Building Permits in Chicago, Illinois
Updated 5h ago6,688 recent building permits filed in Chicago. Updated daily from public records.
6,688 permits
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 490 sq. ft., lintel qty. 0, max. length 0. parapet rebuilding: 155 sq. ft. location: east wall.
For permit 101006482: additional other contractor. new contractor(s) listed under "other applicants and contractors" on permit certificate.
Approval of new plan for stormwater management. project type: higher education. project area: 0.69 acres. this approval does not authorize any construction work. construction work may require separate...
For permit 101066720: replacement electrical contractor. replacement other contractor. replacement mason contractor. new contractor(s) listed under "other applicants and contractors" on permit certifi...
Full rebuild (same as existing) for wood porch (open) (quantity: 1, location: rear of building).
Temporary scaffolding: qty: 2, max. length: 170 ft., max. height: 490 ft. location: south west and north. permit expiration date: 365 days from permit issued date this permit is not valid without corr...
Install solar panels on roof of principal building. roof type: steep (>5:12). inverter output: 10 kw. array output: 4.1 kw. includes 13.5 kwh energy storage system. location: roof planes of home. icc...
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 600 sq. ft., lintel qty. 0, max. length 0. location: east and west elevation.
Line voltage electrical work. add 1 circuits to existing 200 amp service disconnecting means. receptacle outlets: 1 . lighting outlets: 8. specific location: unit 103.
Self cert 2019 chicago construction code - interior build out of an existing basement in a existing two story plus basement single family residence. occupancy class r5. construction class v-a
Pilsen eye care: internally illuminated projecting sign with routed & push thru elements (s racine ave elevation) - 4'-2" h x 5'-5" projection (23 sq ft)
Fire alarm: repair existing system. affects: 0 dwelling units; 0 non-residential units. high-rise building: yes. voice communication: no. special locking: yes. monitoring type: supervising station . s...
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: single family home total renovation, new meps, reapirs to front and rear stairs, new dormer per plans and details. area of work: 3,624sf (type 4a construction). no change in singl...
For permit 101067044: additional electrical contractor. new contractor(s) listed under "other applicants and contractors" on permit certificate.
Install solar panels on roof of principal building. roof type: steep (>5:12). inverter output: 9.12 kw. array output: 10.8 kw. location: rooftop - principal building. icc distributed generation instal...
Scope: roof recover. area: 200 sq. ft. roof covering: built-up roof. location: on roof top of building. il roofing contractor license: 104005422.
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 680 sq. ft., lintel qty. 12, max. length 5. location: courtyard.
Scope: roof replacement. area: 1600 sq. ft. roof covering: asphalt shingles. location: entire roof. il roofing contractor license: 104018202.
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 1100 sq. ft., lintel qty. 1, max. length 6. location: courtyard.
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 620 sq. ft., lintel qty. 0, max. length 0. parapet rebuilding: 230 sq. ft. location: south elevation.
Chicago has 2,548 new permits filed in the last 30 days, with a total of 6,576 permits currently on file. Electrical work dominates the activity, accounting for 1,997 permits, followed by other work types (1,706 permits), roofing (910 permits), and renovation projects (867 permits). Plumbing rounds out the major categories at 350 permits. This volume represents real opportunity for contractors who monitor filings closely. The most active areas for construction are concentrated in five zip codes. The Loop and nearby downtown areas (60606) lead with 175 permits on file, followed by Lincoln Park (60618) with 165 permits, Gold Coast (60611) with 147 permits, and Lakeview (60614) and West Loop (60647) each with 135 permits. These neighborhoods consistently show strong construction activity and should be priority monitoring zones for your business development efforts. For contractors bidding on Chicago work, the average permit value is $766,672. This figure helps you estimate project sizes and prioritize which filings warrant your bid submission. Electrical contractors have the largest permit pool to work from, but roofing and renovation work also represent substantial opportunities. Knowing these numbers puts you ahead of competitors who rely on luck rather than data. DigPermit updates Chicago permit data daily from official public records. Getting accurate, current permit information matters when you're competing for jobs. The contractors winning the best work are the ones who see new filings before their competitors do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find new construction leads in Chicago?
Monitor building permits filed with the City of Chicago daily. New permits represent confirmed projects before general contractors start bidding them out. By tracking filings in your trade (electrical, roofing, plumbing, etc.) and in your target zip codes, you'll identify leads before most of your competition. Permit data shows the property address, owner, project scope, and estimated cost, giving you the information needed to contact the right decision-makers quickly.
What are the most common permit types in Chicago?
Electrical permits dominate with 1,997 filings on record, making up the largest category for contractors in that trade. Other work types account for 1,706 permits, roofing for 910 permits, renovation for 867 permits, and plumbing for 350 permits. If you're an electrical contractor, you have the deepest pool of potential jobs. Roofers and renovation specialists also have solid numbers to work from. Even plumbers have steady opportunity with 350 active permits.
Which zip codes in Chicago have the most building permits?
The Loop (60606) leads all neighborhoods with 175 permits on file. Lincoln Park (60618) follows with 165 permits. Gold Coast (60611) has 147 permits, while Lakeview (60614) and West Loop (60647) each have 135 permits. These five neighborhoods represent concentrated construction activity and are worth dedicating resources to monitor. Properties in these areas tend to be higher-value projects, which aligns with the average permit value across the city.
What is the average building permit value in Chicago?
Chicago permits average $766,672 in project value. This is a substantial figure that tells you the work being permitted here is significant enough to justify your bid preparation costs. You're not dealing with small residential repairs. These are meaningful projects where winning the bid creates real revenue for your company. Use this number to help prioritize which permits warrant your time and resources to pursue.
How often is Chicago permit data updated?
Chicago permit data is updated daily from public records. This means new filings appear in the system within one business day of submission to the city. For contractors, this frequency matters. You can check for new permits in your trade and target areas every morning and stay ahead of the curve. Daily updates ensure you're working with current information rather than data that's weeks old.