City Building Permits
Joliet, ILLINOIS Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Joliet, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Serves the City of Joliet. Note that Joliet spans multiple counties; this entry covers the primary Joliet jurisdiction.
- Department
- Building & Inspectional Services Division, Community Development Department
- Address
- 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432
- Phone
- (815) 724-4070
Online Permit Portal
Platform: EnerGov / Citizen Self Service (CSS) • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Download application forms from the City website.
- For Residential: Complete forms and email to permitapplication@joliet.gov.
- For Commercial: Email submittal form and general application to eplansadmin@joliet.gov to receive a ProjectDox invitation.
- Upload all plans and documents to ProjectDox (Commercial).
- Plan review is conducted by building, zoning, and fire departments.
- Once approved, pay fees via CSS portal or at City Hall.
- Permit is issued and must be displayed on-site.
Typical processing time: Varies; typically 10-14 business days for standard reviews.
Source: Building & Inspectional Services Division, Community Development Department
General Requirements
New construction, additions, alterations, decks, fences, pools, roofing, siding, and mechanical/electrical/plumbing upgrades.
Required Documents
- Completed application
- Plat of Survey (for exterior work)
- Construction Plans (2 sets if paper, PDF if digital)
- Contractor list
- Permit validity
- Generally valid for 1 year from issuance; work must commence within 6 months.
- Building code
- IBC 2015, IRC 2015, NEC 2014, IMC 2015, IFGC 2015 (Note: Transitioning to 2021 codes per IL mandate).
- Owner-builder
- Homeowners may perform work on their own primary residence but must sign an owner-occupant affidavit.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must be registered with the City. Plumbers and Roofers must provide State of Illinois license.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $65.00
- Plan check fee
- Varies by project size; typically included in permit fee for small projects.
- Permit fee formula
- $10.00 for every $1,000 of construction value for projects over $7,000.
- Trade permit fee
- Included in permit fees
- Reinspection fee
- $65.00 per reinspection
- Penalty (no permit)
- Varies
- Payment note
- Online via CSS portal or in person at City Hall.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective March 2026).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.
- Swings and other playground equipment.
- Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches.
- Fences under 2 feet (verify with zoning).
Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Inspectional Services Division before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (815) 724-4070 (Building) (phone)
- (815) 724-4068 (Fire) (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- 24-hour notice required for all requests.
- Inspection hours
- Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- Time windows
- Standard business hours
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Footing, Foundation, Under-slab, Rough-in (Electric, Plumbing, Framing), Insulation, Final.
Remote video inspections may be used for certain inspection types at the city's discretion.
Additional Resources
- Building code: IBC 2015, IRC 2015, NEC 2014, IMC 2015, IFGC 2015 (Note: Transitioning to 2021 codes per IL mandate).
- Verify contractor license: Illinois Department of Revenue (Contractor Registration)
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- ePLANs (Electronic Plan Review)
- 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 & Inspectional Services Division, Community Development Department before applying.
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