Chicago field guide · public records

Chicago demolition permits, translated for reuse.

A demolition permit is not a salvage listing. It is an early public clue. This guide explains which Chicago permit fields matter, what they can suggest, and what still requires a human conversation.

See current signals ↓Inspect the official dataset ↗

The useful fields

Five clues worth reading before making a call.

  1. 01

    Issue date

    The value of a permit lead decays quickly. Newly issued records are generally more actionable than old records, but permit timing is not the same as the demolition schedule.

  2. 02

    Work description

    Words such as masonry, frame, multi-unit, church, garage, interior demolition, and wreck-and-remove provide material and scale clues.

  3. 03

    Building type and height

    Multi-story, institutional, commercial, and older residential structures can imply different recovery labor, inventory, and resale paths.

  4. 04

    Reported project cost

    Cost is a rough scope signal, not a valuation. A large scope can deserve faster review without guaranteeing recoverable inventory.

  5. 05

    Listed public contact

    The listed party may be a contractor, expediter, or another project participant—not necessarily the person who can grant access. Ask for the authorized decision-maker.

Current permit intelligence

Signals to verify now.

Live city data

These are ranked prospecting clues, not access recommendations or inventories. Each brief cites the public permit facts and explains the heuristic.

#0170WARM

Issued October 14, 2026 · Permit 101083094

6273 N KNOX AVE Chicago, IL

WRECK AND REMOVE A 2 STORY MASONRY/FRAME RESIDENCE AND AN ATTACHED GARAGE

brick + masonrystairs + millworkgarage stockdimensional lumber
Reported scope
$20,000
Why it surfaced
Masonry structure named
Read signal brief →Open map ↗
#0534WATCH

Issued October 14, 2026 · Permit B200508057

3512 N BOSWORTH AVE Chicago, IL

DEMOLITION OF A 1-STORY RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY BUILDING. 1 RESIDENTIAL UNITS. 0 NON-RESIDENTIAL UNITS. INCLUDES DEMOLITION OF RESIDENTIAL PRIVATE GARAGE. LOCATION ON LOT: FRONT. (ORDINARY DEMOLITION.)

garage stock
Reported scope
$25,000
Why it surfaced
Detached structure included
Read signal brief →Open map ↗
#0629WATCH

Issued October 16, 2026 · Permit 101088402

3908 N LINCOLN AVE Chicago, IL

SELF-CERT 2019 CBRC: NONSTRUCTURAL INTERIOR DEMOLITION OF EXISTING RESTAURANT SPACE. INCLUDES REMOVAL OF KITCHEN, NONSTRUCTURAL WALLS, NONSTRUCTURAL CONCRETE SLAB, MEP. NO CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY. IN PREPARATION FOR FUTURE ALTERATION PERMIT UNDER SEPARATE SUBMITTAL. (OCCUPANCY GROUP A2; TYPE IIIB CONSTRUCTION)

commercial fixtures
Reported scope
$15,000
Why it surfaced
Commercial fit-out named
Read signal brief →Open map ↗

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