Building Permits in Chicago, Illinois
6,640 recent building permits filed in Chicago. Updated daily from public records.
6,640 permits
Ada bathroom modifications. remove tub and install shower with associated fixtures and tile work.
Emergency wreck and remove a 2 story masonry residence
Spr 2019 cbrc: upgrading the rear hall and stair enclosures to be fire rated, per building code. replacing doors with fire-rated doors. no work to apartments. (occupancy r2, construction type iiia).
In-kind replacement of exterior windows and doors in existing openings. replacement windows: 30; replacement skylights: 0; replacement doors: 3. affects: 3 residential unit(s), 0 non-residential unit(...
Repair/replacement affecting 2 systems : 1 floor furnace(removing existing furnace, coil, and condenser installing a goodman furnace 100000 btu mod# grq5801005cn) 1 other cooling equipment(goodman 2 1...
Reinstate permit no 101070035 must begin work and or request inspection no later than ***august 2026*** on permit no 101070035
Installing non-illuminated canopy sign; 17 sq/ft; south elevation; windermere
Purpose: new/replacement installation. wood fence - 6'-0' ' (height) x 140'-0' ' (length). location: exterior of property - yard.
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)
Reinstate permit no 100751314, must begin work and or request inspections no later than june 2026 on permit no 100751314.
Replacement of existing 1-story rear woodporch. no change in size/location/configuration. (occupancy group r-5; type va construction)
Line voltage electrical work. new permanent 200 amp service disconnecting means with 28 circuits. receptacle outlets: 1 . lighting outlets: 1. specific location: electrical.
Spr 2019 cbc: new construction of a new 1 story warehouse building with associated site work including parking and fencing ( occupancy f-1 construction type iib).**certified corrections subject to fie...
Electrical maintenance permit. occupancy: factory/industrial. start date: 1/9/2026. end date: 2/8/2026. all work under this permit must be performed by employees of the listed electrical contractor. t...
Repair/replacement affecting 1 systems : 1 fan coil unit(48cwa-2) . electrical work under this permit = no . locations: 1 residential unit(s), 0 non-residential unit(s), mechanical closet of apartment...
Line voltage electrical work. new permanent 200 amp service disconnecting means with 28 circuits. receptacle outlets: 1 . lighting outlets: 1. specific location: electrical.
Temporary basement shoring, no other work to be performed. locations: 1 residential unit(s), 0 non-residential unit(s), 1 interior common areas, basement. separate permits will be required for all oth...
Line voltage electrical work. new permanent 100 amp service disconnecting means with 20 circuits. receptacle outlets: 1 . lighting outlets: 0. specific location: basement, back of the house.
Line voltage electrical work. repair or alter devices on existing circuits. receptacle outlets: 1 . lighting outlets: 1. specific location: 2nd floor, basement.
Scope: roof replacement. area: 26300 sq. ft. roof covering: mineral - surfaced roll roofing. location: roof replace. il roofing contractor license: 104013628.
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.