Stumps average $100 to $400 apiece to remove and houses $6,000 to $25,000 to demolish, going by HomeGuide's national pages. In Chicago, a building demolition needs a Department of Buildings permit and a Chicago-licensed general contractor.
Each dollar figure below is a national range published by HomeGuide, and none of them is a quote from us. Chicago blue clay, alley access, buried debris from old buildings and the haul to a dump site are what really set the cost of a job here. We read every HomeGuide page used here in October 2026.
What does stump removal cost in a Chicago yard?
Stump removal in a Chicago yard averages $100 to $400 a stump, per HomeGuide. Grinding runs $2 to $6 an inch of diameter with $80 to $160 minimums, and pulling a stump with a backhoe is $80 to $190 each, with a $150 to $350 backhoe minimum.
Should a stump be ground or dug out before a new garage goes in?
A stump should be dug out before a new garage goes in, because a rotting stump under a slab leaves a void. Grinding is cheaper and fine where the spot stays lawn.
What about 20 stumps on a cleared lot, or one huge old oak stump?
Twenty stumps cost far less each than one, since HomeGuide lists the first at $120 to $400 and each extra one at $30 to $60. One huge old oak stump runs $300 to $800 to grind. On a cleared building lot, the excavator usually digs them all out in one pass.
Can brush be burned or buried on a Chicago-area property?
Burning brush is restricted in Chicago and most suburbs, so plan on chipping or hauling unless your village clearly allows it. Burying brush under a lawn or a slab is a mistake, because it rots and the ground sinks.
Can an excavator dig out boulders, buried concrete or old foundations?
Yes, an excavator digs out boulders, buried concrete and old foundations, with a breaker when pieces are too big. Removing rock costs $50 to $200 a cubic yard if it stays on the lot and $220 to $250 if it is trucked away, per HomeGuide. Chicago lots often hide old basement walls, slabs and brick from buildings long gone.
What does it cost to tear down an old garage or shed in Chicago?
HomeGuide's figure for taking down a detached garage, slab and haul-off included, is $1,000 to $5,000. In Chicago, a garage usually needs a demolition permit, which can sometimes be combined with the house's permit for garages of five cars or fewer, and small sheds that need no building permit are exempt.
What does it cost to demolish a house in Chicago?
Chicago-area house demolition follows HomeGuide's national $4 to $10 per square foot, about $6,000 to $25,000 for most homes, rising to $25 a square foot where asbestos or lead must be dealt with. In Chicago, the Department of Buildings demolition permit must be carried out by a Chicago-licensed general contractor and needs water cut-and-seal and sewer disconnection permits, rodent baiting with a Streets and Sanitation inspection, and a Demolition Notice of Intent filed with the Department of Public Health.
| House size | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft | $6,000 to $15,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $8,000 to $20,000 |
For a number on your own Chicago-area property, call or text (872) 201-3760. We look at the lot, then send the scope and the price in writing.