Observed arrival · 2026-09-17
PermitWait: Chicago's Permit Clock
A public-data tool measuring Chicago building-permit processing times by community area, ZIP code, and permit type.
○Open
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$Paid
†Ads
✦Pretty
●Pro
◎Niche
◉Human
⚑Risk
ƒJS
Field notes
The tool derives elapsed calendar days from the City's PROCESSING_TIME field for permits that reached issuance, then presents results by geography and permit route. Its reports expose the long tail with 75th- and 90th-percentile figures rather than relying on averages alone. The homepage covers 196,519 issued permits from 2021–2026 and distinguishes fast routes such as Easy Permit from slower categories such as Renovation & Alteration and New Construction.
Observed signals
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Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
○OpenPublic substance visible
✦PrettyNotable craft visible
●ProPolished or operationally mature
◎NicheUnusually specific use
◉HumanPersonal, local, civic, or handmade
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