Building Permits in Chicago, Illinois
6,576 recent building permits filed in Chicago. Updated daily from public records.
6,576 permits
Spr 2019 cbrc - a complete interior remodel of two unit residential building including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. finish basement for first floor unit as per plans
For permit 101006482: additional other contractor. new contractor(s) listed under "other applicants and contractors" on permit certificate.
Spr 2019 cbrc: interior alterations of existing single story building to remove non-load bearing cmu partition and infill existing internal depressed loading dock with new slab (occupancy group f-1; t...
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: interior build-out of mercantile suite and exterior revolving door on floor 1 in an existing 30 story building (occupancy group m / type 1a construction)
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: full floor demo to existing tenant buildout on the 32nd floor 1a construction, b-business occupancy.
Permit expires on 06/13/2026 erection starts: 5/7/2026, erection ends: 10/3/2026. self cert. cbc 2019. reinstatement of 2025 permit 101066844 for the same 2 tents for the 2026 summer events from may 8...
Spr 2019 cbc. new 2 story (va construction, r-5 occupancy) frame single family residence with basement. new open concrete steps with roofed landing. new fireplace. new detached three car frame garage....
Install solar panels on roof of principal building. roof type: steep (>5:12). inverter output: 10 kw. array output: 15.39 kw. includes 15 kwh energy storage system. location: roof planes of home. icc...
Approval of new plan for stormwater management. project type: industrial. project area: 3.8 acres. this approval does not authorize any construction work. construction work may require separate permit...
Purpose: new/replacement installation. vinyl/pvc fence - 6'-0' ' (height) x 76'-0' ' (length). location: exterior new fence.
Purpose: new/replacement installation. vinyl/pvc fence - 6'-0' ' (height) x 186'-0' ' (length). location: rear and side fence.
Spr 2019 cbrc: 1416 sf addition with basement to existing 2317 sf 2-story plus basement 1 dwelling unit single family house. new windows in existing openings. partial roof replacement. new deck and co...
Spr 2019 cbc: full building permit for 3 story, 3 dwelling unit building with 3 on-site parking spaces and a 2-story rear wood porch, new 6'-0" wood fence & 5'-0" iron wrought fence per site plan (occ...
Purpose: new/replacement installation. wrought iron fence - 4'-0' ' (height) x 725'-0' ' (length). wrought iron fence - 6'-0' ' (height) x 999'-0' ' (length). location: fence install at exterior of bu...
Install solar panels on roof of principal building. roof type: low-sloped (<2:12). inverter output: 3.42 kw. array output: 4.05 kw. location: rooftop - principal structure. icc distributed generation...
New accessory surface parking lot with 120 spaces, of 24 which are evse-ready. work to include new asphalt, landscape and site electrical. parking lot to serve chicago state university and metra rail...
Spr 2019 cbc. repair existing carport with existing roof deck and access stair, per building code violations, to serve as an accessory to the 2 story 3 dwelling unit masonry building, as per plans. r5...
Repair/replacement affecting 1 systems : 2 rooftop packaged unit(mammoth energypack-a-1-80e-ww-2ig1000-ct2008-x-p) . electrical work under this permit = no . locations: 0 residential unit(s), 1 non-re...
Line voltage electrical work. new permanent 100 amp service disconnecting means with 15 circuits. receptacle outlets: 15 . lighting outlets: 0. specific location: basement.
Proposed front porch and garage roof/siding replacement serving an existing 1 story sfr, per plans.
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.