Building Permits

Permits provide the property owner with the following:

• Your project will meet our building codes and ordinances.
• The required inspections of your project will ensure that the work meets the minimum construction standards required by code.
• The contractor(s) chosen to perform the work must be registered with the City. Registration requires the City be provided with required trade licenses, proof of insurance and a performance bond. Registration protects the homeowner in the event of incomplete or substandard workmanship.

Performing work without a permit may result in the issuance of a Stop Work Order, which halts all work until and if a permit can be issued.

In addition, permit fees may be increased by three times the usual fee. It is also possible that work may need to be reversed or removed if not performed legally or up to code. Failure to obtain a permit may result in issuance of a citation to appear at Administrative Adjudication, and possible fines may result of up to $750.00 per day.

When it comes to making these types of recommendations, the City must remain neutral. It would be unethical for the City to show favoritism for one business or contractor over another. However, the City does regulate the registration of all contractors who work in West Chicago. For more information on the City's contractor registration process, please see FAQ: Which contractors need insurance and licenses?

In most cases a homeowner is allowed to perform the work on their own home, but a building permit is still required. The exception to this, however, is when it comes to electrical service upgrades. In this instance, only a licensed electrician may perform the work.

If the property owner does plan to perform all of the work, then he/she must complete a Certificate of Responsibility to verify and outline the work to be completed.

Any work that requires a structural change to your home or the footprint of your yard such as, but not limited to the list below. If you have any questions related to permitting, or just wonder if your project requires a permit, please contact the Community Development Department's Building Division.

Interior

• Electrical Work (Ceiling Fans, Electrical Panel Upgrades, Fixtures, Outlets, Wiring, etc.)
• Plumbing Work (Tub-to-Shower Conversions, New Sinks, Toilets or Tubs, Hot Water Heaters)
• Any Remodeling Work (Basements, Baths, Kitchens, Etc.)
• HVAC Work
• Walls (Adding, Moving or Removing)
• Additions

Exterior

• Doors or Windows (Only if New Opening(s) Needed or Changes to Opening Size(s))
• Masonry or Tuck-pointing
• Sheds and Garages (New or Replacements of the Same)
• Fences or Retaining Walls (New or Replacements of the Same)
• Flat Work (Driveways, Patios, Slabs, Sidewalks, Etc. - New or Replacements of the Same)
• Hot tubs or Pools
• Decks or Porches (New or Replacements of the Same)
• Pergolas, Porticos, Pavilions, Canopies or Gazebos
• Stairs, Stoops or Steps of Any Kind (New or Replacements of the Same)
• Roofs or Siding
• Solar Panels

Permit fees are based on the scope of the project. You are charged a flat fee of $80.00 for simple projects such as roofs or siding, driveways, and fences. For more complex projects, however, there are many factors that affect the cost of the permit fee such as plan review fees, project valuation, and the number of required inspections. For questions regarding permit fees please contact the Community Development Department's Building Division.

The type of work to be completed determines the length of time required to review and process your application. To ensure your review goes smoothly, please provide accurate drawings, complete all necessary paperwork and if you are hiring a contractor, make sure they are registered with the City. For more information, please contact the Community Development Department's Building Division.

The property owner is ultimately responsible for obtaining permits or ensuring that the appropriate permits have been obtained before the start of any project. The property owner is also ultimately responsible for obtaining the required inspections or ensuring the inspections have been obtained to close out the permit. However, the issue of who actually obtains the permit, is determined between the property owner and the contractor.

Inspections are geared to the specific project that is being completed. For example, a typical deck build requires a minimum of three inspections--post holes, rough framing and a final. However, a deck with electricity, a canopy or a pergola, etc., would require additional inspections. That's why it is important that you and your contractor review the inspection information given to you by the City when your building permit is issued. Good communication with your contractor is key, but remember, it is ultimately the responsibility of the homeowners to ensure that all required inspections for their project are obtained and passed.

Once a permit is issued it is valid for a period of one year. Permits may be extended, depending on the circumstances.

All contractors are required to be registered with the City before a permit can be issued and any work is performed. Contractor registration requires a completed Contractor Registration application, and if applicable, a Certificate oflnsurance (naming the City of West Chicago as the certificate holder) and a Surety Bond in the amount of $10,000. See below for specific licenses that are required:

• Electricians - must provide a copy of their electrician's license. The license must be issued by the Illinois municipality where the exam was successfully passed.
• Plumbers - must provide a copy of their Illinois Department of Public Health Plumbing License. This license must have a 055 and 059 number.
• Roofers - must provide a copy of their State of Illinois Roofing Contractor License.
• Fire Sprinkler Contractors - must provide a copy of their State of Illinois Fire Sprinkler Contractor License.

In order to schedule an inspection, please contact the Community Development Department's Building Division.

When scheduling your inspection please provide us with an advance notice of 24-hours (or 1 business day), your permit number, the type of inspection you will need and the name and phone number of the responsible person The Building Department does not automatically schedule inspections for you.

Plans must be on-site. If plans are not on-site, a re-inspection fee will be imposed. It's also good to plan ahead when scheduling an inspection as you may need to be at home if access is needed by the inspector. For garage, pool and solar inspections, for example, the electrical inspector needs access to the electric panel inside the home.

Any project exceeding $10,000 in construction valuation (cost to build) must have drawings that are signed and sealed by a licensed Illinois architect or a structural engineer. Also, most plans for a commercial project will need to be stamped by a licensed Illinois architect.

If the cover page refers to each page contained in the set of plans, then only the front page needs to be stamped. If your cover page does not refer to each page in the set, then each page needs to be stamped. If the architect is responsible for all pages, then the front sheet should be stamped. If a consultant is responsible for the work, however, then that person would need to stamp their sheets.

We will only accept plans that are stamped by an architect who has an Illinois stamp.

State law requires you to contact JULIE before you start any digging project, no matter how small the project or how deep you plan to dig. JULIE, which stands for Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators, is a free service whereby JULIE notifies member utility companies to visit your property and place color-coded marks or flags on the ground to correspond to each utility type, e.g., electric, gas, water, sewer or communications (phone, cable, Internet).

Certain home-improvement and/or maintenance activities, such as tree planting and landscaping, may not require a permit, but do require a call to JULIE. All permitted projects that require you to dig such as patios, decks, fences, sheds, driveways, pergolas, retaining walls, etc., require you to call JULIE also.

Contact JULIE by calling 8-1-1 or 1-800-892-0123. The toll-free number is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per week. You may also submit an E-request online and/or obtain more information by visiting: https://www.illinois1call.com/homeowners.

Yes, a permit is required in both cases. Minor repairs less than 100 square feet may not require a permit, but it is always best to check with the building department before you begin.

When it comes to the code requirements for re-roofing, the City allows for the original layer plus one additional layer, or a maximum of two layers. Shingles must be rated for a minimum of 25 years and weigh at least 240 lbs., average weight per square. An ice and water shield is also required and must be placed at least 24 inches up from the outside wall and 18 inches on each side of the valleys.

• Please call for inspection of the ice and water shield before you install any shingles.
• Please call for a house wrap (Tyvek) inspection prior to installing any siding.

Remember, a permit is always needed for a new or replacement fence, even if the replacement fence will be located in the exact same location.

When it comes to post-hole depth, building code specifies the holes be 1/3 of the fence height. However, the rule of thumb is a minimum of 24 inches below grade.

When applying for a fence permit, please provide us with a completed application and a plat of survey. You are required to draw in the proposed fence location and provide the proposed height and fence material. Staff will review your application to make sure it meets City ordinance.

A final inspection is required when the installation of the fence is complete.

Whether you choose blacktop, concrete or brick pavers, new or replacement driveways always require a permit. Work in the public right of way (apron area between the sidewalk and the street) requires you to use a contractor registered with the City or to make a deposit that will be refunded once the work is approved. Finally, remember that gravel is not allowed. Please submit a completed permit application and a copy of your plat of survey. Please note on the survey the type of surface material to be used and draw any proposed expansion of the driveway. The application process and fee are the same as for sheds.

Yes. As above, you must submit a completed permit application and a copy of your plat of survey. Also, please identify the shed to be removed and draw the proposed location of your shed on the copy of your plat and indicate the shed size (Length x Width x Height) and distance from property lines. The permit fee is $80.00.

Sometimes. A permit is required for any aboveground pool with a water depth of two feet (24 inches) or more. In-ground pools, on the other hand, always require a permit. To apply for a permit, please provide us with a completed application, plat of survey with location, dimensions, and setbacks from property lines and the house of the proposed pool, and manufacturer’s product specifications. The permit fee is $135.00 for above ground pools and $315.00 for in-ground. Please allow 10 working days for your permit to be reviewed.