5527-5539 North Kenmore Avenue, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 5527-5539 North Kenmore Avenue have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 5 permits, 3 not closed, and 26 violations, 16 open.
- What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Cook County?
- $832,750 for a single-unit home, per FHFA. Larger loans are jumbo loans.
- Is radon a problem here?
- EPA radon zone 2, moderate potential.
- What natural disasters is 5527-5539 North Kenmore Avenue at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area very low overall, with elevated cold wave risk.
Permits and code violations
3 permits not closed out. Unfinished permits pass to the next owner. 16 open violations.
- Permit – express permit program Sep 2026Active
Tuckpointing and unit masonry repair / replacement: 700 sq. ft., lintel qty. 0, max. length 0. location: near roof.
- Permit – express permit program Dec 2016Complete
Upgrade service to 1200 amps for 77 unit building.
- Permit - renovation/alteration Feb 2012Complete
Repair code violations on existing stair, repair section of roof, replace stringer, replace misc treads us proper connectors
- Permit - easy permit process Jun 2009
Spot tucck-pointing , replace approx 180 bricks at two location east,southwest and replace 9 linetls 4ft ( 100 sq ft ) per viol's
- Permit - easy permit process May 2009
Porch repairs to address violations: raise all railings to code height of 42",repair / replace pickets, secure stringers and ledgers with code conforming anchors,replace 4"x 4"column, repair / replace loose guard rail for 3rd. floor.all work subject to field inspection.
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Very Low
Highest for this area: cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
7 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Edgewater Beach Apartment Corp., 5555 North Sheridan Rd. (300 ft), no further action. Every release here is closed by the state regulator.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Toxic release facility
5,100 ft
Metalmasters and 1 more within a mile. Reports chemical releases to air, water or land to EPA each year.
EPA Toxics Release Inventory
Historic listing nearby
200 ft
Building at 5510 North Sheridan and 1 more listings close by. Exterior changes can need preservation review; listed buildings can qualify for rehabilitation tax credits.
National Park Service, National Register
Radon potential
Moderate
Average indoor levels of 2 to 4 pCi/L. EPA still suggests testing ground-floor and basement units.
EPA and USGS Geologic Radon Potential Map
Wildfire risk
Very Low
Wildfire risk is low enough that standard home insurance usually covers it.
FEMA National Risk Index
Nearest public schools
2,400 ft
Swift Elem Specialty School (2,400 ft), Goudy Technology Academy (2,550 ft), Peirce Elem Intl Studies School (2,900 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Sinkhole-prone ground
Limestone karst
The bedrock here (dolostone (dolomite), Silurian) can dissolve and open sinkholes. Ask for a geotechnical report and check whether sinkhole coverage is in the insurance policy.
USGS Karst in the United States (OFR 2014-1156)
Conforming loan limit 2026
$832,750
Cook County. Mortgages up to this amount qualify for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pricing. Above it, the loan is a jumbo with stricter terms.
FHFA Conforming Loan Limit Values, one-unit
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Who lives and works in Chicago
Trading floors, logistics and the deepest architecture stock in America
Chicago carries a full corporate economy at a price the coasts do not match. Neighborhoods are distinct and walkable, two and three flats are everywhere, and the Loop still sets the commute for finance, law and consulting.
- $71,673
- median household income
- 18.9%
- residents aged 25 to 34
- 45%
- households that own their home
What pays the bills
- Finance and trading
- Logistics and rail
- Law and consulting
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
Who anchors the economy
CME Group · Boeing suppliers · University of Chicago · Northwestern Medicine · United Airlines
The market is shaped around
- Young professionals
- Families buying space
- Two and three flat owners
More on North Kenmore Avenue
All addressesViewing recommendations
What's worth checking in person before deciding.
- Test water pressure and temperature at the tap, in the bathroom and kitchen, for at least a minute.
- Ask specifically where you'd park: is there paid city parking, who currently holds it, what the permit costs, and how long the waitlist is.
- Knock on a neighboring door and ask two things: what bothers them most often, and what work is planned for the building.
- Ask for the latest maintenance bill from a winter month, not a summer one: that's where the real cost of living there shows up.
- Look at the stairwell (cleanliness, smell) and the association's notice board: unpaid dues, conflicts, recent decisions.
- Schedule a viewing on a weekday too, between 6:00 and 7:30 PM, the window when the building is busiest: neighbors, parking, elevator.
Neighborhood recommendations are derived from public OpenStreetMap data and may be incomplete. Checking in person is still what matters most.