Building Permits in Chicago, Illinois
Updated 1h ago6,688 recent building permits filed in Chicago. Updated daily from public records.
6,688 permits
Spr 2019 cbc - new 2 story with basement 2 dwelling unit building, with front stair, rear 2 story wood deck with stair, and detached 3 car garage (occupancy r-5; construction type 5a)
Spr 2019 cbc: full building permit for one story private garage with three parking spaces inside, occupancy group r-5 and type vb construction. the current and proposed use is residential accessory us...
2019 cbrc: renovation to an existing 2 story 3 dwelling unit building interior alterations and installation of new interior finishes upgrades to mechanical electrical and plumbing systems (occupancy g...
2019 cbrc: renovation to an existing 2 story 2 dwelling unit building w/ new duplex from 1st floor to basementinterior alterations and installation of new interior finishesrear open and enclosed wood...
Proposed 2 story sfr w/basement, front stairs/landing, rear porch, 6' wood fence, and 3 car garage w/roof deck and pergola, per plans.
Self certified 2019 cbrc: interior alteration and fire damage repair to existing 2 story w/ basement 2 d.u. building. (occupancy group r-5; type 3a construction)
Self cert: erect a 3-story 2 family duplex masonry building with basement (1st floor & basement as one unit, 2nd & 3rd floors as the other)
Bright start learning center, inc.proposed non-illuminated wall id signlocation: east elevationsign facing: central ave.reads: bright start learning center
Self-cert 2019 cbc: interior renovation of an existing 11th floor dwelling unit in a type i high-rise residential building (occupancy group r-2, type i construction)
Wreck and remove a 1 story frame residence (front only)
Proposed 2 car garage, interior renovations to duplex basement/2st floor of an existing 2 story/2 unit residence, per plans.
Spr 2019 cbrc: repairs to the 2nd and 3rd floor existing bay windows on the east facade of the existing 3-story mix-use building and replacement of additional (6) windows, same size and same location...
Line voltage electrical work. repair or alter devices on existing circuits. receptacle outlets: 20 . lighting outlets: 10. specific location: unit 4002.
Fire alarm: new system. associated building permit:101073360. affects: 0 dwelling units; 0 non-residential units. high-rise building: no. voice communication: no. special locking: no. monitoring type:...
Self-cert 2019 cbc: interior alteration of existing 15th floor common areas (elevator lobby, corridors, and restrooms) and tenant suite entry, including interior nonstructural demolition, new partitio...
Low voltage/communication electrical work. install data/video. specific location: installation of voice/data cabling and sound maski.
Line voltage electrical work. new permanent 200 amp service disconnecting means with 28 circuits. receptacle outlets: 1 . lighting outlets: 1. specific location: electrical.
Electrical maintenance permit. occupancy: business. start date: 1/20/2026. end date: 2/19/2026. all work under this permit must be performed by employees of the listed electrical contractor. the elect...
Line voltage electrical work. new permanent 200 amp service disconnecting means with 28 circuits. receptacle outlets: 1 . lighting outlets: 1. specific location: electrical.
Self cert cbrc 2019: renovation of an existing single story masonry building with basement and new wood framed deck in rear as per plans (occupancy r5; construction type iiia)
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.