Building permits in Chicago, IL
Permits for Chicago are issued by City of Chicago, Department of Buildings. Applications go through the portal below.
Where to file
- Department
- City of Chicago, Department of Buildings
- Phone
- (312) 744-3449
- Portal
- www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bldgs/provdrs/permits.html
E-Permit / Chicago building permit portal. 121 N LaSalle St, Room 900.
What each job needs in Chicago
Typical requirements and fee ranges. Fees scale with project valuation, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the number with City of Chicago before you quote.
| Project | Permits | Typical fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Remodel | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Addition | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| New Construction | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Site / Grading | $500–3,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
| Electrical | Electrical | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Plumbing | Plumbing | $50–200 | 3–5 business days |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Mechanical (HVAC) | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Roofing | Roofing | $100–400 | 1–5 business days |
| Deck / Fence | Building | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Demolition | Demolition | $50–400 | 5–10 business days |
| Commercial Build-Out | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Fire / Life-Safety Review | $300–2,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
Licensing in Illinois
No statewide general-contractor license; Chicago requires GC registration and separately licenses trades (electrical, plumbing). Local permits required.
Issued by City of Chicago Dept. of Buildings (GC registration) + IDFPR (trades) · Verify a licence
Stop looking this up
SQM answers this for any job in Illinois, drafts the contract, and sends the invoice. Ask it in your own words, from the truck.
No credit card. The permit finder is free with no account.
Department, portal and phone are from the jurisdiction's published information and have not been re-checked recently. Fee ranges and turnaround times are typical for this kind of work and are not quotes. Requirements change, so confirm with the department before you file. SQM.AI is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.