Illinois building permits

Where to get a building permit in Illinois

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Our Illinois city guides, with each department's contacts, fees, inspections and project rules:

• Chicago

Illinois state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Illinois

For homes, the residential code is the IRC², in effect since January 1, 2024² (statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Illinois building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

• State issues no permits for private work. No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.¹
• Check locally. Contact your local building inspection department to check for permit and inspection requirements.¹²

Homeowners doing their own work

225 ILCS 320/3

• Plumbing: occupant-owner rule, 6-month occupancy. …he or she has a current intention to live in such premises as his or her bona fide sole and exclusive residence for a period of not less than 6 months after the completion of the plumbing work…¹³
• Presumption if not lived in for 6 months. Failure to possess and live in the premises as a sole and exclusive residence for a period of 6 months or more shall create a rebuttable presumption of a lack of such intention.¹³
• Local example: homeowner acts as own general contractor. In applying for a Building Permit, the property owner signing below hereby acknowledges that they will assume the responsibility as their own general contractor and that they agree to the following…¹³
• Residential design professional usually not needed. Residential projects do not typically require a licensed design professional, but one may be utilized.¹

Contractor licensing

225 ILCS 335 (roofing); 225 ILCS 320 (plumbing); Home Repair and Remodeling Act

• General contractors: no state license. General contractors are not required to be licensed or certified; however, they may need to obtain a permit from the municipality in which they are to provide contracting services.¹⁴
• Roofers: IDFPR license. Roofers are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and must be licensed by the IDFPR to engage in business in Illinois.¹⁴
• Plumbers: IDPH license. Plumbers are regulated by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and must be licensed by the IDPH to engage in business in Illinois.¹⁴
• Plumbing contractors register with the state. All plumbing contractors must register with the state and pay an annual fee.⁴
• Limited roofing license, residential to 8 units. Limited Roofing License means a license made available to contractors whose roofing business is limited to residential roofing, including residential properties consisting of 8 units or less.¹⁵
• Roofing application fee. An application fee of $125.¹⁵
• Roofing license number on permit applications. Each state-licensed roofing contractor must affix the roofing contractor’s license number and the licensee’s name to all of his or her contracts, bids, each application for a building permit, and on each building permit issued and recorded.³
• Roofing Act repeal date was January 1, 2026 at report date. …which is scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026.¹⁶
• Written contract over $1,000. In Illinois, a written contract with all costs enumerated is required for home repair or remodeling work over $1,000.¹²
• Electrician license from municipality (Cook County registration). It must be from a city, town or village in the State of Illinois that has an electrical commission that administers an examination.¹⁷

Handyman limits

• Home Repair Act: not a licensing limit. "Home repair and remodeling" means the fixing, replacing, altering, converting, modernizing, improving, or making of an addition to any real property primarily designed or used as a residence other than maintenance, service, or repairs under $500.¹⁸

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

• Permit handling is local. No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.¹

Private plan review and inspections

20 ILCS 3105/10.09-1; Section 10.09 of the Capital Development Board Act

• Qualified inspector in commercial non-code jurisdictions. Non-state buildings must be inspected by a qualified inspector stating the building complies with the above codes.²
• Certification of inspection likely needed where no local service. A certification of inspection would likely be required per section 10.09 of the Capital Development Board Act.¹

What local governments may change

225 ILCS 320/42 (as quoted in an IDPH memo dated April 9, 2013)

• Plumbing licensing and code reserved to State. …the power to regulate the licensing of plumbers, to promulgate a minimum plumbing code of standards, and to regulate the registration of irrigation contractors and plumbing contractors shall, except as may otherwise be provided within and pursuant to the provisions of Section 16 and Section 16.1 of this Act, be exercised by the State and may not be exercised by any unit of local government, including home rule units.¹⁹