Permit record · Illinois
What Chicago paid for a home addition
Not an estimate. We read 1,175 permits filed with Chicago and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $80,000 and $295,000. 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 – $295,000 | 1,175 |
| Marin County, CA | $200,000 | $50,000 – $400,000 | 93 |
| Seattle, WA | $150,000 | $61,750 – $250,912 | 1,212 |
| Austin, TX | $132,500 | $46,500 – $300,000 | 66 |
| Montgomery County, MD | $113,965 | $45,000 – $246,100 | 851 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $100,000 | $48,667 – $250,000 | 173 |
| Raleigh, NC | $86,182 | $38,303 – $168,659 | 407 |
| San Francisco, CA | $85,000 | $25,100 – $241,438 | 687 |
| New York, NY | $80,840 | $32,000 – $252,000 | 3,399 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,000 | $30,000 – $200,000 | 129 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $75,000 | $40,000 – $140,000 | 7,767 |
| Corona, CA | $59,147 | $35,000 – $80,000 | 40 |
| New Orleans, LA | $58,675 | $21,786 – $165,214 | 820 |
| Kansas City, MO | $50,164 | $25,000 – $120,121 | 171 |
| Detroit, MI | $49,250 | $22,000 – $100,000 | 162 |
| Everett, WA | $40,000 | $20,000 – $140,907 | 106 |
| Anaheim, CA | $19,903 | $14,464 – $27,830 | 140 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $19,903 in Anaheim to $200,000 in Marin County — a 10.0× 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 |
| 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 |
| ADU / Guest House | $94,100 | 51 |
| 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.