The DuPage County Building & Zoning Department handles building permitting for unincorporated areas; cities and villages issue their own permits. About 95,066 of DuPage County’s 934,298 residents (latest Census estimate) live in that unincorporated balance of the county.
This guide covers the county’s permits for unincorporated DuPage and the City of Wheaton. The county’s online code of ordinances could not be checked, so the codes below come from the Building & Zoning pages.
What requires a building permit in unincorporated DuPage County?
If total construction is 50% or more, the county treats the application as a new house. A pool, spa or hot tub needs a permit if it is 24 inches deep or more, has 250 sq ft of surface or more, or has a recirculating system.
Two more forms may be needed: work in any part of a drainage easement needs a Drainage Easement Agreement signed by all deed holders, notarized and recorded, and a property held in a land trust needs a Trust Disclosure Form, completed by the trust company, when the permit is submitted.
Illinois leaves building codes to local government, but since 1 January 2025 any local code must regulate structural design at least as strictly as baseline editions of the International Building, Existing Building and Residential Codes, and where no code was adopted the statute sets minimums for commercial buildings and new homes (Public Act 103-0510). Illinois codes and the statewide baseline
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Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in DuPage County?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building & Zoning Department | Building permits, contractor registration and zoning, unincorporated areas | 630-407-6700; BuildingandZoning@dupagecounty.gov |
| Health Department, Environmental Health | Reviews permits on properties with a well or septic system; new well and septic permits | 630-682-7979 |
| Public Works | New sanitary service lines on county sewer | 630-407-6800 |
| Division of Transportation | Driveways on county-maintained roads | 630-407-6900 |
| Stormwater Management | Countywide Stormwater and Floodplain Ordinance; Stormwater Management Certification | Stormwater Management department |
The county offices are at 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630-407-6500), general hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. In-person help from Building & Zoning is by appointment at 630-407-6700.
Contractor registration in unincorporated DuPage County
All general and sub-contractors working in unincorporated DuPage County must register with the County Building Official before the permit is issued and work starts. Registration lasts one year from the date of registration. Plumbers, irrigation and fire alarm contractors register without a fee. The certificate of insurance must name the DuPage County Building & Zoning Department as certificate holder.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Illinois licenses plumbers through the Department of Public Health and roofing contractors through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; there is no state general contractor or electrician licence, and many jurisdictions require local registration. Contractor credentials in Illinois
Health, sewer, road and stormwater approvals
Well and septic
Permits on properties with a well or septic system go to the Health Department for review. Health Department application fees are $171.00 for accessory structures and fences (Type I) and $279.00 for additions (Type II), adjusted each December 1.
County sewer
New service lines to the main are required for all new structures, tear-downs and additions over 800 square feet.
Driveways
Entrance permits or waivers come from the Township Highway Commissioner, whose office needs a tracking number from Building & Zoning first. On county-maintained roads, contact the Division of Transportation.
Stormwater
Developments affecting special management areas need a Stormwater Management Certification application, reviewed by the county.
DuPage County permit costs and fees
A non-refundable application fee is paid online during the application and credited to the permit fee at issuance. Re-inspections are paid before scheduling: $50.00 for the first, $75.00 for the second and $100.00 for each after that.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a building permit in DuPage County
Only unincorporated parcels go to the county; cities and villages issue their own permits.
Every general and sub-contractor registers in Accela Citizen Access before issuance.
Drainage Easement Agreement, Trust Disclosure Form, Health Department review, and the township entrance permit or waiver.
Pay the non-refundable application fee online; it is credited to the permit fee.
Variations, conditional uses, rezoning, subdivision and plat review and appeals are applied for in Accela; variations go to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A building permit carries a validity period set by the county or city that issues it; confirm the expiry on phased or delayed work before it passes. Permit validity in Illinois
Building codes in unincorporated DuPage County
Residential construction follows the DuPage County Building Code, with changes effective January 1, 2024. Commercial building, fire and mechanical work follow the 2021 International Code Council codes, and electrical work the 2020 National Electric Code.
Rather not deal with the DuPage County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in DuPage County
The county’s required inspection list starts with an erosion control inspection before any soil is moved; allow 48 hours. After the foundation is poured, a spotted plat of survey showing the foundation’s location and top-of-foundation elevation must be approved by the Building Official before a backfill inspection can be scheduled, and no framing may start until backfill is approved.
Building permits in Wheaton
In Wheaton, the county seat, permits come from the City of Wheaton Building & Code Enforcement Department, 303 W. Wesley Street, Wheaton, IL 60187, 630-260-2050, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The city accepts all building permit applications and contractor registrations online through its Maintstar portal.
For residential re-roofing, Wheaton applies the 2024 International Residential Code and requires at least a Limited State of Illinois Roofing License; an owner may roof their own home without an assistant. Wheaton has no required inspections for re-roofing.
Official DuPage County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- DuPage County Building & Permits
- DuPage County contractor registration
- DuPage County schedule of fees
- DuPage County required inspections
- DuPage County Stormwater Certification
- Wheaton building projects and permits
Frequently asked questions
Does DuPage County issue permits inside cities and villages?
No. Building & Zoning permits unincorporated areas only; cities and villages issue their own.
Does a hot tub need a permit in unincorporated DuPage County?
Yes, if it is 24 inches deep or more, has 250 sq ft of surface or more, or has a recirculating system.
What does a DuPage County re-inspection cost?
$50.00 for the first, $75.00 for the second and $100.00 for each after that, paid before scheduling.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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- Confirm whether the county or a city or village has the parcel, and which office to file with
- Line up the health, highway and floodplain approvals that come before the building permit
- File with the right office and keep inspections on schedule
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Illinois. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More Illinois permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about DuPage County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.