Kankakee County, Illinois Building Permit Guide

Kankakee County’s Planning Department, with its Planning and Building Divisions, handles development in unincorporated areas. In the county seat, the City of Kankakee, building permits go through the city’s Building & Code Enforcement Department.

This guide covers the county’s permits for unincorporated land and the City of Kankakee’s building office.

What requires a building permit in Kankakee County?

With a house, addition or large accessory building application, the county may issue a Septic Referral Form (sent to the Kankakee County Health Department), a culvert permit form for the Township Road Commissioner, and in subdivisions an Erosion Control Permit.

The Kankakee Stormwater Management Ordinance, adopted in April 2006, regulates drainage and floodplain work and requires permits, fees and inspections.

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

Who handles permitting in Kankakee County?

Oversize/overweight permits for county highways go through the Oxcart Permits website.

Contractor registration in Kankakee County

Every contractor working under a permit in unincorporated Kankakee County must hold a county registration ($150, valid one year), carry $1,000,000 general liability coverage and post a $10,000 surety bond. Registration renewals can be filed online through the Building Division Portal.

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

Kankakee County permit costs and fees

• Building permits: based on the estimated value of the project, materials and labor included; checks are payable to the Kankakee County Treasurer.
• Erosion Control Permit (subdivisions): $100.00.
• School Impact Fees: depending on location, these may apply and must be paid at IKAN before the permit is issued.

How to get a building permit in Kankakee County

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 permits in the City of Kankakee

The Building & Code Enforcement Department’s forms state that only originals are accepted. The city also requires permits to excavate in the city right-of-way.

Inspections in Kankakee County

Schedule county inspections by calling (815) 937-2940 ext. 2 with the permit number and inspection type, giving at least 24 hours’ notice. Inspections are first come, first served, and no concrete may be poured before inspection except driveways and sidewalks.

Official Kankakee County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Kankakee County Planning Department
• Kankakee County building permits
• Kankakee County contractor registration
• Kankakee County stormwater
• Kankakee County Health Department septic program
• City of Kankakee Building & Code Enforcement

Frequently asked questions

How long is a Kankakee County building permit valid?

12 months, and construction must start within 6 months of issuance.

What do contractors need to work in unincorporated Kankakee County?

A county registration ($150, valid one year), $1,000,000 general liability coverage and a $10,000 surety bond.

Can concrete be poured before inspection?

Not in unincorporated Kankakee County, except driveways and sidewalks.

Simplify Kankakee County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Kankakee County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.