Demolition Permit Requirements: What Cities Require Before You Tear Down

Quick Facts

From our city pages and each city's open permit data (refreshed October 30, 2026).

What Counts as Demolition

Chicago's definition is a useful benchmark: a demolition permit is required to remove an entire building or structure, to remove substantially all of the above-grade portion, to remove a foundation left in place under an earlier demolition permit, or to alter a building so its area is permanently reduced. Interior demolition, removing a garage for 5 or fewer vehicles, and removing parts of a building as part of a project that keeps or enlarges its floor area can instead go under the building permit for that project. Removing a structure that would not have needed a permit to build, such as a 100 square foot shed, needs no permit.

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. Check for historic, landmark or conservation district status before anything else.
2. Book the asbestos survey and pest control baiting early; both gate the permit.
3. Arrange utility disconnects: power, gas, water and sewer.
4. Hire a contractor licensed for demolition in your city and sign a written contract.
5. Apply with photos, a site plan and the approvals, then keep the permit posted on site.

Chicago

Chicago classifies demolition as ordinary or complex. A house is complex if it has more than 3 stories above grade or exceeds 50 feet, shares a party wall, or sits less than 1 foot from a property line, among other triggers. Ordinary demolition accepts Class A, B, C or D general contractor licenses; complex demolition needs Class A or B, a structural condition report sealed by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer, a site safety plan and a pre-permit inspection.

Every application needs at least two ground-level exterior photos taken within the last 60 days (map-site images are not accepted), a signed owner-contractor contract and a site plan or survey. Before issue the applicant must also secure:

• A Demolition Notice of Intent approved by the Department of Environment, covering dust control and asbestos abatement.
• A licensed pest control company's baiting and a passed Streets and Sanitation rodent inspection.
• A CDOT right-of-way permit or written confirmation one is not needed.
• Sewer and water disconnection permits, or confirmation they are not needed. Water disconnection is done by a licensed plumbing contractor.
• A hydrant use permit or another approved water source for dust control.

Removing a foundation also needs an excavation certification, which requires notices to neighbors at least 30 days before work.

Seattle

Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspections says housing can only be demolished if one of these applies: the house is owner occupied; it has not been rental housing in the last 6 months; a permit for a new use or new building has already been issued; the project meets residential deconstruction rules; the structure will be relocated; the city has declared it unfit; or it is in a master planned community zone. You cannot demolish housing to create non-required parking.

The application must include a rat abatement declaration confirming a licensed pest control company will treat the site for at least 15 days immediately before work, a salvage assessment, and an asbestos survey meeting Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requirements. Tenant relocation rules apply if anyone lives there. Seattle's median of 86 days from application to issue reflects how often demolition is tied to a new building permit.

New Orleans

New Orleans requires a demolition permit from Safety & Permits whenever an owner wants to demolish a building, even if they plan to rebuild. The application asks for the value of the work, even if you do it yourself. Before work, the Health Department inspects for rodents and, if needed, the owner must have the site treated by a licensed pest control company. Electrical and gas service must be disconnected by the utility, and sewer and water lines sealed by a licensed plumber.

In a Neighborhood Conservation District, the Neighborhood Conservation District Advisory Committee reviews the request before a permit is issued. That review asks for a letter of intent, color photos of each side, an aerial map, and any plans for redevelopment. During work, material must be wetted down to control dust and debris cleared from the right of way.

Demolition Permits Issued in the Last 12 Months

Permits issued 2025-10-30 through 2026-10-30, matched by keywords in each city's published permit descriptions. A permit can cover more than one job, and description wording varies by city, so treat counts as a floor rather than an exact total.

The spread between cities is wide: San Francisco's median was 14 days and Seattle's 86. These counts include garages, accessory buildings and partial demolitions where the description says so. For how review stages add time, see How Long Does a Building Permit Take? Real Timelines From 12 Cities.

City-by-city rules, fees and local data: Chicago Demolition Permit Requirements, Seattle Demolition Permit Requirements, New York Demolition Permit Requirements, Los Angeles Demolition Permit Requirements, Philadelphia Demolition Permit Requirements, Austin Demolition Permit Requirements, Nashville Demolition Permit Requirements and Kansas City Demolition Permit Requirements.

Demolition Before Building an ADU or New House

If you are clearing a garage or old structure to build an ADU, the order matters. In Chicago, demolishing an existing detached garage can go under the new garage's Express permit. In Seattle, an issued permit for the new building is one of the conditions that allows housing demolition. Plan the demolition and the new building together; our guide to ADU Permit Requirements: What Homeowners Need to Know covers the ADU side.

Building Departments in the Cities We Cover

Rules in this guide vary by jurisdiction. These are the official departments that issue residential permits in the 15 cities we track, with the city's open-data source for permit records. Each city page shows the rules for roofing, HVAC, solar, fence and deck work.

Before relying on any rule, read the department's current page or call its permit desk. Model-code sections cited here (such as IRC R105) are adopted locally, often with amendments.