the index card system was compiled by scanning the original cards, then transcribing some of this information to prepare a table and map. Over time, the DWM will contract services to field verify the data and update the index card system and this online database.This dataset was last updated September 2011. Coordinates are estimated. To view map, go to https://data.cityofchicago.org/Buildings/Elevation-Benchmarks-Map/kmt9-pg57 or for PDF map, go to http://cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/water/supp_info/Benchmarks/BMMap.pdf. Please read the Terms of Use: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/narr/foia/data_disclaimer.html.

A list of buildings excluded from short-term rental activity under the Shared Housing Ordinance. See https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/bacp/provdrs/bus/alerts/2016/july/Prohibited_Buildings_List_Affidavit.html for more information on the exclusion process.

The Chicago Building Scofflaw Ordinance (Section 2-92-416 of the Municipal Code of Chicago) is designed to prevent landlords that refuse or refrain from correcting ongoing building code violations from receiving city contracts, including those that subsidize housing. Building owners must have a least three residential buildings with uncorrected violations and have had three or more properties referred to Circuit Court within the applicable 12 month period to be eligible for the list. The building code scofflaw list is updated once a year on the first business day of December, and building owners may appeal being named on the list. Building owners with controlling interest in at least three residential properties that have habitual, extensive or serioues building code violations are now ineligible for any new city contracts in 2015. The following individuals or entities have been placed on the Building Code Scofflaw list for the entire calendar year.

Fees waived since January 1, 2012 by building permit. If you believe that any information in the published public data sets concerning your organization or business contains confidential information or has been published in error, please contact dataportal@cityofchicago.org so that we may address your concerns. Data Owner: Buildings. Time Period: January 1, 2012 to present. Update Frequency: Data is updated as needed.

The Chicago City Code, Chapter 4-17, allows for shared housing rentals to be prohibited or restricted in specified precincts. This dataset shows those precincts for which such restrictions have been requested by voter petition, including those approved by ordinance and potentially those for which an attempted repeal of the prohibition is underway or complete.

Current status can be determined from the most recent date.