New Construction Wiring in Rogers Park, Chicago

For Rogers Park new construction, we engage at the design phase. For a new two-flat or three-flat, the design phase establishes the service size, the metering structure, and the per-unit circuit layout. We typically recommend 400-amp building service for a new two-flat (200 amps per unit) and 600-amp for a new three-flat — headroom that accommodates modern tenant loads without overloading the building service.

Permit submission follows design. Rogers Park new construction goes through the Chicago Department of Buildings' residential plan review. We time permit submission to align with the construction start so rough-in inspection can proceed without delay. For mixed-use commercial new construction, we file the commercial permit separately and coordinate both permit tracks.

Rough-in follows framing. Chicago code requires metallic wiring — MC cable, EMT conduit, or FMC — throughout. Steel panels and boxes. We coordinate rough-in with the mechanical contractor to avoid conduit conflicts in tight mechanical areas, and we stage work to meet the framing inspection schedule.

• New two-flat construction — 400-amp building service, individual 200-amp unit panels, separate ComEd metering, house-load circuit; the core new construction investment type for Rogers Park's rental market
• New three-flat construction — 600-amp building service, three individual 200-amp unit panels, separate metering for each unit; meets Loyola-area demand for larger multi-unit rental investment
• New townhome developments — Individual unit panels, common-area circuits, EV provisions in attached or shared parking; a growing project type as Rogers Park attracts owner-occupant investment
• Morse and Devon Avenue mixed-use new builds — Commercial ground-floor electrical (food service or retail) with residential metering above; separate commercial and residential permits; commercial plan review through Chicago Department of Buildings
• Loyola-adjacent apartment new construction — Higher circuit density per unit to accommodate student and faculty tenants; individual unit panels with 20-amp kitchen circuits, dedicated circuit for laundry, and GFCI-protected bathroom circuits
• Lakefront new construction — Single-family and two-flat new builds near Loyola Park and Rogers Park Beach; weather-protected outdoor circuits, generator provisions given the lakefront's outage exposure, and EV charger provisions

Rogers Park's development market is built on relationships. Small landlords, community investors, and family-operated development companies make most of the new construction decisions in the neighborhood. These clients value transparent pricing, permit reliability, and a contractor who communicates clearly. We don't create complications or scope creep.

For rental investment new construction — the dominant new build type in Rogers Park — our understanding of what works in a rental property is practical. We spec devices that hold up to tenant use, label panels clearly so future service calls are efficient, and document the electrical system with enough detail that a new owner can understand what they're buying. These are the details that matter to a Rogers Park landlord over a ten or fifteen-year ownership period.

Our permit process with the Chicago Department of Buildings is reliable. We pull permits before work begins, pass rough-in on the first inspection, and close out final inspections cleanly. For a small developer on a construction loan, that reliability directly affects financing and delivery.