Solar panels in Chatham, Chicago

Chatham is a South Side community area long known as a middle-class stronghold, with blocks of brick bungalows and later ranch and mid-century homes.

• The West Chatham Bungalow Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, has 283 brick Chicago bungalows built from 1913 to 1930.
• The Garden Homes Historic District, 152 buildings put up in 1919 and 1920 by Benjamin J. Rosenthal between 87th and 89th Streets, was listed on the National Register in 2005.
• Chatham has some of the city's worst basement flooding, partly because it sits last in line in two sewer systems. A 2025 Chicago Tribune report described scientists from the University of Illinois, Chicago State and Northwestern studying the problem under a $25 million Department of Energy project. See sump pump battery backup.

• Small rooftop systems can use the Department of Buildings' Express Permit Program: inverter output of 13.44 kW or less, roof-mounted only, installed by a city-approved solar contractor, with one installation per ComEd service. Larger or ballasted systems need drawings from an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
• Residential panels must sit at least 3 feet from the edge of the roof.
• Only electrical contractors licensed by the City of Chicago can do the electrical work, so ask installers for their Chicago license.
• The city's solar zoning policy calls for separate design review for Chicago Landmarks and homes in Chicago Landmark Districts, and says rooftop panels there should be placed so they aren't visible from streets and sidewalks.

ComEd then approves the connection and your installer files for the rebate. For the full city picture, see solar in Chicago and solar permits in Illinois, town by town.

Illinois Shines, the state's solar incentive program, had approved 717 home-sized solar systems (25 kW or smaller) in ZIP codes 60619 and 60620 as of September 2026, including 122 in the past 12 months. About 11% are owned by the homeowner, compared with 44% statewide, and the typical system is 5.8 kW.

Yes. A battery keeps chosen circuits running when ComEd's grid goes down, which standard solar alone can't do, and ComEd pays about $300 per kWh of capacity, around $4,050 for one 13.5 kWh battery, through its virtual power plant program.

Chicago's July 2023 storms brought more than 12,000 basement flooding reports to 311 from July 2 to 18, more than in 2021 and 2022 combined, according to WBEZ. A battery that keeps the sump pump running is one of the most common reasons Chicago homeowners add storage. See sump pump battery backup and what a home battery costs.

• A Chicago-licensed electrical contractor for the electrical work, and a city-approved solar contractor if you want the Express Permit route.
• Illinois Shines Approved Vendor status, so the incentive is passed to you.
• Landmark experience if your home is a Chicago Landmark or in a landmark district.
• Two or three quotes compared on price per watt, equipment and warranties. Our solar quote checker flags high prices.

See how to choose a solar installer in Illinois.