Permit record · Illinois
What Chicago paid for a adu / guest house
Not an estimate. We read 51 permits filed with Chicago and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $50,000 and $188,864. One in ten came in under $35,000; one in ten ran past $350,000.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $94,100 | $50,000 – $188,864 | 51 |
| Seattle, WA | $217,740 | $188,034 – $497,277 | 1,230 |
| Everett, WA | $177,174 | $81,370 – $262,177 | 94 |
| San Francisco, CA | $165,000 | $80,000 – $225,000 | 172 |
| Corona, CA | $154,901 | $87,754 – $195,138 | 89 |
| Sacramento, CA | $123,470 | $80,483 – $186,075 | 38 |
| Raleigh, NC | $112,656 | $94,772 – $141,383 | 69 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,000 | $60,000 – $160,000 | 4,142 |
| New York, NY | $90,000 | $55,000 – $200,225 | 94 |
| Montgomery County, MD | $65,000 | $37,000 – $200,000 | 61 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $65,000 in Montgomery County to $217,740 in Seattle — a 3.3× spread. See all cities →
Other projects in Chicago
| Project | Median | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | $19,266 | 3,657 |
| Garage | $25,000 | 2,470 |
| Roof Replacement | $22,981 | 1,951 |
| Interior Remodel | $100,000 | 1,266 |
| Home Addition | $150,000 | 1,175 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $25,000 | 1,027 |
| Deck or Patio | $26,645 | 1,009 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $5,000 | 613 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $23,914 | 606 |
| HVAC Replacement | $20,000 | 498 |
| Water Heater | $6,000 | 310 |
| Siding or Stucco | $18,577 | 59 |
| Window Replacement | $20,000 | 55 |
| Foundation Repair | $52,850 | 49 |
| Swimming Pool | $100,000 | 31 |
Source
Source: City of Chicago Department of Buildings — Building Permits. Permits issued in the last 24 months, classified by the work described on the permit. The figure is the declared value of the work — what the applicant reported to the city. It excludes work done without a permit and can sit below a final invoice. Read the full methodology. Data refreshed 2026-09-04.