Chicago Welcomes New City Commissioner

Valeria Macias

Posted by Valeria Macias

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On Friday, July 31, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Chicago’s new City Commissioner, Matthew Beaudet, who will also be the first Native American commissioner of a city department. Mr. Beaudet has been serving as the acting commissioner at the Department of Buildings since Judy Frydland stepped down this past June. 

Prior to being appointed as commissioner, he had been serving as DOB’s First Deputy Commissioner since 2011. Over the years, he led a number of projects that have increased productivity, streamlined the permitting process and created innovative initiatives. 

The Burnham Nationwide Team would like to welcome and congratulate Matthew Beaudet on his new role and look forward to working with him on both the permit expediting and building code compliance side!

Is Matthew Beaudet still the Commissioner of Chicago's Department of Buildings?
No, Beaudet served as DOB Commissioner after this 2020 announcement, but the current Commissioner, as of March 2024, is Marlene Hopkins, appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Hopkins has over 25 years with the city, including 18 years in DOB leadership roles, having previously served as First Deputy Commissioner.
Is Lori Lightfoot still the Mayor of Chicago, as referenced in this post?
No, Lightfoot's term as mayor ended in 2023. Chicago's current mayor is Brandon Johnson, who took office in May 2023.
Who currently oversees code development and policy at Chicago's DOB?
Grant Ullrich serves as Managing Deputy Commissioner, responsible for code development, policy, and administration, including leading a multi-year initiative to align Chicago's construction requirements more closely with national model codes like the IBC.
How many building permits does Chicago's Department of Buildings issue annually?
Roughly 50,000 per year as of recent reporting, DOB is described as the third-largest building department in the country.
What major Chicago Building Code milestone has happened under recent DOB leadership?
The department completed its first comprehensive revision of the Chicago Building Code in 70 years, and is now in the third phase of a multi-phase effort to further align city construction requirements with national model codes.
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