City Building Permits
Braidwood, IL - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Braidwood, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Includes the Grundy County portion, notably areas like Shadow Lakes.
- Department
- City of Braidwood Building Department
- Address
- 141 W. Main St., Braidwood, IL 60408
- Phone
- 815-458-2333 (Ext. 201)
- permits@braidwood.us
- Website
- https://www.braidwood.gov/
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Email/PDF • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- (Shadow Lakes only) Receive Association Plan Review approval first.
- For Grundy properties on septic, obtain Grundy County Health Dept permit.
- Submit plans and application via email or at City Hall.
- Verify all contractors are currently registered with Braidwood.
Typical processing time: 5 to 10 business days.
General Requirements
New construction, alterations, accessory structures, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical.
Required Documents
- Building plans
- Site plan
- Health Department permit (for septic/well)
- Shadow Lakes approval (if applicable)
- Building code
- 2021 IRC/IBC (Effective 2025), 2020 NEC, Illinois Plumbing Code
- Owner-builder
- Allowed.
- Contractor requirements
- All contractors must be registered with Braidwood.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $100.00 (Residential) / $150.00 (New Construction)
- Plan check fee
- Included in permit value calculation.
- Permit fee formula
- $18 per $1,000 value (Res); $22 per $1,000 (New/Commercial).
- Reinspection fee
- $75 re-inspection; Triple (3x) fee for no permit.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Triple (3x) fee for starting without permit.
- Payment note
- Fees due upon issuance.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Ordinary repairs as defined by code
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling
- Playground equipment
Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with Building Department before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- inspections@braidwood.us (24 to 48 hour notice) (email)
- Scheduling deadline
- 24 to 48 hour notice required.
- Inspection hours
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Footing, Framing, Rough-in, Final.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 IRC/IBC (Effective 2025), 2020 NEC, Illinois Plumbing Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Grundy County Health Department
- License lookup guide: Illinois Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Illinois Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Illinois hub: Illinois Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Braidwood Building Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Braidwood Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Braidwood, IL?
- New construction, alterations, accessory structures, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical.
- How much does a building permit cost in Braidwood, IL?
- The minimum permit fee is $100.00 (Residential) / $150.00 (New Construction). Fees are calculated as: $18 per $1,000 value (Res); $22 per $1,000 (New/Commercial).. Plan check fee: Included in permit value calculation..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Braidwood, IL?
- 1. (Shadow Lakes only) Receive Association Plan Review approval first. 2. For Grundy properties on septic, obtain Grundy County Health Dept permit. 3. Submit plans and application via email or at City Hall. 4. Verify all contractors are currently registered with Braidwood.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Braidwood, IL?
- Typical processing time is 5 to 10 business days..
- What work is exempt from building permits in Braidwood, IL?
- The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary repairs as defined by code; Painting, wallpapering, tiling; Playground equipment. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with Building Department before proceeding.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Braidwood, IL?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: inspections@braidwood.us (24 to 48 hour notice). 24 to 48 hour notice required..
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