Frequently Asked Questions

Building and construction codes are adopted by the Village to confirm the construction meets life safety requirements for the building owners and occupants. Such codes are updated regularly to reflect improvement in building techniques, materials, and technology. Building permits are required to confirm that design professionals and contractors working on your home do so in a professional manner and compliant with the latest updated codes.  

Work that Usually Requires a Permit

Most work performed by a contractor to alter, upgrade or repair elements of your home or building will require issuance of a building permit and inspection of work to confirm compliance with adopted codes. A permit is required to remove, relocate, construct or alter building walls, or to perform any other structural alterations. In addition, any work involving the mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems requires a permit. Non-structural work including replacement of an existing roof, fence or wall also requires a permit.

Work That Always Requires a Permit

All work to the exterior of a commercial or institutional building, or to a multiple-family residential building, including replacement of windows, siding or other architectural elements requires a permit.

Helpful Resources

We encourage you to contact the Community Development Department at 847-716-3520 before undertaking any work to determine if a permit is required.

The time frame for processing a permit is dependent upon a number of factors, including but not limited to the type of permit being applied for, completeness and accuracy of plans, revisions by the architect, and the time of year. Typical process times are as follows:

• Driveway replacement and fence permit applications typically take 2 to 3 business days.
• Interior remodeling projects typically take 2 to 3 weeks.
• New home construction or additions typically take 3 weeks for initial plan review.
• Subsequent revision submittals are processed in the order received and typically take an additional 7 - 10 business days for review.

A representative of the Community Development Department will email or call the primary contact listed on the building permit application.

A building permit is valid for 15 months from the date of approval. The Village does allow for a permit to be extended for an additional 9 months from the expiration date provided that the permit holder submits prior to the permit’s expiration:

• A written request for the extension, including a detailed timeline for completion
• Payment for 50% of the original building permit fee

During a construction project, a permit is necessary only if a dumpster is to be placed on the public street or parkway. No permit is required if a dumpster is placed on private property.

Residents who currently have permanent or temporary trampolines installed on their properties or plan to install this equipment should contact the Community Development Department at 847-716-3587 for zoning information and a trampoline permit application.

Over the years, the Village has retained property surveys submitted with building permit applications. It is best to check with us to see if we do have one; however, a property survey cannot be more than 5 years old when applying for a building permit. Call 847-716-3527 or email the Village.

The Zoning Ordinance establishes standards which control the development and use of land. All building permits must comply with the Zoning Ordinance. Call the Community Development Department at 847-716-3587 with questions regarding the Zoning Ordinance. The Village Zoning Ordinance can be found in Title 17 of the Village Code on the Village website.