County Building Permits
DuPage County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated DuPage County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Serves all unincorporated areas of DuPage County.
- Department
- Building and Zoning Department
- Address
- 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
- Phone
- (630) 407-6700
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Accela • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Application Process
- Register on Accela Citizen Access.
- Submit application and upload PDF plans/survey.
- Review for building, zoning, and stormwater compliance.
- Notification of approval and fees.
- Pay fees and bonds online.
- Permit issued via portal.
Typical processing time: Varies; depends on stormwater/wetland impacts.
Source: Building and Zoning Department
General Requirements
New construction, additions, major renovations, demolition, roofs (tear-offs), siding (not overlay), windows, HVAC, decks, fences, pools (>24" deep).
Required Documents
- Scalable Plat of Survey
- PDF construction plans
- Contractor registration
- Permit validity
- Varies.
- Building code
- DuPage County Building Code, 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2020 NEC, Illinois Plumbing Code.
- Owner-builder
- Allowed.
- Contractor requirements
- General and trades must be registered annually.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $100-$200 (Remodeling); $60 (Fence)
- Plan check fee
- Included in permit cost
- Permit fee formula
- $10 per $1,000 of valuation (Valuation calculated at $90/sq. ft. for new SFH)
- Trade permit fee
- Varies
- Reinspection fee
- Fees double for work without permit. Performance bonds required: $2,000 (New SFH), $400 (Additions), $100 (Misc)
- Penalty (no permit)
- Penalty for unpermitted work
- Payment note
- Online via ACA
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Current).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Ordinary repairs/maintenance
- Roof/siding overlays (max 2 allowed)
Important: Confirm exempt work categories with Building and Zoning Department before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Accela portal (online)
- Scheduling deadline
- Check portal for scheduling windows.
- Inspection hours
- Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Time windows
- Standard business hours.
Typical inspection sequence: Foundation, Stormwater, Rough, Final.
Required to close permit and release bonds.
Additional Resources
- Building code: DuPage County Building Code, 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2020 NEC, Illinois Plumbing Code.
- Verify contractor license: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- DuPage County Stormwater & Floodplain Ordinance
- 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 Building and Zoning Department before applying.
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