Electrical Construction Leads in Chicago (2026): 1,180 Projects in the Award Window
To find electrical construction leads in Chicago, work from building permits and time the call to the build stage. On September 23, 2026, 1,180 permitted projects in the City of Chicago were still at the point where electrical is awarded, and 689 of them were permitted in the last 90 days. On new homes the builder's purchasing manager or site superintendent awards electrical; on commercial and multi-unit work it is the general contractor, working from an electrical engineer's drawings, and on custom homes often the owner. Builtie reads the permits, estimates each project's stage and attaches the builder or general contractor with a verified decision maker.
The same four steps, whether the buyer is a builder, a designer, an owner or a company you want to acquire.
How many electrical projects are open in Chicago right now
| Measure | Chicago |
|---|---|
| Projects in the electrical award window | 1,180 |
| Of those, permitted in the last 90 days | 689 |
| Median declared construction value of those projects | $858,600 |
| Rank among the nine covered cities for electrical | 7 of 9 |
A project counts when its permit was issued in the last four years, the build is still inside the stage when electrical is awarded, and the job is big enough to be worth quoting: at least $5k of electrical work. Trade sub-permits are not counted as projects.
Read September 23, 2026 from Builtie's permit data. Chicago is one of nine cities with live counts.
When electrical is awarded, and who decides
Builtie times electrical at 20% to 45% of the way through a build, with the last realistic approach at about 55%; the electrical crew is usually on site between 35% and 65%. On new homes the builder's purchasing manager or site superintendent awards electrical; on commercial and multi-unit work it is the general contractor, working from an electrical engineer's drawings, and on custom homes often the owner.
Tap a stage. The highlighted stage is where electrical is typically awarded.
What to lead with when you call: service size and panel capacity, EV and solar readiness, your rough-in schedule against the framing date, and inspection history.
How Chicago permits show electrical work
Chicago permits are filed for the project, so a new permit usually means the electrical package is still open, and the name on it is the builder or general contractor who will award it.
Other trades in Chicago
| Trade | Projects in the award window | Permitted in the last 90 days |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing leads in Chicago | 1,136 | 645 |
| HVAC and Mechanical leads in Chicago | 1,183 | 692 |
| Roofing leads in Chicago | 915 | 604 |
| Framing leads in Chicago | 569 | 451 |
| Drywall leads in Chicago | 1,133 | 350 |
| Flooring leads in Chicago | 1,057 | 194 |
| Cabinetry and Millwork leads in Chicago | 976 | 113 |
Plans
Builtie's Starter plan is $79 per seat per month (CAD) for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds the LinkedIn and email outreach you run yourself. Opening a project spends one credit, and the decision makers, emails, phones and AI call script inside it are included. Your monthly credits reset at each renewal, and extra credit packs are valid for 30 days. The free trial runs 7 days with 10 projects. Custom, where Builtie's team runs the outreach for you, starts from CAD $1,500 a month on top of a Growth seat.
Builtie's deepest coverage is in the Greater Toronto Area, where it started; depth in any city depends on what that municipality publishes. Ask for live sample projects in your own service area before you buy.
Across the United States: Construction leads for electricians (US), with projects in the award window for six metros side by side.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find electrical construction leads in Chicago?
Start from building permits, not bid boards: most private electrical work is awarded by the builder or GC without a public bid. Builtie reads Chicago's permits, keeps the 1,180 projects still inside the electrical award window (1,180 on September 23, 2026), and attaches the builder or general contractor with a verified decision maker.
When should electrical contractors contact a builder in Chicago?
Between about 20% and 45% of the way through the build, and no later than about 55%. After that the package is usually awarded, and the project is better used as an introduction for the builder's next job.
Who awards electrical work on new construction in Chicago?
On new homes the builder's purchasing manager or site superintendent awards electrical; on commercial and multi-unit work it is the general contractor, working from an electrical engineer's drawings, and on custom homes often the owner.
How many electrical projects does Builtie track in Chicago?
1,180 projects were inside the electrical award window on September 23, 2026, 689 of them permitted in the last 90 days. The count refreshes hourly.
What does Builtie cost?
Starter is $79 per seat per month for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds LinkedIn and email outreach. There is a 7-day free trial with 10 projects.