HVAC replacement cost in Chicago, IL

Average $7,500; common $5,000 to $12,500; up to $22,000 with new ductwork.

A typical HVAC replacement in Chicago, IL is about $8,175. The permit fee on this typical job is $0.

What we assumed

We price HVAC replacement in Chicago, IL at 3-ton (36,000 BTU) like-for-like split system.

For the permit line we assumed the official Group R in-kind exemption (furnace, boiler, or AC appliance, 4 stories or fewer), so the low fee is $0, the typical fee is $0, and the high fee is $0. The $75 in-kind stand-alone line and the $150 new AC line are extras and are not rolled into those totals. Full detail is in the calculation note on this page. Listed valuations of $5,000, $7,500, and $16,000 are unused. The official typical project value is $7,500.

Questions about this estimate

How much does HVAC replacement cost in Chicago, IL?

Typical all-in is about $8,175. The official typical path permit fee is $0 (in-kind furnace, boiler, or AC appliance in Group R, 4 stories or fewer).

Is a permit required for HVAC replacement in Chicago, IL?

The typical path is listed as not requiring a permit for HVAC replacement in Chicago, IL. The official typical fee is $0. A typical in-kind furnace, boiler, or AC appliance swap in a Group R building of 4 stories or fewer does not require a permit, and the official fee on that path is $0.

What is included in this HVAC replacement 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 permit line is $0 on the typical path, so all-in is the job cost. The $75 in-kind equipment stand-alone fee and the $150 new AC serving one unit are listed extras and are not part of that $0.

Why might the Chicago permit fee differ from this typical figure?

The official Chicago, IL fee comes from City of Chicago DOB – HVAC exemptions; Table 14A-12-1204.2 (fee model none). The typical path is $0 on the Group R in-kind HVAC exemption. The low fee is $0 and the high fee is $0. The $75 in-kind stand-alone and $150 new AC lines are extras and are not in those totals. 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 HVAC replacement in Chicago, IL?

The official typical path is $0 because an in-kind furnace, boiler, or AC appliance swap in a Group R building of 4 stories or fewer does not require a permit. The $75 and $150 extras are not rolled into the official low, typical, or high fees. The walk is in the calculation note on this page.

What project value is this HVAC replacement permit fee based on in Chicago, IL?

The official typical project value is $7,500. Assumed valuations are $5,000 low, $7,500 typical, and $16,000 high. Valuation is not an input, so those amounts are unused and the official fees stay $0, $0, and $0.

Why is the typical permit fee $0 for HVAC replacement in Chicago, IL?

The official typical path is $0 for an in-kind furnace, boiler, or air conditioning appliance in a Group R building of 4 stories or fewer. New AC, not-in-kind equipment, rooftop units, and buildings over 4 stories are outside that exemption. Their listed extras stay in the calculation note and are not part of the typical $0. The $75 and $150 lines stay extras and are not part of the typical $0.