Building Permits in Chicago, Illinois
6,640 recent building permits filed in Chicago. Updated daily from public records.
6,640 permits
Replacement of existing 2-story rear open wood porch. no change in size/location/configuration. (occupancy group r-5; type iiia construction)
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: full gut interior remodel of existing 2-story, type va frame, 26' ht., single-family residence with basement including basement dig-down, new (486) sq. ft. 2-story type va frame a...
Self certification 2019 cbc. interior remodeling of existing unit in commercial building (outpatient clinic). all work as per plans.
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: interior alteration of an existing 4-story four unit brick apartment building including new hvac and plumbing systems and electrical upgrades. damged floor joists and subflooring...
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: interior alterations in existing office building on the 22nd floor suite 2200 to build out a full floor office tenant. new partitions, ceilings, light fixtures, plumbing, millwork...
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: interior alterations only to existing 2 story sfr with basement. work includes reconfiguration of 1st floor kitchen, installation of new powder room. also includes cabinetry, fixt...
Sc 2019 cbrc: interior alterations and rear porch replacement for an existing 3 story 3 unit brick residential building with basement. demolish existing brick garage and provide 3 off street parking s...
Spr 2019 cbrc: revision to permit 101068648 to reconfigure layout, including removal of buildout of cafe, show room, toilet room, and janitor's closet. reconfigure mep layout and reduce equipment acco...
Installation of illuminated wall sign at over n over beauty (850 s wabash ave, chicago, il 60605)
Self-cert 2019 cbrc: interior demolition of non load bearing partitions at existing 17th floor office space as per plans. work to also include demo of flooring, ceilings, doors, lighting, electrical d...
Spr 2019 cbrc: revision to permit #101031611 to rebuild portion of the building, 1 story building at 3553 n. milwaukee ave. with architecture and structural work as per plans. (occupancy classificatio...
Sc 2019 crbc - renovating an existing 2 story single family home. repairing rear stair and deck system at the first floor. installing new mep systems. (type va construction and r-5 use)
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 140 sq. ft., lintel qty. 4, max. length 4. parapet rebuilding: 140 sq. ft. location: parapet.
Hydronic piping extension/reconfiguration, repair/replacement affecting 1 systems : 2 chiller(carrier / 30rc-0826s316 / rooftop) 2 chiller(carrier / 30mpw0666p / 3rd floor mech room) . electrical work...
Spr 2019 cbc: new construction, full building permit for a 1-story masonry building, for use as a sports bar with partial basement storage, under 4000sf. existing driveway to remain and be reused. new...
Line voltage electrical work. new temporary 300 amp service disconnecting means with 2 circuits. receptacle outlets: 2 . lighting outlets: 0. specific location: southeast corner on stadium green.
Scope: roof replacement. area: 1032 sq. ft. roof covering: other. location: home only. il roofing contractor license: 104020004.
Install solar panels on roof of principal building. roof type: steep (>5:12). inverter output: 6.84 kw. array output: 8.1 kw. location: rooftop - principal structure. icc distributed generation instal...
For permit 101067557: replacement general contractor. replacement plumbing contractor. new contractor(s) listed under "other applicants and contractors" on permit certificate.
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 400 sq. ft., lintel qty. 90, max. length 6. location: all elevations of building.
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.