CostInMyCity

Chicago, IL / Deck

Deck cost in Chicago, IL

Typical cost: $17,176 (range $11,350 to $22,701)

Typical all-in

$17,176

Job cost plus the local permit fee at this size.

Low
$11,350
Typical
$17,176
High
$22,701

Walking surface only. A 16 by 20 deck is 320 sqft.

Breakdown

Labor (allocated)$8,287
Materials (allocated)$8,287
Job subtotal$16,574
Permit$602
All-in typical$17,176

Labor is adjusted for construction wages in this metro. Materials stay at the national figure. This is an estimate, not a contractor quote.

A typical attached deck we price is 16×20 (320 sf).

A typical deck in Chicago, IL is about $17,176, including a permit fee of $602.

What we assumed

We price Deck in Chicago, IL at 16×20 = 320 sf.

For the permit line we assumed the official flat paths, so the low fee is $300 (Table 14A-12-1204.2 stand-alone new deck no more than 6 feet above the ground), the typical fee is $602 (plan-based minimum; Express still sends new structures to plan-based review), and the high fee is $602 (the same plan-based minimum). The CF x RF x A product for a 300 sf Type V deck is $66, so the $602 floor applies, and that $602 is not added on top of the $300. A zoning fee is extra and is not in the DOB tables. Cosmetic board replacement with no violation is a cosmetic exemption and is not the official typical path. Full detail is in the calculation note on this page. Listed valuations of $8,000, $12,000, and $19,200 are unused. The official typical project value is $12,000.

Cost details

Cost by size

SizeAll-in typicalPermit
200 sf$10,961$602
16×20 = 320 sf (typical)$17,176$602
400 sf$21,320$602

All-in at this size, adjusted for local wages. The permit is the city fee when the schedule lists one.

What moves the price

What changes the total

  • Size is the deck surface area. The size table lists the low, typical, and high.
  • Labor for Deck in Chicago, IL is adjusted for local construction wages.
  • The permit fee on the typical job is $602. The permit section on this page has the schedule detail.

Compare deck across metros

All-in at the typical job size, adjusted for local wages. The permit is the city fee when the schedule lists one.
CityAll-in typicalPermitOpen
Charlotte, NC$13,704$182.41Open
Seattle, WA$17,907$1,059Open
Denver, CO$14,933$172.50Open
Nashville, TN$13,843$91Open
Atlanta, GA$13,855$175Open
Austin, TX$14,041$577.39Open
Phoenix, AZ$14,585$646Open
Tucson, AZ$13,657$337.49Open
Portland, OR$16,332$102.69Open
Raleigh, NC$13,784$248Open
Tacoma, WA$17,369$521Open
St. Louis, MO$15,467$145Open

Other home projects in Chicago, IL

All-in at the typical job size, adjusted for local wages. The permit is the city fee when the schedule lists one.
JobAll-in typicalPermitOpen
Roof replacement$11,202$0Open
HVAC replacement$8,175$0Open
Deck$17,176$602This page
Kitchen remodel$32,750$500Open

Questions about this estimate

How much does deck cost in Chicago, IL?
Typical all-in is about $17,176. The official DOB permit fee of $602 (plan-based minimum; Express still sends new structures to plan-based review) is included in the all-in.
Is a permit required for Deck in Chicago, IL?
Yes. Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) requires a permit for a typical Deck in Chicago, IL. The typical listed fee is $602. A typical new deck is the official plan-based path, and the typical fee on that path is $602. Cosmetic board replacement with no violation is exempt and is not the typical path.
What is included in this Deck estimate for Chicago, IL?
The estimate is labor adjusted for local wages in Chicago, IL, plus materials at the national figure, at the typical size in the table above. The official typical permit fee of $602 is included in the all-in typical. The $602 plan-based minimum is included in that $602. The $300 stand-alone line is the official low and is not added on top of the typical. A zoning fee is not part of that total. The $66 area product is the reason the $602 floor applies and is not a separate charge.
Why might the Chicago permit fee differ from this typical figure?
The official Chicago, IL fee comes from Chicago 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables; Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP porch instructions (flat). The typical path is $602 on the plan-based minimum, because Express still sends new structures to plan-based review. The low fee is $300 and the high fee is $602. The $66 area product is below the floor and is not a separate total. A zoning fee is extra and is not in the DOB tables. Cosmetic board replacement with no violation is not the official typical path. Full detail is in the calculation note on this page. Verify the fee with Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB).
How is the typical permit fee calculated for Deck in Chicago, IL?
The official typical path is $602, the plan-based minimum, because Express still sends a new deck to plan-based review. Low is the $300 Table 14A-12-1204.2 stand-alone line. High is the same $602 plan-based minimum. The 300 sf Type V product is $66, so the $602 floor applies. Valuation is unused. The walk is in the calculation note on this page.
What project value is this Deck permit fee based on in Chicago, IL?
The official typical project value is $12,000. Assumed valuations are $8,000 low, $12,000 typical, and $19,200 high. Valuation is not an input on these flat paths, so those amounts are unused and the official fees stay $300, $602, and $602.

Permit in Chicago

Fee schedule retrieved Sep 1, 2026

Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) lists a typical permit fee of $602 for this Deck in Chicago, IL (range $300 – $602). Source: Chicago 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables; Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP porch instructions.

Typical new attached deck needs a permit. Code lists $300 stand-alone for new ≤6 ft decks, but Express still sends new structures to plan-based review ($602 minimum). Cosmetic board replacement with no violation is exempt.

Chicago 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables; Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP porch instructions (source retrieved 2026-09-01). The official typical path is a new deck. The EPP porch instructions say the Express Permit Program cannot be used for an entirely new structure, and adding a new deck where one does not already exist requires a plan-based building permit. Express still sends new structures to plan-based review. The fee is a flat amount. A permit is required on that typical path. The low fee is $300, the typical fee is $602, and the high fee is $602. The official typical project value is $12,000. Listed assumed valuations are $8,000 low, $12,000 typical, and $19,200 high. Valuation is not an input on these flat paths, so those amounts are unused and do not change the $300 / $602 / $602 listed fees. Low $8,000: valuation is unused, so the low fee stays $300. That $300 is the Table 14A-12-1204.2 stand-alone line for a new deck no more than 6 feet above the ground. The official stand-alone extra is that $300 line. It is the official low, not the typical. A zoning fee is also required on that stand-alone line. The zoning amount is not in the DOB tables, so this note does not invent a zoning dollar and does not add one to the low fee, the typical fee, or the high fee. Typical $12,000: valuation is unused, so the typical fee stays $602. The 2026 Amended Fee Tables set a plan-based minimum of $602. The official extra says CF x RF x A for a 300 sf Type V deck is $66, so the $602 floor applies. That $602 is included as the typical and is not added on top of the $300 low. High $19,200: valuation is unused, so the high fee stays $602. The high is the same plan-based minimum. The $602 high is not added again on top of the typical. Cosmetic board replacement with no violation is the cosmetic exemption in the caveat. The city's published no-permit list treats replacing (in-kind) a non-structural element such as a deck board, stair tread, or railing picket, when there is no building violation, as work that does not require a building permit. That cosmetic exemption is not the official typical path. It is not the low fee, the typical fee, or the high fee, and this note does not add a $0 line. This note does not invent a fee beyond the official $300 and $602 totals.

Line items

Figures come from the city fee schedule. A blank line is not published as a dollar amount.
Line itemFee
Stand-alone new deck ≤6 ft (Table 14A-12-1204.2)$300
Plan-based minimum (2026 Amended Tables)$602

Assumed project value

Listed on this row only. Valuation is not an input for these flat paths, so these amounts are unused and the official fees stay $300, $602, and $602.
BandAssumed project value
Low$8,000
Typical$12,000
High$19,200

Process

Does a typical Deck in Chicago, IL need a permit?
A typical Deck in Chicago, IL is listed as requiring a permit. Typical new attached deck needs a permit.
Who issues the permit in Chicago, IL, and where do I apply?
Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) issues permits for Deck in Chicago, IL. Apply at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bldgs.html.
Are any permit exemptions listed for Deck in Chicago, IL?
Cosmetic board replacement with no violation is exempt.
What extra fees or surcharges are listed for Deck in Chicago, IL?
The official permit lists these extra line items for Deck in Chicago, IL: Stand-alone new deck ≤6 ft (Table 14A-12-1204.2): $300; Plan-based minimum (2026 Amended Tables): $602.

Schedule FAQ

Which official schedule is this Deck fee based on in Chicago, IL?
The official typical for Deck in Chicago, IL cites Chicago 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables; Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP porch instructions (retrieved Sep 1, 2026). Fee model: flat.
What local fee-schedule notes are on file for Deck in Chicago, IL?
2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables effective Jan 6, 2026 (plan-based, min $602).
Why does the Deck permit fee in Chicago, IL show a low-to-high range?
Listed permit fees for Deck in Chicago, IL are $300 low, $602 typical, and $602 high. Low is the Table 14A-12-1204.2 stand-alone new deck no more than 6 feet above the ground. Typical and high are the plan-based minimum, because Express still sends new structures to plan-based review. The 300 sf Type V product is $66, so the $602 floor applies. Valuation is unused. A zoning fee is not in those totals. Cosmetic board replacement with no violation is not the official typical path. Full detail is in the calculation note on this page.

Citations

  1. How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck? [2026 Data] Retrieved Aug 13, 2026. Average $8,316; $4,340–$12,652; $30–$60/sf; labor $15–$35/sf.
  2. Chicago 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables; Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP porch instructions Retrieved Sep 1, 2026.
  3. BLS OEWS construction wages – Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to the labor share only. Not a city-specific bid survey.

Cite this page

Fee schedule retrieved Sep 1, 2026

CostInMyCity. "Deck cost in Chicago, IL." https://costinmycity.com/cost/deck/chicago-il/. Fee schedule retrieved Sep 1, 2026. Source: Chicago 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables; Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP porch instructions.

Chicago 2026 Amended Building Permit Fee Tables; Table 14A-12-1204.2; EPP porch instructions

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