Building Permits in Chicago, Illinois

PermitStack indexes 835,959 building permits issued in Chicago, Illinois, with 30,183 issued in the last 12 months alone. Search by address, contractor, category, and date via our free REST API.

835,959
Total permits
30,183
Last 12 months
1,360
Last 30 days
vs same period prior year
May 15, 2026
Latest permit

Permits by category (last 12 months)

Most common permit types issued in the last year.

Electrical
8,452
Interior remodel
3,137
Roofing
2,623
Renovation
2,133
Solar
1,746
Signage
1,670
Plumbing
1,321
New construction
1,215
Fire alarm
1,019
Mechanical
1,015

Most recent permits

The 10 most recent permits issued in Chicago, Illinois. Full dataset available via REST API.

IssuedPermit #AddressCategoryDescription
2026-05-15B2004694426238 S KOLMAR AVERoofingNew detached wood frame garage 26x22 feet
2026-05-15B2004706391437 W LILL AVERoofingNew detached wood frame garage 22x19 feet
2026-05-15B2004706993752 S WOOD STRoofingNew detached wood frame garage 22x20 feet
2026-05-15B2004685742248 N KIMBALL AVESolarInstall 7.65 kW solar panels with 13.5 kWh storage on roof
2026-05-15B2004695062236 N MULLIGAN AVESolarInstall 10.66 kW solar panels with 15 kWh storage on steep roof
2026-05-15B2004705446742 S CHAMPLAIN AVERoofingRoof recover 1200 sq ft with insulation
2026-05-15B2004707102047 N NEWCASTLE AVERoofingNew detached wood frame garage 22x20 feet with gable roof
2026-05-15B20047078311010 S DRAKE AVERoofingNew detached wood frame garage 24x24 feet with gable roof
2026-05-15B20046910912713 S ESCANABA AVESolarInstall 14.96 kW solar panels on sloped rooftop
2026-05-151010749732625 N TALMAN AVERoofingConvert church to 16-unit residential with basement stairs

Access Chicago permit data via API

Query Chicago, Illinois permits with a single HTTP request. Returns JSON with address, category, status, dates, and full description.

# Search all Chicago permits issued this month
curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_KEY" \
  "https://api.permit-stack.com/v1/permits/search?city=Chicago&state=IL&issued_after=2026-04-01"

Other cities we cover

Related coverage in Illinois and nationwide.

FAQ

Where does PermitStack get Chicago permit data?

We ingest data directly from the official Chicago open data portal (Tyler Data & Insights (Socrata)) daily. This is the same source used by the city's own public dashboards, normalized into a consistent JSON schema across our U.S. jurisdictions.

How current is the Chicago data?

Our automated ingestion runs daily at 03:00 UTC. The latest permit in our database for Chicago, Illinois was issued on May 15, 2026. Permit backlogs on the city side may mean some permits take a few days to appear.

Can I access Chicago permits without an API key?

Yes — our free tier includes 100 requests per day, enough to search and filter Chicago permits interactively. Sign up for a free API key to get started.

Can I export Chicago permit data?

Yes. Paid plans support CSV export and periodic webhooks for changed permits.

How long does a Chicago building permit take to issue?

The median time from permit filing to issuance in Chicago, Illinois is 6 days, based on permits issued in the last 12 months. Smaller permit types (residential alteration, electrical) typically issue faster; new construction and large additions usually take longer.

Get Chicago permit data in your app today

Free tier covers 100 requests per day. No credit card required.

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