Jurisdiction file · Illinois
What Chicago pays, by the filings
14,779 permits across 16 kinds of work, filed over the last two years. Every figure is what somebody actually declared to Chicago — no estimates.
| Project | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | $19,535 | $12,770 – $26,476 | 3,655 |
| Garage | $25,000 | $15,925 – $35,000 | 2,461 |
| Roof Replacement | $22,940 | $13,500 – $38,000 | 1,962 |
| Interior Remodel | $100,000 | $50,000 – $200,000 | 1,239 |
| Home Addition | $150,000 | $80,000 – $300,000 | 1,168 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $25,000 | $12,388 – $75,000 | 1,046 |
| Deck or Patio | $28,000 | $15,000 – $65,000 | 991 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $5,000 | $2,000 – $5,970 | 624 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $24,000 | $10,000 – $54,538 | 590 |
| HVAC Replacement | $20,000 | $9,000 – $50,000 | 488 |
| Water Heater | $6,048 | $2,500 – $13,821 | 309 |
| Siding or Stucco | $19,150 | $7,754 – $38,750 | 58 |
| Window Replacement | $20,000 | $8,900 – $80,000 | 57 |
| ADU / Guest House | $94,100 | $50,000 – $191,727 | 53 |
| Foundation Repair | $52,850 | $40,184 – $87,500 | 47 |
| Swimming Pool | $100,000 | $35,000 – $150,000 | 31 |
What the file shows
Solar Panels is the work Chicago files most: 3,655 of these 14,779 permits, 25% of the file. The dearest median here is Home Addition at $150,000; the cheapest is Electrical Panel Upgrade at $5,000.
The figure to read is not the median but the range next to it. Window Replacement is the least predictable work in this jurisdiction: half of those jobs land between $8,900 and $80,000, a 9.0× spread inside one city and one kind of work. A median says where the middle sits. It does not say which half a particular job is in, and on work that varies this much the difference is the whole decision.
Source: City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Building Permits. Updated 2026-09-24. Methodology.