Chicago Dept of Buildings & Zoning (DBPZ)
Chicago, IL
Avg Review
35d
Rejection Rate
58%
Skill Files
8
Status
High Risk
Ventilation — Type I Hood & Exhaust
Chicago MC §507 / NFPA 96 / Chicago Ventilation Ordinance 13-64Type I hood required for all cooking producing grease-laden vapors. Minimum exhaust rate per Chicago MC Table 507.2.1. Dedicated makeup air system required — cannot draw from HVAC return. Duct routing on drawings must show all penetrations through fire-rated assemblies. Chicago requires separate mechanical permit for Type I hood systems.
Examiner Note: Chicago DBPZ requires a separate mechanical permit application for all Type I hoods. Do not combine with building permit. Ductwork must be shown on both mechanical and architectural roof plans.
Common rejection: Type I hood submitted under building permit instead of separate mechanical permit; makeup air source not identified
Correction: Submit separate mechanical permit application for Type I hood system per Chicago MC §507. Show dedicated makeup air system on M-1. Do not rely on HVAC return for makeup air.
Fire — Suppression & Alarm
NFPA 96 / Chicago Fire Code §15-16-480 / CBC §903.2.1.3UL 300 wet chemical suppression required for all Type I hoods. Automatic sprinkler system required per Chicago Fire Code. Fire alarm with manual pull stations at exits. Kitchen suppression must interlock with gas shutoff and building fire alarm panel. Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau review required separately.
Examiner Note: Chicago FPB requires separate submittal for fire suppression — do not combine with DBPZ building permit. Include sequence of operations for suppression-gas shutoff-alarm interlock.
Common rejection: Suppression system interlock sequence of operations not provided; fire alarm not shown connected to suppression panel
Correction: Provide sequence of operations for suppression activation: 1) UL 300 discharge, 2) automatic gas shutoff, 3) shunt trip electrical, 4) fire alarm panel notification. Submit separately to Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau.
Plumbing — Grease Interceptor & Fixtures
Chicago Plumbing Code §18-29-301 / §18-29-801Grease interceptor required for all commercial kitchen waste: minimum 1,000 gallon capacity for ghost kitchen facilities. External interceptor preferred. 3-compartment sink required. Handwash stations per Chicago Health Code. All plumbing fixtures must be listed and approved. Backflow prevention required on all water supply connections.
Examiner Note: Chicago plumbing inspector wants grease interceptor sizing calculation on the plan per fixture unit method. External interceptor location must be shown on site plan with access for pumping.
Common rejection: Grease interceptor sizing calculation not provided; external interceptor location and access not shown on site plan
Correction: Add grease interceptor sizing calculation per Chicago Plumbing Code §18-29-801.1 on P-1. Show external interceptor location on site plan with vehicle access for maintenance pumping.
Electrical — Kitchen Power & Emergency
Chicago Electrical Code / 2017 NEC Art 210 & 422Minimum 200A service per kitchen bay. Dedicated circuits for each major appliance. GFCI required within 6 feet of water sources per NEC 210.8(B). Emergency disconnect for all kitchen equipment. Chicago requires licensed electrician affidavit with permit application.
Examiner Note: Chicago requires electrician's license number and affidavit on the permit application. Panel schedule must show all kitchen circuits with wire sizing.
Common rejection: Licensed electrician affidavit not submitted with permit application; panel schedule missing
Correction: Include licensed electrician affidavit with permit application. Provide complete panel schedule on E-1 showing all kitchen circuits, wire sizes, and breaker ratings. Add GFCI notation within 6 feet of water sources.
Health — Chicago CDPH Food Facility
Chicago Municipal Code §4-8 / CDPH Food CodeChicago Dept of Public Health requires separate food establishment license. Plan review includes: handwash proximity (within 25 feet), 3-compartment sink, food-grade wall and floor finishes, adequate refrigeration/cold storage, pest control provisions (sealed wall penetrations, door sweeps, air curtains at entries). Ghost kitchen facilities require Business License pre-approval.
Examiner Note: CDPH reviews floor finishes strictly — requires quarry tile or equivalent with coved base in all food prep and cooking areas. Sealed concrete alone is not accepted.
Common rejection: Floor finish specified as sealed concrete instead of quarry tile or equivalent; no pest control provisions shown
Correction: Specify quarry tile or equivalent floor finish with coved base in food areas per CDPH requirements. Add pest control details: sealed wall penetrations, door sweeps, air curtain at service entries on A-1.
Structural — Chicago Snow & Live Loads
Chicago Building Code §13-132 / ASCE 7 Table 4.3-1Floor live load minimum 150 PSF for commercial kitchen. Roof snow load per Chicago amendments (30 PSF ground snow load). Equipment anchorage for units over 400 lbs. Chicago requires structural peer review for occupancy changes. Stamped structural drawings required.
Examiner Note: Chicago DBPZ requires stamped structural calculations by IL-licensed SE (not just PE) for all commercial kitchen conversions.
Common rejection: Structural calculations stamped by PE instead of IL-licensed SE; snow load calculation not per Chicago amendments
Correction: Provide structural calculations stamped by IL-licensed Structural Engineer. Include snow load per Chicago Building Code §13-132 (30 PSF ground snow load). Show equipment anchorage for all units over 400 lbs.
ADA — Chicago Accessibility
Chicago Building Code §13-160 / 2010 ADA Standards / IEBCAccessible route from public way through common areas. Accessible restroom per 2010 ADA Standards (60-inch turning radius, grab bars, accessible hardware). Chicago requires Illinois Accessibility Code compliance in addition to federal ADA. Existing building renovations trigger path-of-travel upgrades per IEBC.
Examiner Note: Chicago DBPZ checks Illinois Accessibility Code compliance (IAC) which is stricter than federal ADA on some points — verify restroom dimensions against IAC as well as ADA.
Common rejection: Restroom layout meets ADA but not Illinois Accessibility Code requirements; path-of-travel upgrades not addressed in renovation
Correction: Verify restroom dimensions against both 2010 ADA Standards and Illinois Accessibility Code. Show path-of-travel upgrades triggered by renovation scope on A-1. Include IAC compliance notation.
Egress — Chicago Exit Requirements
Chicago Building Code §13-160 / §13-96Two exits required when occupant load exceeds 49. Maximum travel distance: 200 feet (unsprinklered), 250 feet (sprinklered). Exit signs: internally illuminated, connected to emergency power. Panic hardware on exit doors. Dead-end corridors limited to 20 feet. Chicago requires occupant load posted on premises.
Examiner Note: Chicago requires the occupant load to be permanently posted near the main entrance. Include a note on plans for posted occupant load sign.
Common rejection: No note on plans for posted occupant load sign; travel distance calculation not shown
Correction: Add note on A-1: 'Occupant load sign to be permanently posted near main entrance per Chicago Building Code §13-96.' Show travel distance calculation with path drawn on egress plan.