Permit record · Illinois
What Chicago paid for a water heater
Not an estimate. We read 309 permits filed with Chicago and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $2,500 and $13,821. One in ten came in under $1,500; one in ten ran past $19,724.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $6,048 | $2,500 – $13,821 | 309 |
| New York, NY | $13,500 | $7,000 – $20,000 | 881 |
| San Francisco, CA | $5,200 | $2,000 – $10,950 | 56 |
| Marin County, CA | $3,850 | $2,500 – $5,003 | 278 |
| Sacramento, CA | $3,000 | $1,775 – $7,057 | 280 |
| Everett, WA | $2,892 | $2,382 – $4,648 | 672 |
| Corona, CA | $2,300 | $1,800 – $3,000 | 100 |
| Kansas City, MO | $2,291 | $1,636 – $3,000 | 565 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $2,200 | $1,500 – $3,186 | 115 |
| New Orleans, LA | $1,800 | $1,000 – $5,000 | 1,733 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 | $501 – $4,000 | 52 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $1,800 in New Orleans to $13,500 in New York — a 7.5× 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 |
| 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.