Permit record · Illinois
What Chicago paid for a adu / guest house
Not an estimate. We read 53 permits filed with Chicago and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $50,000 and $191,727. One in ten came in under $35,000; one in ten ran past $340,000.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $94,100 | $50,000 – $191,727 | 53 |
| Seattle, WA | $219,202 | $188,578 – $501,861 | 1,195 |
| Everett, WA | $175,630 | $80,160 – $319,554 | 97 |
| Corona, CA | $166,105 | $87,477 – $195,138 | 88 |
| San Francisco, CA | $165,000 | $82,500 – $225,000 | 167 |
| Sacramento, CA | $123,470 | $80,483 – $186,075 | 38 |
| Raleigh, NC | $113,354 | $96,748 – $152,367 | 69 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,000 | $60,000 – $160,000 | 4,156 |
| New York, NY | $90,000 | $55,000 – $200,000 | 97 |
| Montgomery County, MD | $65,000 | $34,000 – $200,000 | 61 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $65,000 in Montgomery County to $219,202 in Seattle — a 3.4× spread. See all cities →
Other projects in Chicago
| Project | Median | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels | $19,535 | 3,655 |
| Garage | $25,000 | 2,461 |
| Roof Replacement | $22,940 | 1,962 |
| Interior Remodel | $100,000 | 1,239 |
| Home Addition | $150,000 | 1,168 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $25,000 | 1,046 |
| Deck or Patio | $28,000 | 991 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $5,000 | 624 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $24,000 | 590 |
| HVAC Replacement | $20,000 | 488 |
| Water Heater | $6,048 | 309 |
| Siding or Stucco | $19,150 | 58 |
| Window Replacement | $20,000 | 57 |
| Foundation Repair | $52,850 | 47 |
| 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 2026-09-24.