Permit Inquiries
To request a copy of an issued permit from our permit archives, please email our Permit Inquiry Inbox at mwrdpi@mwrd.org. The email, including a location map of the area in question along with the contact person and phone number, will initiate a search for sewer permits in that area. Please be aware that the MWRD does not issue sewer permits within the City of Chicago unless a direct connection is made to an MWRD intercepting sewer or other facility. Contact the City’s Department of Water Management for such requests.
If your request for information is not for an issued permit, you may submit FOIA request here.
Permit Determination
If you are unsure whether or not a permit is required, please contact Constance Mihalache at MihalacheC@mwrd.org or 312.751.3248 with questions regarding permit applicability, permit application procedure and submittal requirements, related ordinance requirements, etc. You may be asked to submit a sketch, site plan, and/or letter to describe details of the project in order to enable us to properly answer your questions. If permit applicability is not certain, it is recommended that a permit determination letter be obtained prior to starting any construction and risking enforcement action.
To request a Permit Determination, please submit a formal request letter to Constance Mihalache. The request should include a narrative describing the scope of the project, a site plan, and any other supporting documentation and exhibits that may help explain the scope of work proposed. A pdf version of the letter and supporting documents should be submitted by email to MihalacheC@mwrd.org. Hard copies of Permit Determination request letters are accepted, but are not processed as quickly as emailed letters due to limited on-site staffing.
Request letters can be addressed to:
Constance Mihalache
Engineering Department - Local Sewer Systems Section
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
111 East Erie Street, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611-2893
Permit Pre-Application Meetings
If you are working on submitting a permit that involves more complicated components such as complex stormwater systems, hazard area encroachments, or volume control trading, you can contact Dan Feltes by email at FeltesD@mwrd.org to schedule a pre-application meeting.
Request for Revisions to Issued Permits
Requests for sewer design-related revisions to existing permits prior to completion of sewer work under the permit, or to make minor changes to stormwater detention facilities, must include:
- A letter from the design engineer of the permit describing the design changes and the reason for the changes.
- A letter from the municipal/system engineer of the permit granting approval of the changes.
- A copy of revised design drawings, with each sheet signed and sealed by the permit design engineer of record (only those plan sheets that are changed).
- A copy of all revised permit documents signed and sealed by the permit design engineer of record (if applicable).
- Permit revision fee payment $500.00 plus $5.00 per linear foot of additional sewer length. Fees are waived for governmental sewer projects (public sewer mains, laterals for fire/police stations, libraries, etc.)
Letters requesting a revision to an issued permit can be addressed to:
Adam Witek
Engineering Department - Local Sewer Systems Section
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
111 East Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2893
Currently, we are requiring PDF files of the required letters, revised drawings, and additional documentation should be submitted through the FTP site to facilitate remote review of permit revisions. Please see our Electronic Submittals page for details.