Chicago Building Codes and Permitting Process
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 – 11:45 am
Lunch (On your own): 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Afternoon Session: 12:45 – 4:30 pm
Chicago Building Code, Part 1
History and application of code
Administration and enforcement
Existing buildings / property maintenance / inspection
Committee on Building Standards and Tests
Boards of Appeals: Building, Zoning
Chicago Building Code, Part 2
Building classification and occupancy:
– Residential and business units
– Condominiums, high-rise buildings, institutional units
– Assembly units, mercantile, industrial and miscellaneous units
Types of construction
Fire and smoke protection
Minimum design loads
– Foundations, concrete, masonry, wood and steel construction
Light and ventilation
Existing buildings and rehabilitation code
Chicago Building Permits
Plan review processes:
EPP, Self-Certification, Standard Plan Review (SPR), Direct Developer Services (DDS)
– Types of projects that require permit
– Projects for which permit not required
Applying for Chicago Building Permits
Applying online / electronic plan review
Completing the building permit application
Plats of survey and site plans
Construction plans
Obtaining Building Permits
Zoning reviews
– Landmarks – Landscape – Driveways – Grants of Privilege
Geotechnical, OUC and structural reviews
Architectural/fire prevention review
MOPD / AccessibilityMEP reviews
Energy, environmental and miscellaneous reviews
Permit approval and compliance
Completion of work and inspection
Credits
Professional Engineers
6.5 PDHs
Architects
6.5 HSW Contact Hours
6.5 AIA HSW Learning Units
International Code Council
.65 CEUs (Building)
Contractors
Non-Credit Continuing Ed.
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers 6.5 PDHs to Illinois professional engineers and 6.5 HSW contact hours to Illinois architects. Educators and courses are not subject to preapproval in Illinois.
The American Institute of Architects has approved this event for 6.5 HSW Learning Units (Sponsor No. J885). Only full attendance can be reported to the AIA/CES.
Engineers and architects seeking continuing education credit in other states should refer to specific state rules to determine the eligibility of this subject matter.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .65 CEUs in the specialty area of Building.
This seminar also offers a non-credit continuing education opportunity to construction contractors. It has not been submitted to any state contractor licensing board for continuing education approval.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
Speakers
Christopher E. Chwedyk, AIA, CSI
Director of The Code Group, Burnham Nationwide, Inc., Chicago, ILMr. Chwedyk is a licensed architect and chief code consultant and director of the licensed architectural subsidiary of Burnham that he assisted in founding in 2001. He was previously the principal of the Chicago office of a firm that specialized in life safety and fire protection engineering, and he has been a member of such prestigious architectural firms as Skidmore, Owings and Merrill; Bertrand Goldberg Associates; and Jack Train Associates. With over 40 years of experience in the profession, Mr. Chwedyk has concentrated on the technical requirements of building design and has managed the production of code-compliant construction documents for a wide variety of project types. Over the past two decades he has performed numerous code compliance plan reviews for the City of Chicago and other municipalities. Mr. Chwedyk is also a certified building plans examiner through the International Code Council (ICC) and currently serves on the International Fire Code Action Committee. His professional affiliations include the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and he is the 2018 chair of the National AIA Codes and Standards Committee.
Chris Downes
Burnham Nationwide, Inc., in ChicagoBurnham Nationwide, Inc., in ChicagoAs the recognized name in facilitating permits and providing code consulting in the City of Chicago since 1992, Mr. Downes has been involved with many of the iconic buildings that make up the Chicago skyline, including most recently Hilton Chicago and Aloft Chicago Magnificent Mile. Mr. Downes leads Burnham’s company-wide project management and code divisions and interfaces with project executives to assure project success. He applies expertise in large-scale development projects requiring coordination of diverse teams and multiple city agencies, and he leverages 18 years of experience managing thousands of permits and approvals to develop comprehensive plans to achieve project goals. Mr. Downes also advises on strategy for permit expediting and code compliance for diverse projects, including new high-rises and hotels, tenant improvements, large assembly venues, historic landmarks, and unique new construction and remodel projects.