Do you need a permit for a shed in Chicago?
It depends on the project. Chicago exempts some sheds from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 150 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Chicago's rule“Installing, altering, or removing 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, or that is purely decorative ( such as a sculpture) , provided that the footprint is 150 square feet or less…”1
City of Chicago, Department of Buildings, Small Permanent Structures
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Shed exceeding the exemption (most construction requires a permit) | You need a building permit before beginning most types of building construction, demolition, rehabilitation, and repair work in Chicago.1 |
Limits and conditions in Chicago's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this area | 150 square feet | Installing, altering, or removing 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, or that is purely decorative ( such as a sculpture) , provided that the footprint is 150 square feet or less…1 |
| Exempt up to this height | 15 feet | Installing, altering, or removing 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, or that is purely decorative ( such as a sculpture) , provided that the footprint is 150 square feet or less…1 |
Special areas and extra reviews
- Chicago Landmark properties/districts: exemptions may not apply1
Who to ask
City of Chicago Department of Buildings2
Building permits
- Website
- chicago.gov2
- Apply online
- ipi.cityofchicago.org3
- Phone
- (312) 744-34492
- [email protected]4
- Address
- 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 900, Chicago, IL 606022
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (9th floor front desk, City Hall; no walk-in permit processing)5
- Inspections
- Online only: webapps1.cityofchicago.org6
Shed permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Chicago with 18 other cities on the national shed permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- What Types of Work Do Not Require a Building Permit? (Full List)City of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Department of Buildings (home page)City of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Express Permit ProgramCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Calculate the Cost of a Building PermitCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
- Current Operations: Frequently Asked QuestionsCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsPosted September 29, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Permit-Related Building InspectionsCity of Chicago, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026