City of Chicago - Green Building Permit Programs
Administered by City of Chicago
If you're planning a residential renovation or new construction project with green elements like solar panels, geothermal systems, or green roofs, you can participate in Chicago's Green Permit programs to speed up your building permit review and potentially reduce permit fees. To qualify for the Green Benefit Tier program, your project must achieve LEED for Homes or Green Globes certification; alternatively, the Green Elements program accepts projects with specific green technologies submitted through a designated Project Administrator. Contact the City of Chicago Department of Buildings' Green Permits Project Administrator to discuss your project early in the design phase and get expedited processing.
The City of Chicago offers expedited permitting pathways for projects incorporating green technologies—including solar panels, geothermal systems, green roofs, wind turbines, rainwater harvesting, and solar thermal panels—which can improve project timelines and customer appeal. Projects pursuing the Green Benefit Tier program must achieve LEED or Green Globes certification; those using specific green elements must be submitted through a designated Green Permit Program Project Administrator and comply with published requirements for each technology. Starting the Green Permit orientation meeting early in the design phase ensures seamless coordination and maximizes project benefits.
Chicago's Department of Buildings administers three interconnected programs: the Green Permit Benefit Tier Program (expedited review and possible permit fee reduction for certified commercial/residential projects), the Green Elements Permit Program (priority review for applications including geothermal, green roofs, photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind turbines, or rainwater harvesting), and the Solar Express Program (expedited solar-specific permitting). All programs require dedicated Green Permit Project Administrators to guide applicants through the process, with participation beginning at project orientation and continuing through design documentation review. The programs target commercial, industrial, nonprofit, residential, multifamily, institutional, and school projects citywide.
Program details
- Program ID
- 2466
- Last updated
- 7/9/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial nonprofit residential schools multifamily residential institutional
- Technologies
- solar - passive solar water heat solar space heat solar photovoltaics wind (all) geothermal heat pumps daylighting wind (small) hydroelectric (small) comprehensive measures/whole building yes; specific technologies not identified
Program summary
Projects meeting the following criteria are eligible for the Green Benefit Tier Permit Process:
- Commercial projects must earn certification within the LEED or Green Globes rating systems.
- Residential projects must earn certification under LEED for Homes or Green Globes rating systems.
- All projects must implement green strategies or green technologies to receive incentives.
Projects meeting the following criteria are eligible for the Green Elements Permit Process:
Permit applications that include green technologies such as green roofs, rainwater harvesting, solar panels, solar thermal panels, wind turbine, and geothermal systems are REQUIRED to be submitted through a Green Permit Program Project Administrator. Links to requirements for these green elements are included below:
- Green Roofs
- Photovoltaic Panels
- Solar Thermal Panels
- Wind Turbines
- Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Process:
To participate in the Green Permit Benefit Tier Program, the applicant must submit documentation outlining all of the green building components to be included in the project. These components will be discussed at the initial Green Permit Program orientation meeting. To maximize the benefits of the Green Permit Benefit Tier Program, applicants may contact the Green Permits Project Administrator to set up a meeting once the projection of construction documents has begun. The applicant is then guided through the expedited permit process by a dedicated Green Permit Project Administrator.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- timothy.heppner@cityofchicago.org
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
