Administrative overview · FIPS 17031
Cook County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Cook County Department of Building and Zoning
For a project in or near Cook County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
312-603-0500; satellite office 847-470-3730
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building, 69 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602; satellite office 5600 Old Orchard Road, Suite 155, Skokie, IL 60077
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; closed Saturday-Sunday
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Cook County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Cook County Department of Building and Zoning is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 312-603-0500; satellite office 847-470-3730.
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
The Department performs plan reviews and inspections and issues certificates of occupancy. Use the Building and Zoning Department's permit and inspection services or call 312-603-0500; incorporated properties must contact their local building authority.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The Department enforces all applicable Cook County building codes and zoning ordinances and handles plan review, permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, and zoning certification for unincorporated Cook County and the Forest Preserves. The reviewed page does not specify a current 2026 code edition. N/A; the department's public page does not provide a complete minor/cosmetic exemption list. Properties inside incorporated municipalities must follow that municipality's permit rules, while the County regulates unincorporated areas and Forest Preserves.