Permit fee
$602 and up
Review time
2 to 8 weeks
Height trigger
Over 30 in above grade
Size trigger
Attached decks need a permit
On this page
What a Chicago deck permit costs
Chicago is the search people run most for deck fees, so start here. Chicago does not price a permit off your project's dollar value the way most cities do. It runs its own Chicago Construction Codes, separate from the Illinois state code, and calculates the fee from a formula: the deck's area times a construction factor times a scope-of-review factor. For a backyard deck, though, one number usually decides the bill: the city's minimum permit fee, which rose to $602 in 2026 (up from $302), applies to nearly every permit.
Because a typical residential deck is small, the area formula almost always comes in below that floor, so you pay the $602 minimum. A larger or more complex deck can compute higher. A straight repair or in-kind replacement of an existing deck, with no reconfiguration, is a cheaper scope, in the range of $250 to $600. You can run your own numbers on the city's permit fee calculator. For how Illinois handles decks statewide, see our deck permits in Illinois guide, and for the national picture, the complete deck permit guide.
Do you need a deck permit in Chicago?
Yes, for almost any real deck. Chicago requires a building permit for a deck that is:
- More than 30 inches above grade, or
- Attached to the house.
A freestanding, ground-level deck no more than 30 inches above grade can be exempt from the building permit. Exempt does not mean unregulated, though: even a low platform deck has to meet Chicago's zoning setbacks and the lot's rear-yard open space and coverage limits. If your deck touches the house or steps up more than 30 inches, plan on a permit.
E-Plan, plan review, and licensed contractors
A permitted deck in Chicago goes through the Standard Plan Review program, the city's main track for work that needs architectural plans, submitted online through the E-Plan system. Chicago also runs an Express Permit Program, but that is aimed at small repairs and minor work, not new deck construction.
Chicago requires the work to be done by a licensed general contractor registered with the city, and drawings are typically prepared by a licensed design professional. You can look up a contractor's city license before you hire. Standard Plan Review is not fast: plan on roughly 2 to 8 weeks depending on the queue and how complete your drawings are, longer if the reviewer sends corrections. Once the permit is issued, the deck is inspected during construction and at completion.
Frost footings and Chicago's build standards
Chicago's winters drive the single most important structural detail. Deck footings have to reach below the frost line, and the frost depth in Chicago is 42 inches. Footings that stop short can heave when the ground freezes and expands, cracking concrete and racking the whole structure, so the city checks footing depth at inspection before any concrete is approved. Decks in the Chicago area also carry design snow loads of roughly 25 to 30 pounds per square foot.
Chicago pays unusually close attention to deck and porch construction. After a catastrophic porch collapse in 2003, the city tightened its porch and deck standards and now runs a dedicated porch safety program, and its plan review scrutinizes ledger connections, guard and railing strength, and structural framing more heavily than many suburbs do. That rigor is a big part of why the permit and inspection process here is more involved than in the collar counties.
Setbacks and rear yards
Chicago zoning decides where a deck can go, and it is reviewed alongside the building permit. Decks belong in the rear yard, and Chicago sets a required amount of open, unbuilt rear-yard space that a deck and other structures cannot consume. Uncovered decks and open porches are allowed to project into parts of the rear setback within limits, but those limits depend on your zoning district and lot.
Because the numbers vary by district, confirm your rear-yard and side setbacks for your specific address before you finalize the design, and remember that a ground-level exempt deck has to meet them too. A deck that crowds the lot line or eats too much of the rear yard is a zoning violation regardless of the building permit.
Building a deck without a permit in Chicago
Chicago enforces its codes harder than most Illinois jurisdictions, and the penalties are steep. Building without a required permit can bring a stop-work order, daily fines, and a requirement to open up or tear out finished work so an inspector can verify footings and connections, exactly the hidden elements the city cares most about on a deck.
The problem also follows the property to closing. Chicago has an active resale market, and an unpermitted or non-conforming deck surfaces during inspections and title work, where a buyer can require it to be permitted, corrected, or removed. Given the safety focus on decks and porches here, an unpermitted deck is also a liability exposure if someone is hurt, and an insurer may use it to deny a claim. The $602 permit is the cheap path.
Chicago Department of Buildings
Phone
312-744-3449
Address
121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 900, Chicago, IL 60602
Office hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Other permits in Chicago, IL
For statewide rules, see deck permits in Illinois. For all project types, see the complete Illinois building permit guide.
Need a site plan for your deck permit?
Your building department wants a scaled drawing of your lot showing exactly where your deck sits and how far it is from each property line.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a deck permit cost in Chicago?
In 2026, nearly every Chicago building permit carries a $602 minimum fee, and a typical backyard deck permit lands at that floor. Chicago calculates the fee from the deck's area and code-based factors rather than from project cost, but for most residential decks the computed amount is below the minimum, so you pay $602. A simple repair or in-kind replacement of an existing deck is a lower scope, roughly $250 to $600. Use the city's permit fee calculator for your project.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Chicago?
Yes if the deck is more than 30 inches above grade or attached to the house, which covers almost every real deck. A freestanding, ground-level deck no more than 30 inches above grade can be exempt from the building permit, but it still has to meet Chicago's zoning setbacks and rear-yard coverage limits. Chicago runs its own construction codes, separate from the Illinois state code.
How do I apply for a deck permit in Chicago?
Deck permits go through the Chicago Department of Buildings Standard Plan Review program, submitted online through the E-Plan system, and the work must be done by a licensed general contractor registered with the city. You will need architectural and structural drawings. The Express Permit Program handles small repairs but not new deck construction.
How deep do deck footings need to be in Chicago?
Deck footings in Chicago must extend below the 42-inch frost line so the footings do not heave when the ground freezes. The Department of Buildings inspects footing depth before concrete is approved. Chicago decks also carry design snow loads of about 25 to 30 pounds per square foot, which affects framing and beam sizing.
How long does a Chicago deck permit take?
A new deck goes through Standard Plan Review, which typically takes about 2 to 8 weeks depending on the review queue and how complete your drawings are, and longer if corrections are required. Small deck repairs may qualify for the faster Express Permit Program. Chicago's review is more involved than in many suburbs because of its focus on porch and deck safety.
Permit requirements are subject to change. The information in this guide is based on current Chicago Construction Codes and regulations. Always verify requirements with the Chicago Department of Buildings before starting your project. Last verified: July 2026.