Waukegan building department

The City of Waukegan Building & Code Department issues building and sign permits, reviews plans and inspects construction for residential, commercial and industrial property inside Waukegan city limits. The same department runs code compliance, which covers housing code, rental and vacant-property enforcement, and the zoning certificates required when a property is sold. The city lists its offices at 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permit questions go to [email protected] or (847) 625-6868.

What needs a permit

Waukegan requires a building permit for most work. The only listed exceptions are minor repairs, same-size window and door replacement, painting and flooring.

Project	City rule
Re-roof	Permit required for all roofing. The Building Official may exempt minor repairs. No inspections are required
Windows and doors	No permit for same-size replacement. Changing an opening’s size needs a permit, a scaled header drawing, and rough and final inspections
Driveways, patios, slabs, sidewalks, retaining walls, fire pits	Permit required, including replacements. Gravel is not an approved hard surface
Solar	Permit required for every installation

Starting work without a posted permit doubles the permit fee. The permit placard must be visible from the street throughout construction.

Applying online

All applications go through the city’s MaintStar public portal, where you create an account, apply, register as a contractor and request inspections. Online payments use a separate city payment site. Common attachments include:

• All contracted work: A copy of the contract signed by the contractor and the owner, with the owner’s phone number and email.
• Roofing: The contract must show the number of squares and a cost breakdown.
• Hardscape: A plat of survey stamped by an Illinois-licensed surveyor, with the work and setbacks marked, and a scope showing width, pitch, thickness and materials. Cutting a curb or replacing a city sidewalk or approach adds an Engineering review. Processing can take up to 21 business days in construction season.
• Solar: Equipment specifications, a plat of survey with equipment locations and an elevation, and a structural assessment stamped by an Illinois architect or structural engineer. Systems must meet the 2020 NEC and the 2021 IRC rooftop access and pathway rules (R324.6), and must be removed if unused for 90 days.
• New construction: The city posts processing requirements, Engineering site plan requirements, soil erosion control and fire sprinkler submittal standards, and a printable one- and two-family package. A Lake County watershed development permit may also be needed. Call (847) 625-6868 to set up a pre-construction meeting.

Tree removal permits come from Public Works, (847) 360-0944. Utility and right-of-way permits come from Engineering, (847) 625-6858.

Fees

The full permit fee schedule is in Chapter 6 of the Waukegan Code of Ordinances on Municode. Fees are based on the contract amount. The hardscape page gives an example of the structure:

• $75 minimum for work under $3,000
• $125 base plus 3% of the cost over $3,001
• Plan review from $75 up to 1.5% of construction value
• A flat $150 zoning review fee
• $75 for each failed or no-show inspection

Adopted codes

Since April 1, 2022, Waukegan has enforced:

• 2021 IBC and 2021 IRC
• 2021 IMC and 2021 IFGC
• 2021 IFC and 2021 IPMC
• 2020 National Electrical Code
• The current Illinois Plumbing Code as amended
• The Illinois Energy Efficient Building Act

Contractor registration

Contractors must register with the city before pulling permits. Registration is annual and expires December 31. Most trades pay a $100 annual fee. They must also provide a certificate of insurance with:

• $2,000,000 general aggregate liability
• Workers’ compensation
• The City of Waukegan named as additional insured

Some trades have extra requirements:

Trade	Additional requirements
Roofing	Illinois roofing license. The license holder pulls permits unless employees are authorized by a notarized letter. Commercial and industrial roofing needs an unlimited licensee. Re-roofing is capped at 2 layers of shingles, with at least 24 in. of ice and water shield
Electrician	$10,000 license and permit bond, copy of an Illinois municipal license
Demolition, excavator, wireless	$15,000 license and permit bond
HVAC	Copy of EPA card or license
Plumber	Illinois 055 and 058 licenses, authorization letter if employees pull permits
Elevator	Illinois state license

Inspections

Request inspections through the public portal, or call (847) 625-6868 for trades like solar. The city has published these inspection windows:

Property location	Inspection window
North of Washington Street	8 a.m.–noon, Mon–Fri
South of Washington Street	1–3 p.m., Mon–Fri

When emailing about an inspection, put the property address in the subject line. The Building Official may require a preliminary inspection before a pending application is approved. The city’s required-inspection list includes:

• Decks: 42 in.-deep piers
• Fences: 36 in.-deep post holes, with the finished side facing the neighbor
• Driveways and concrete: Pre-pour inspections
• Garages: Slab and footing, framing, and rough electric

Zoning certificates for property sales

Since October 16, 2023, every ownership transfer needs a zoning certificate. Apply when the property is listed, at least 30 days before closing. The fee is $150 at listing, plus a $150 closing letter fee at closing. A code officer contacts you within 5 days of payment to schedule a basic code and life-safety inspection. The certificate must be displayed near the front entrance while the property is for sale. It expires after 6 months, with one 6-month extension available.