Roofing in Chicago, Illinois

Required

THE CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES, WHICH ADOPT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE WITH CHICAGO'S OWN CHANGES; CHICAGO HAS NO INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE. The City Council's Phase 2 ordinance (Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029) created Title 14B, the 2019 Chicago Building Code, whose Section 14B-1-001 provides that "The International Building Code, 2018 edition, first printing, and all erratum thereto identified by the publisher (hereinafter referred to as "IBC") is adopted by reference and shall be considered part of the requirements of this title except as modified by the specific provisions of this title." The same ordinance created Title 14R, the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code, built on the 2018 International Existing Building Code, and Title 14A, the administrative provisions that set which work needs a permit. One- and two-family homes are regulated under these titles; the City has not adopted the International Residential Code. Roofing work on an existing building is sent by Section 14B-15-1511 ("The provisions of Section 1511 of IBC are not adopted") to Section 306 of the Rehabilitation Code, last amended by the ordinance passed October 9, 2024 (Coun. J. 10-9-24, p. 18818), which added low-slope roof-edge and skylight rules for roof replacements from January 1, 2025. Chicago's changes to the IBC roof-covering sections (14B-15-1504, 1505 and 1507) were last amended February 19, 2020 (Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473). The Phase 3 ordinance, SO2026-0024930 (Coun. J. 6-17-26, p. 45214), replaces the City's mechanical, fuel gas and energy codes, mostly from October 1, 2026, and revises the wording of the low-sloped roof edge and skylight section, 14B-15-1516, with effect on passage; it does not amend 14B-15-1507, 14B-15-1511, the reroofing rules at 14R-3-306.1 through 306.6, or the roofing permit exemption at 14A-4-402.2. Its amendment to Section 14A-4-402.1, which touches no roofing item, took effect on passage.

MANY PERMITTED REROOFS CAN GO THROUGH THE ONLINE EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM. The Department of Buildings' Express Permit Program covers roof repair up to 25 percent of the roof area, a recover over one existing layer, and a replacement with no structural work; structural repairs and a recover over two or more existing layers are also eligible with drawings or structural calculations by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. Before applying, have the property address and PIN, the owner's contact details, basic facts about the building, the Illinois roofing contractor license number, the general contractor's name or Chicago license number, and at least one photograph of the existing roof. Work by anyone without a valid Illinois roofing contractor license, on a building with an unpermitted rooftop feature, or that does not meet the Chicago Building Code's material rules or the Energy Transformation Code's insulation rules is not eligible. The permit terms require the contractor to confirm before starting that the existing roof structure can carry the new covering and the work loads, bar reinstalling cracked or damaged slate or tile, require new coverings to meet the Building Code's solar-reflectance rules, and require a replacement roof to include insulation under the Energy Transformation Code. When a low-slope roof is replaced, edges next to a shaft or enclosed court and skylights in the roof plane must be brought up to Building Code Sections 1516.2 and 1516.3 (Rehabilitation Code 306.7 and 306.8). Questions go to the Department of Buildings, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 900, 312-744-3449. A Chicago Landmark property needs a permit for exterior work even where the exemptions would otherwise apply.