Porch repair in Chicago
The City issued 733 porch permits in the last 12 months, to 206 licensed contractors.
- Middle cost on permits
- $12,500Half of jobs $5,000 to $25,000
- Permits, last 12 months
- 733
Permits
- Painting, power washing and other routine upkeep need no permit.
- Without a code violation, replacing deck boards, stair treads or railing pickets needs no permit. Neither does a porch under 6 feet off the ground with no more than 50 square feet of landing.
- Work on columns, beams, footings, stringers or joists always needs a permit, with plans from an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
- Worried about a porch? Call 311 and the City will send a building inspector.
The license to check
General contractors are licensed by the City of Chicago. Check one in the City’s license lookup, under general contractors.
If the building is your main home, no more than three stories tall and has no more than six units, you may act as your own general contractor. For any other building, the City says you must hire a Chicago-licensed general contractor.
Ask before you sign
- Is any of this structural work, and who is drawing the plans?
- Will you book the City’s porch inspection?
- Is the price for repairs or a full rebuild?
Where porch work is busiest
Porch permits by neighborhood, last 12 months.
Questions
Do I need a permit for porch repair in Chicago?
Not for painting or routine upkeep, or for replacing deck boards, treads or pickets if you have no violation. Any work on columns, beams, footings, stringers or joists needs a permit with an architect’s or structural engineer’s plans.
How much does porch work cost in Chicago?
The middle cost reported on porch permits in Chicago in the last 12 months was $12,500, and half of the 733 jobs fell between $5,000 and $25,000. The permits cover every size of building, so a job on one house often comes in lower. Get at least three written quotes for the same job.
How do I check a porch contractor’s license?
General contractors are licensed by the City of Chicago. Check one in the City’s license lookup, under general contractors.