What is an OUC Permit?
Construction projects in Chicago, Illinois, are required to obtain a permit from the Office of Underground Coordination (OUC) to comply with the Existing Facility Protection (EFP) Process. For additional information, read our blog “What is an OUC Permit?”
What are the new January 2025 OUC permit requirements for the City of Chicago?
Starting January 2025, the City of Chicago mandates that all new roadway openings, including those for single-family homes and small apartment buildings, now require permits from the Office of Underground Coordination (OUC). Previously, such permits were required primarily for larger projects with service connections on major arterials.
Why are the permitting requirements changing?
The OUC is tasked with safeguarding the city’s surface and subsurface infrastructure from potential damage due to construction, installation, and maintenance activities.
Are you affected by these changes?
All proposed projects involving new construction and installations must undergo OUC processing before the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) issues roadway opening permits.
If these changes pertain to your project, consider the following required actions:
- Obtain Existing Utility Information: Request data from the 27 utility members, including water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, lighting, and more.
- Conduct a Limited Topographic Survey: Focus on the area from the front of the proposed structure to the right-of-way across the property’s frontage.
- Inspect Manholes: Open manholes to determine the depths and diameters of existing sewers.
- Integrate Utility Data: Incorporate the collected utility information into the topographic survey.
- Develop Plan and Profile Drawings: Illustrate the proposed water and sewer connections for the new building.
- Calculate Utility Crossings: Determine where the proposed water and sanitary services intersect with existing utilities to confirm proper separations.
- Include Standard Details: Incorporate standard maintenance of traffic details and roadway patching plans.
Bono Consulting Civil Engineers, a Sevee Maher Engineers company, has a dedicated team of engineers and surveyors ready to assist with your project, including OUC permitting. Please contact Mark Balow at 847-823-3300 to discuss and prepare a proposal tailored to your needs.