Permit record · Illinois
What Chicago paid for a home addition
Not an estimate. We read 1,168 permits filed with Chicago and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $80,000 and $300,000. One in ten came in under $40,000; one in ten ran past $450,000.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $150,000 | $80,000 – $300,000 | 1,168 |
| Marin County, CA | $188,000 | $51,250 – $397,500 | 91 |
| Seattle, WA | $150,000 | $61,000 – $256,106 | 1,197 |
| Austin, TX | $125,000 | $44,500 – $288,719 | 68 |
| Montgomery County, MD | $110,700 | $45,000 – $250,000 | 851 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $103,000 | $49,667 – $256,250 | 176 |
| Raleigh, NC | $88,589 | $38,555 – $174,062 | 417 |
| San Francisco, CA | $86,794 | $25,000 – $242,186 | 677 |
| New York, NY | $82,500 | $32,550 – $262,740 | 3,370 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,000 | $30,000 – $200,000 | 129 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $75,000 | $40,000 – $140,000 | 7,734 |
| Corona, CA | $60,000 | $35,000 – $80,000 | 41 |
| New Orleans, LA | $59,138 | $21,052 – $163,180 | 816 |
| Kansas City, MO | $52,711 | $25,000 – $120,000 | 153 |
| Detroit, MI | $48,500 | $21,500 – $100,000 | 163 |
| Everett, WA | $40,000 | $19,200 – $127,089 | 110 |
| Anaheim, CA | $19,903 | $14,598 – $27,214 | 138 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $19,903 in Anaheim to $188,000 in Marin County — a 9.4× 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 |
| 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 |
| ADU / Guest House | $94,100 | 53 |
| 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.