Local Permits

The City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) requires special permits for all work that involves blocking any portion of a street, sidewalk, alley or crossing over a curb (temporary driveway).

How do I get a street closure permit ?

Gatwood will obtain these permits for you. We will add a fee to the actual cost of the permit to cover the expenses involved in obtaining them. Permits for any major street (Bus Route) or in the Downtown Area take about 5 days to obtain – so plan ahead. Contact us for further information.

How much do they cost?

Permit fees are calculated by the space required to be blocked for the job. The prices are “per foot” for each lane blocked. There are different rates for Curb, Parking, Traffic and Bike lanes….also for Sidewalks and Alleys.

The fees are doubled for work that takes longer than 3 consecutive days…up to 30 days.

Traffic must be allowed to flow in both directions while the work in in progress. The contractor is expected to provide all signs and traffic control devices/personnel such as cones, arrow boards, flagmen etc.

Don’t forget to include these extras when estimating work.

If a street/alley is blocked completely (defined as less than a 10 foot wide lane left open), you will be charged for the entire length of the block from corner to corner.

If the street is a bus or emergency vehicle route each lane must maintain 11 feet for the vehicle(s) to pass through.

I’m working in the “downtown area” – Are there any differences?

Fees are doubled for any work in Chicago’s “Central Business District” – the downtown area. Generally Division south to Roosevelt; Halsted to Lake Michigan.

There are strict restrictions on when the work will be allowed….usually at night (after 7pm) or on a weekend. Much depends on the area and the traffic patterns. The City is looking to minimize impact on the public. They are especially considerate of things like private residences (condos), restaurants and hotels, entertainment venues – and the associated traffic flow.

Be sure to take this into account when bidding – most unions require overtime rates and/or 8 hour minimums for night and weekend work.

There will be times where the City of Chicago will not allow any work in the central business district. Generally around the Christmas holiday season and any other special events such as Festivals, Parades, Marathons etc. Exceptions can sometimes be made for emergency work.

Are there any time restrictions – when can I do the work?

The City might require the work to be done at night or on a weekend in high-traffic areas……take this possibility into account if bidding a job (overtime labor rates etc)

You will not be allowed to work during “rush hours” on busy streets. Daytime permits will generally be from 9 am to 3 pm.

They generally won’t allow work around Cubs and Sox park during game days. (or the “access roads” to the parks) Restrictions might also be in place for any other special events such as parades, festivals etc.

What work vehicles can I park at the jobsite?

You are expected to strictly stay within the dimensions listed on the permit. We will pull very tight permits to keep costs down – since they are charged by the foot.

There are NO exceptions allowed – 50 feet MEANS 50 feet. If you need additional space for trucks etc – you need to let us know up front – and pay for the additional footage.

The permit does not allow you to park your personal vehicle(s) behind the crane – unless the vehicle stays within the footage allowed in the permit.

For example, parking your 20′ pickup truck behind the crane could cost up to $1300 in the downtown area. This also applies to trailers, delivery vehicles etc. Park your cars elsewhere if you can.

How do I handle traffic flow through the jobsite?

The city requires you to keep traffic flowing through the area at all times using traffic controls. This might be as simple as a “flagman” waving traffic through the site – or might require more devices as recommended in the MUTCD standards.

No Parking signs and restrictions:

The City will post “no-parking” signs in the area – but they MUST be requested at the time the permit is pulled. It takes The City of Chicago 48 working hours to get the signs posted…..so permits must be obtained 3 days before the work is scheduled.

You must pay for any parking meters that will be blocked – at the daily rate for those meters.

If the signs have not been posted there is a number listed on the permit you can call to have the City go out and post them. (312-747-5085) They will need to know the address of the jobsite and the permit number.

What happens if there are cars parked where I need to work?

If there are no-parking signs posted at the jobsite you can have the cars towed away. There is a telephone number listed on the permit to call for assistance during normal business hours. (312-747-5085)

After hours, call the local police non-emergency number.

Occasionally signs will be pulled down by the public – in that case you might want to get to the jobsite early to verify access and park your own vehicles there to “reserve” the space.

What happens if I don’t have a permit?

When a permit is issued, notices are sent to all city departments warning of the obstruction.

All City of Chicago employees will be watching for illegal obstructions – Police, Fire, CTA, City Inspectors etc. Any citizen can call City Hall or their Alderman with a complaint – at which point the City will send out an inspector and/or police. The City can shut the work down on the spot.

The inspector will measure the total length of the project and take digital photos to be used as evidence in court later….and issue a citation to the contractor.

The fines for not having a permit are significant – usually a minimum of $1000 plus the price of the permit – as measured by the inspector. The contractor is responsible for any/all fines and associated costs…including the cost of the crane rental if the job is shut down.

How do I estimate permit cost for a bid I’m doing?

Since many factors are considered in the price of the permits, we recommend that you call us for an estimate on any Chicago street obstruction permits.

Local Permits – Other Municipalities

Many local municipalities have their own “right of way” or obstruction permits.

We recommend that you call us for any street obstruction permits.