If you want to tear down any or all of your home or commercial property, you need a demolition permit. Permits are essential for demo work, regardless of whether you plan to demolish the structure manually, mechanically, with a wrecking ball, or via implosion. State and local authorities require this to ensure compliance with building code safety.

In this article, we’ll explain to you what a demolition (wrecking) permit is, how to get it, and approximately how much it costs.

What Is A Demolition Permit?

A demolition permit is a legal document that gives you the right to demolish any structure that requires a building permit to construct. Demolition permits differ depending on the state and city you live in, so check with your local city officials for your specific requirements and application process. 

Demolition permits are issued per independent structure. For instance, if you are tearing down a property that consists of an office and detached parking garage, you will need two separate permits for the office and garage. 

Please note, if you built a structure without obtaining a building permit (improperly or illegally), you still need a demolition permit to legally tear it down. 

Do You Need A Permit To Demolish A House?

Yes, you do, but each city and state has different definitions for what they consider to be a demolition project. 

For example: the city of Austin, Texas, only requires a demo permit if you will be removing exterior walls. But, the city of Chicago, Illinois, requires a demo permit for the removal of external walls and the interior removal of plaster or drywall. In other words, Austin residents don’t need a permit to knock down interior walls, but Chicago residents do. 

If your demo work is incidental to the process of construction or renovation, you may only need a single building permit for your project. Check with your city government website to see which, if any, permits are required for your construction or demo work. And remember — if a permit is required for your project, it’s illegal to begin working before your permit is officially issued.

Demolition Permit Requirements

Once you’ve established the fact that your project is classified as demolition work in your city/state, you can begin filing your demolition permit application. Check with your local government office to determine the requirements in filling out your application.

As On-Site Adjusting mainly serves the Chicago area, we’ll quickly go over the demo permit requirements for Chicago residents. 

In Chicago, demolition (wrecking) permits may only be obtained by a city-licensed general contractor with a wrecking bond on file with the City of Chicago. Wrecking permits are issued by the Department of Buildings.

You or your contractor can file your demo permit application online in a portal called E-Plan Work, or you can file in-person at City Hall.

A Chicago demolition permit costs $300 for the initial deposit, but the true cost depends on your location within the city and the specific details of your proposed project. The final cost can be anywhere between $400 and $7000.

Useful Information For Chicago Residents

For demolition (wrecking) permit information, please call 312-743-9455. 

For wrecking bond information, please call 312-744-7188. 

Permit desk location: 121 N. LaSalle Street (City Hall), Room 900

Permit desk hours: every day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm