Des Plaines Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Building Department Contact Information

The City’s current pages note that Community and Economic Development operations have been temporarily affected by City Hall construction, with divisions using the second floor. If you need an in-person visit, calling 847-391-5380 first can save a wasted trip.

What Work Requires a Permit in Des Plaines?

The 2026 city code broadly requires a permit before regulated construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving or demolition of a structure, a change of occupancy, grading work, or regulated electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing installations.

The City’s official permit page provides separate guides for accessory structures, bathrooms, decks, residential demolition, detached garages, driveways, fences, hard surfaces, kitchens, dumpsters, pools, roofs, new homes, additions, commercial alterations, signs, restaurants, EV charging and other work.

Common Residential Work That May Be Permit-Exempt

Not every home project requires a building permit. Des Plaines’ 2026 residential code lists several exemptions. Some common examples include:

• Painting, wallpapering, carpeting, tiling, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work when the project does not include structural, mechanical, electrical or plumbing work.
• Vinyl storage cabinets no larger than 36 square feet.
• Certain retaining walls not more than 4 feet high, unless they support a surcharge or another city requirement applies.
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep.
• Swings and other playground equipment.
• Certain wall-supported window awnings projecting no more than 54 inches and needing no additional support.
• Certain arbors, trellises, recreational equipment and yard features when no electrical work or foundation is required.
• Specified minor electrical, mechanical and plumbing repairs listed in the residential code.

Read the official Des Plaines residential-code amendments.

How to Apply for a Des Plaines Building Permit Online

You do not need to hunt through several websites. The practical application path is through the City’s Customer Self Service system.

What Documents Should You Prepare?

Requirements vary by project, but these are the documents that repeatedly appear in Des Plaines permit guidance and code requirements.

• Correct property address and owner contact information.
• Clear description of the proposed work.
• Contractor company name and contact information.
• Required contractor license or registration information.
• Signed contract when a contractor is performing the work.
• Current plat of survey for applicable exterior projects.
• Site plan showing proposed improvements, setbacks, property lines and easements when applicable.
• Construction drawings showing enough detail to verify code compliance.
• Product or manufacturer information for applicable prefabricated equipment or structures.
• Structural, mechanical, electrical or plumbing information when those systems are part of the project.
• Professional seals or engineering information when the nature of the project requires them.

For new construction and additions, the City’s residential code also contains detailed construction-document requirements. Exterior work commonly needs accurate site information because zoning setbacks, drainage, easements and property boundaries can affect whether the proposed layout is acceptable.

Des Plaines Building Permit Fees for 2026

Des Plaines does not use one flat building permit price for every project. Some residential permits have a published fixed amount, while larger construction is commonly calculated from project value.

Common one- and two-family residential fees

For commercial, industrial and multifamily construction, the published all-inclusive fee for new construction and alterations uses a sliding percentage based on construction value. The rate begins at 1.75% for projects under $1.5 million and decreases through the City’s published valuation brackets, with a $100 minimum for applicable commercial alteration, addition and new-construction permits.

Other fees can apply for plan review, electrical or structural work, bonds, phased construction, temporary occupancy and specialized permits.

Check the current official Des Plaines permit and inspection fee schedule.

Residential Shed, Gazebo and Pergola Rules: A Useful 2026 Example

The City’s updated 2026 accessory-structure guide shows how detailed even a relatively small residential permit can become.

For a shed, gazebo or pergola application, the City asks for applicable owner and contractor information, a current plat of survey showing the proposed location and distances from property lines and structures, construction plans, product information for prefabricated structures, and a signed contract when a contractor is doing the work.

These figures are project-specific. Do not use the accessory-structure rules as a substitute for the City’s deck, garage, addition or other permit guides.

How to Schedule a Building Inspection

Once permitted work reaches an inspection stage, contact the Building Division before covering or closing the work that must be inspected.

1. Find the permit number and property address.
2. Identify the inspection stage that is ready.
3. Make sure the work is complete enough for that inspection.
4. Call 847-391-5382 or contact permits@desplainesil.gov.
5. Provide the permit number, address, inspection type and site contact information.
6. Confirm the date, access arrangements and whether approved plans must be available.
7. Do not conceal work that still requires inspection.
8. If corrections are issued, complete them before requesting the required reinspection.

The City’s 2026 accessory-structure guide lists inspection scheduling by phone from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and identifies pre-pour/base and final inspections for that permit type. Other projects can require different stages such as foundation, rough trade, framing or final inspections.

Inspection procedures are local. A contractor working in several Cook County municipalities should not assume the same phone number, notice period or inspection sequence applies everywhere. For comparison, the Berwyn permit and inspection process is administered separately.

How to Check Permit Activity or Your Application

Your own online application

Log into the Customer Self Service portal and use the My Work area to return to permits, plans and invoices associated with your account.

Active permits for a property

The Des Plaines Community Portal provides property-level information and includes an Active Permits section.

1. Open the official Des Plaines Community Portal.
2. Enter the street address.
3. Select the matching property.
4. Open the Active Permits section.
5. Review the information shown for that address.

Contractor Registration Requirements

Contractors working in Des Plaines generally must register with the City. Registration is completed through the Customer Self Service portal, and registrations expire on December 31 and must be renewed.

The City lists registration categories for general contractors, electricians, plumbing contractors, roofers, HVAC contractors, concrete/asphalt contractors, fence contractors, demolition contractors, fire sprinkler contractors and other trades.

The current City Code lists the annual building-contractor business license fee at $50. Contractors licensed by the State of Illinois are exempt from that City business-license fee under the cited contractor provisions, although registration and proof of applicable state credentials may still be required.

A $20,000 bond is required for contractors doing applicable work on City property or within the public right-of-way. The City’s contractor page notes an exception for State of Illinois licensed contractors performing work in the right-of-way.

Review official contractor registration and bond requirements.

Can a Des Plaines Homeowner Pull Their Own Permit?

Yes, in certain situations. Des Plaines has specific rules for an owner-occupier of a single-unit dwelling who wants to perform permitted work personally.

The owner must generally be the individual seeking the permit and must own and occupy the qualifying single-unit home. The code requires an owner-occupier commitment concerning continued occupancy for 12 months. The owner must personally perform the work covered by the owner-occupier permit, subject to the City’s rules for an identified designated worker.

If the owner wants to function as the general contractor and hire other trades, written approval from the building official is required. Contractors hired for work the owner is not performing must be appropriately licensed and registered with Des Plaines.

The City also requires the owner-occupier to sign its notice of requirements and show an Illinois driver’s license or photo ID matching the property-owner name shown in the Cook County Assessor database when picking up the permit. The building official can deny an owner-occupier permit if the applicant is not considered qualified for the proposed work.

These rules do not make every property or every project eligible for owner-performed work. Condominiums, apartments, attached townhouses and commercial properties do not fit the City’s definition of a qualifying single-unit dwelling for this provision.

Building Codes Used in Des Plaines in 2026

A major change took effect on January 1, 2026. Des Plaines adopted updated construction codes in December 2025, including the 2021 I-Code family and the 2020 National Electrical Code.

Local Des Plaines amendments are important. A design that follows the base model code can still need changes to comply with local amendments, zoning rules, flood-control requirements or other Illinois requirements.

Review Des Plaines building-code amendments.

How Long Is a Des Plaines Building Permit Valid?

This is easy to overlook. Under the City’s 2026 building and residential-code amendments, a construction permit may be automatically canceled unless the building official approves otherwise when:

• work does not start within 60 days after permit issuance;
• work is suspended or abandoned for 60 days after it starts; or
• no inspection has been requested for 60 days.

Demolition permits have shorter periods: they may be canceled when work does not begin within 30 days after issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 10 days after starting.

A suspended permit may potentially be re-established within one year if the applicable conditions are corrected, the required code conditions are satisfied and the applicable fee is paid. A canceled permit generally requires a new application.

Zoning Approval Can Come Before the Building Permit

A building permit does not override zoning. Des Plaines’ zoning code requires applicable permit applications involving land or building use to be reviewed for zoning compliance.

This becomes especially important for additions, garages, sheds, decks, fences, signs, commercial changes of use, new businesses and projects involving setbacks, lot coverage or parking.

If your proposal needs a variation, conditional use, planned development action or another zoning approval, deal with that issue before expecting the building permit to move normally.

Certificate of Occupancy and Final Approval

For projects where a certificate of occupancy is required, the building or applicable space should not be occupied until the City has issued the required certificate.

New construction can also involve final drainage and grading documentation. City code states that a permanent certificate of occupancy or equivalent approval for new construction is not issued until the required as-built drainage and grading survey has been approved by Public Works and Engineering.

Temporary certificates of occupancy are possible in qualifying circumstances. The published fee is $300 for applicable residential issuance or extension and $450 for applicable commercial, industrial or multifamily issuance or extension. Separate security requirements can apply.

Construction Work Hours in Des Plaines

The City publishes the following construction and demolition hours:

The City’s 2026 residential accessory-structure guide also states 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. for Sunday and holiday work. Follow any additional conditions attached to your specific permit.

Before You Submit: 8 Checks That Prevent Common Delays

1. Confirm jurisdiction. Make sure Des Plaines is actually the permitting authority.
2. Check zoning first. Verify setbacks, use, lot coverage and location restrictions before paying someone to prepare a final design.
3. Use the correct permit type. Do not submit a generic alteration when the City has a specific express permit for the work.
4. Use a current survey. Exterior projects often depend on accurate property lines and easements.
5. Register the contractor. A contractor who is qualified elsewhere may still need Des Plaines registration.
6. Make the documents agree. Dimensions, scope and project address should match across the application, contract and plans.
7. Do not start early. Submission or payment does not by itself authorize regulated construction.
8. Keep the permit active. Do not allow long gaps in work or inspection requests without contacting the City.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Des Plaines Building Permit Resources

If you are researching permits for another Cook County municipality, use that city’s permitting authority rather than Des Plaines. Our Blue Island building permit guide is one example of how procedures can differ even within the same county.

Information note: USBuilding.org is an independent informational resource and is not operated by the City of Des Plaines. Information was reviewed using public City of Des Plaines resources and current municipal-code material available in October 2026. Project-specific requirements, fees, forms, office arrangements and adopted regulations can change. The City of Des Plaines remains the authority for official permit, zoning and inspection decisions.