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How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Chicago?
✓ Fee schedule checked against city sources
Fee math from Department of Buildings, not a national average
Source: Department of Buildings · Fee schedule source ↗
Data last verified: September 28, 2026
Chicago prices permits by scope and area, not project value. Simple jobs take flat stand alone fees, such as $300 plus a $25 review fee for a new deck up to 6 feet. In kind water heater, furnace, AC and window replacement and most house reroofs need no permit, and plan reviewed work starts at a $602 minimum, with one permit covering all trades.
Permit Cost by Project
Building Permit (residential minimum, $8K-$25K projects)$602.00
Demolition$600.00
Detached Garage Under 600sqft$500.00
Bathroom Remodel$325.00
Kitchen Remodel$325.00
Deck / Patio$325.00
Solar Panel Installation$300.00
Fence Over 6ft$300.00
Solar Under 13 44kw$225.00
EV Charger Installation$150.00
Scaffolding$150.00
Wrecking Detached Garage$125.00
Electrical Panel$75.00
Electrical Permit$75.00
Plumbing Permit$75.00
HVAC / Mechanical Permit$75.00
Do You Need a Permit?
No: Paint, cosmetic updates, fixture swaps
Yes: Bathroom remodel ($325.00)
Yes: Kitchen remodel ($325.00)
Exempt: Roof replacement
Exempt: HVAC replacement
Exempt: Water heater
Yes: Deck / patio ($325.00)
Exempt: Window replacement (same size)
Yes: Electrical panel ($75.00)
Yes: Solar panels ($300.00)
Verified Permit Cost by Project Type
Building Permit (residential minimum, $8K-$25K projects)
$602.00
Building
Demolition
$600.00
Demolition
Detached Garage Under 600sqft
$500.00
Flat Fee
Bathroom Remodel
$325.00
Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical
Kitchen Remodel
$325.00
Building, Electrical, Plumbing
Deck / Patio
$325.00
Building
Solar Panel Installation
$300.00
Building, Electrical
Fence Over 6ft
$300.00
Flat Fee
Compare these permit costs across U.S. cities
Two Types of Permits
Chicago issues building permits for structural work and separate trade permits for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and roofing. Most remodels need both kinds. See the full breakdown of which projects need a permit and which are exempt.
Chicago Permit Cost Calculator
Choose a common project or enter a project value to estimate local permit fees from Department of Buildings data.
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✓ Verified local fee schedule
✓ EXEMPT per MCC 14A-4-402.2.2(3): reroofing on other than low-sloped roofs requires no permit for Group R buildings up to 4 stories (IBC: reroofing = recovering OR replacing). The Table 14A-12-1204.2 $450 roof-replacement line governs non-exempt cases (low-sloped/flat roofs, 5+ stories, landmarks).
Local sourceBuilt from Department of Buildings fee data, not a national average.
Formula-backedValuation-based projects recalculate from the local fee formula.
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Chicago prices permits by scope and area, not project value. Many common house jobs need no permit at all: in-kind replacement of a water heater, furnace, air conditioner, windows or siding, and reroofing anything but a low-sloped roof. Simple stand-alone permits are flat fees (a new deck up to 6 feet is $300 plus a $25 review fee; solar is $300 with review and zoning). Plan-review permits start at a $602 minimum. A non-structural kitchen or bath remodel is an Express permit: $250 plus $50 zoning and $25, $325 in all. Fence, panel and EV figures are the printed table amounts; the City's records show a $25 review fee on some of those permits and not others, which the Department of Buildings has not explained.
How Chicago Calculates Permit Fees
Chicago has two fee routes. Stand-alone permits use flat fees from Table 14A-12-1204.2 (as amended December 19, 2025): a new deck, ramp or exterior stairs up to 6 feet above the ground is $300 per structure, solar under 13.44 kW is $225, a detached frame garage up to 600 square feet is $500, wrecking a detached garage is $125, a low-slope roof replacement is $450 per 5,000 square feet. Where the permit is reviewed before issuance, a $25 stand-alone review fee is added (Table 14A-12-1204.1).
Everything else is a plan-review permit priced from the 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables: construction factor times scope-of-review factor times area, with a $602 all-permit minimum and a $600 non-refundable deposit at submission.
The city's own 2026 permit records match these lines: express deck permits at $300 + $25, solar at $225 + $50 zoning + $25. They also show the $25 review fee on some panel, circuit and reroof permits and not others, and fence permits at $150 or $0 against a printed $75. We publish the printed amounts.
The stand-alone table gets its first inflation adjustment for 2027: the building official prepares a CPI-adjusted schedule by October 1, 2026, effective January 1, 2027 (14A-12-1204.2.1).
Chuck's Take
"I bid jobs in Missouri but I read Chicago's code the same way. Half the swaps homeowners worry about need no permit there if they're in-kind. The ones that do are flat fees. Ask your contractor which route your job takes before you sign."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
What Needs a Permit in Chicago?
For Group R buildings up to four stories, MCC 14A-4-402.2.2 lists repairs that need no permit: in-kind replacement of windows, interior or exterior doors, siding (wood, vinyl, aluminum, fiber-cement, stucco or EIFS), a water heater, a boiler, a furnace or air-conditioning equipment; reroofing on other than low-sloped roofs; up to 50 square feet of masonry; and an exterior porch or stairs with a landing up to 50 square feet and no more than 6 feet above grade. Chicago Landmark work always needs a permit.
Section 14A-4-402.2.1 also exempts repairs that do not cut away walls, floors or roofs, touch structural supports, change egress, or involve mechanical, electrical, plumbing or gas systems.
New decks, fences, solar, electrical service changes, new circuits, remodels and structural work need permits.
Penalties for Work Without a Permit in Chicago
Chicago charges stop-work-order penalties on top of the permit fee (the 2026 fee tables note them under Section 14A-4-412.4). The penalty amounts are not in the fee documents we have, so we do not quote them here.
Unpermitted work also surfaces at sale and in insurance claims. Pull the permit before work starts.
How Long Is a Building Permit Good For in Chicago?
Permits carry time limits under Sections 14A-4-413.9 and 14A-4-413.10. An extension of time or reinstatement costs 25% of the original permit fee per 180-day period (Table 14A-12-1204.1). Confirm the start and inactivity limits with the Department of Buildings when the permit is issued.
Who Should Pull the Permit in Chicago?
Property owners or their authorized agents can file the application. You must sign that you have the owner's consent if you aren't the owner yourself. Section 14A-4-410.3 covers the exact wording.
Licensed contractors must pull permits for electrical, plumbing, and elevator work. Demolition has to be pulled by a contractor holding a city general contractor license. Most homeowners let their contractor handle the filing but you should read the contract language carefully. Make sure the permit gets pulled in the contractor's name.
Never agree to pull it yourself if a licensed trade is doing the work. That shifts all liability onto you and it's usually a red flag. Your contractor should handle their own permits.
Chuck's Take
"Never let a homeowner pull my electrical or plumbing permit. I want my license on that paperwork. If a contractor asks you to pull it yourself that's the fastest way I know to spot trouble. Walk away."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
Chicago's All-In-One Permit System
On plan-review permits, one permit covers the building work and its trades; the fee comes from area and scope factors, and residential alterations to a single dwelling unit usually land on the $602 minimum.
Stand-alone permits are different: when a permit covers several stand-alone scopes, "the total fee will include each applicable fee" (14A-4-412.1). A non-structural kitchen or bath remodel may qualify for the stand-alone "Interior alteration up to 500 square feet" line ($250) plus plumbing and electrical lines, or go through plan review at $602. The code does not say which, but the city's own 2026 permit records do: non-structural kitchen and bath remodels are filed as Express permits at $250 plus $50 zoning and $25, $325, whatever the job costs, with fixture replacement and new wiring on the same permit.
Quick Reference · Chicago Permit Requirements
| Homeowner Task | Permit? | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Paint interior / exterior | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace flooring | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace kitchen cabinets (same layout) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Swap a light fixture (same location) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace a water heater | EXEMPT | Permit not required |
| Upgrade an electrical panel | YES | $75.00 Electrical |
| Remodel a bathroom | YES | $325.00 Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical |
| Remodel a kitchen | YES | $325.00 Building, Electrical, Plumbing |
| Replace / repair roof | EXEMPT | Permit not required |
| Build a deck or patio | YES | $325.00 Building |
| Build a fence (≤6 ft) | NO | Typically exempt |
| Install solar panels | YES | $300.00 Building, Electrical |
| Replace HVAC system | EXEMPT | Permit not required |
| Replace windows (same size, same opening) | NO | Exempt |
∗ Costs are verified for Chicago, IL from published fee schedule. Always confirm with your local building department.
Internal Comparison · hybrid permit pricing
Compare Chicago Permit Fees With Related Cities
Use these source-linked city pages to compare Chicago against other Illinois markets and cities with similar permit fee structures.
Dallas, TXAlso uses hybrid permit pricing
San Antonio, TXCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $328.60 · +$3.60 vs Chicago
Des Moines, IACross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $309.00 · -$16.00 vs Chicago
Oklahoma City, OKCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $308.50 · -$16.50 vs Chicago
Charleston, SCCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $308.00 · -$17.00 vs Chicago
Las Vegas, NVCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $346.00 · +$21.00 vs Chicago
City of St. Louis, MOCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $300.00 · -$25.00 vs Chicago
Orlando, FLCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $297.69 · -$27.31 vs Chicago
Permit Guides
Permit Cost and Process Guides
Pricing a specific project in Chicago? These guides cover what each permit runs and how the approval process actually works.
Building permit cost, every verified city ranked
How much does a building permit cost?
How long does a permit take to get?
When is a permit not required?
Deck permit cost
Roof replacement permit cost
HVAC permit cost
Kitchen remodel permit cost
Solar panel permit cost
EV charger permit cost
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?
Do I need a permit for an electrical panel upgrade?
How to speed up a building permit
Getting an electrical permit online
What happens if you build without a permit
Before You Build
Permits are only part of the bill. See what a bathroom remodel runs in Chicago from TheFatBook, the remodeling cost index built on this same dataset.
Frequently Asked · Chicago
How much does a building permit cost in Chicago?
It depends on the route. Stand-alone permits are flat: a new deck up to 6 feet is $300 plus a $25 review fee, and solar under 13.44 kW is $225 plus $25 review and $50 zoning. Plan-review permits are priced by area and scope with a $602 minimum. Many in-kind replacements need no permit.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Chicago?
Not for an in-kind replacement in a Group R building up to four stories: MCC 14A-4-402.2.2 item 5 exempts "In-kind replacement of a hot water heater." The $75 stand-alone line applies where the exemption does not.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Chicago?
Yes. A new deck no more than 6 feet above the ground is a stand-alone permit: $300 per structure plus the $25 review fee, $325. Higher decks, or permits that include other work, go through plan review with a $602 minimum.
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Chicago?
Most Chicago houses need no reroof permit. MCC 14A-4-402.2.2 exempts reroofing on other than low-sloped roofs for Group R buildings up to four stories. A low-slope roof replacement is a stand-alone $450 per 5,000 square feet; whether the $25 review fee is added varies in the city's records, so that total is pending confirmation from the Department of Buildings.
What makes Chicago permit fees different from other cities?
Chicago does not price by project value. Stand-alone jobs are flat fees by scope, plan-review permits are priced by area and scope factor with a $602 minimum, and a long list of in-kind replacements needs no permit at all.
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