The difference between a Canvass, Complaint, and Re-Inspection

If you've looked at any Chicago inspection report, you've seen the inspection type listed at the top — Canvass, Complaint, Re-Inspection, License, etc. These aren't interchangeable. Each one means something different about why the inspector showed up and what they were focused on.

Here's the breakdown.

Canvass

This is the routine, scheduled inspection. The inspector just shows up — usually unannounced — and walks the kitchen.

A canvass is the broadest type of inspection. The sanitarian works through their full checklist, observes the kitchen during normal operations, takes temperatures, asks the manager questions, and writes up everything they see.

When you see "Canvass" on a report, you're looking at: - The closest thing to a "snapshot of normal operations" - A full-scope inspection covering all categories - An unannounced visit (the kitchen didn't know it was coming today)

Canvass inspections happen at a frequency dictated by the restaurant's risk classification — twice a year for Risk 1, once a year for Risk 2, and so on.

Complaint

A complaint inspection is triggered by someone — a customer, an employee, a neighbor, an anonymous tip — filing a complaint with the city. 311 is the most common channel.

The inspector arrives knowing what was complained about: "rats in dining area," "saw cook handle raw chicken and not wash hands," "food poisoning after Tuesday dinner," etc. They focus the inspection on the complaint but also do a general walk-through.

When you see "Complaint" on a report, you're looking at: - An inspection triggered by an external report - A more focused investigation, often around a specific issue - An inspector who is looking for something specific (and looking hard)

Complaint inspections often produce more severe citations than canvass inspections — partly because the inspector is alerted to a problem area, partly because actual problems often produced the complaint in the first place.

This is also why our trending list often features Complaint inspections heavily — they tend to find the worst stuff.

Re-Inspection

A re-inspection is a follow-up to a previous inspection where violations were cited. The inspector returns specifically to verify that the original violations have been corrected.

A re-inspection might also be referred to as: - "Canvass Re-Inspection" (follow-up to a routine inspection) - "Complaint Re-Inspection" (follow-up to a complaint-driven inspection)

When you see "Re-Inspection" on a report, you're looking at: - A targeted follow-up - A scheduled visit (usually the operator knew it was coming) - Verification that the previous violations were fixed

Re-inspections aren't full canvas inspections — they're focused. The inspector might spot-check other things while they're there, but their main job is to verify the prior issues are resolved.

License

A license inspection happens when a new business is applying for a food service license. The inspector checks that the facility is set up correctly to operate.

License inspections cover: - Equipment installation and condition - Plumbing and water supply - Food storage setup - Handwashing facilities - General readiness to operate

You'll see License inspections on the records of newly-opened restaurants. They're not as informative as a normal canvass — they're done before any actual cooking is happening — but they're a record that the place was inspected and approved before opening.

Suspected Food Poisoning

A specific subset of complaint inspections, triggered when someone reports getting sick from a restaurant. These tend to be focused on: - Personal hygiene - Temperature control - Cross-contamination - Recent menu items related to the reported illness

The inspector may also collect food samples for lab testing in serious cases.

Other types you'll occasionally see

• **Short Form Complaint** — A faster, more limited complaint inspection
• **Tag Removal** — Inspector returns to verify equipment has been repaired and can have its "tagged" status removed
• **Task Force** — A joint inspection with another agency (often Streets & Sanitation for issues that span beyond food)
• **Consultation** — Requested by the operator before opening, similar to a license inspection but informational
• **Non-Inspection** — An administrative visit, no actual inspection conducted

How this changes how you read a report

The inspection type changes how you should weight the result.

• **A canvass with no violations** is a strong positive signal — it means an unannounced inspector walked the place and found nothing wrong.
• **A complaint with citations** isn't necessarily worse than a canvass — the inspector was specifically looking for problems and may have found them.
• **A re-inspection with no violations** confirms a fix but tells you less about ongoing operations than a canvass.
• **A complaint inspection with severe citations** is one of the strongest negative signals you can find — somebody reported a problem, an inspector showed up, and they confirmed it.

When you scan an inspection history, the type of inspection plus the result together tell you the story. Same result, different inspection types, different meanings.