DuPage County, IL Building and Trade Permit Guide

Table Of Contents

Planning a renovation, construction, or trades project in DuPage County, Illinois? Chances are you’ll need a permit before you break ground. Understanding DuPage County building permit requirements helps you stay compliant and prevents expensive project delays.

This guide explains DuPage County's permitting procedures, trade permit regulations, and submission requirements, so you can keep your project moving forward with confidence.

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What requires a building permit in DuPage County?

If you're building or modifying any structure in unincorporated DuPage County, chances are you need a permit. Here’s what typically triggers one:

New construction, major renovations, demolitions
Re-roofing (tear-off), residing (when not just an overlay), and window replacement
Mechanical/electrical/plumbing equipment installations: water heaters, water softeners/filtration, furnaces, A/C units, heat pumps, EV charging stations
Accessory structures and site features: decks, patios, sheds, gazebos/screen porches, swimming pools/hot tubs, fences, sidewalks/“decorative walks”, retaining/seat walls, arbors/trellises, and signs
Excavation or fill on a tract of land

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What doesn’t require a building permit in DuPage County?

Projects that don’t usually require a permit in DuPage County include:

Ordinary repairs and maintenance
Re-roofing or re-siding done as an overlay over existing material (max two overlays, i.e., three roofs total)
Agricultural buildings/structures used for agricultural purposes on agriculturally used land
Existing nonconforming buildings/structures (so long as they are not added to, altered, repaired, moved, or relocated

Important limitations on “ordinary repairs” (from the Code): Ordinary repairs do not include work that affects structural elements, life-safety/egress, energy requirements, more than 25% of roofing or siding, or any addition/alteration/relocation of plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems. Those activities do require a permit.

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DuPage County building permit cost

DuPage County calculates permit costs based on the type of work and either your project's square footage or total value. Here are typical fee ranges:

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Residential fees

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Scope	Fee
Single-family / Townhomes (new or work requiring building permit)	$10 per $1,000 of construction cost (minimum $50) New construction valuation: $90/sq ft (gross area within exterior walls; excludes unusable attic space) Remodeling: based on cost of construction (minimum $100)
Decks, piers, bridges, patios, etc.	$10/sq ft
Accessory structures ≤150 sq ft	$10/sq ft
Accessory structures >150 sq ft (detached garage, covered/screened porch, gazebo, etc.)	$30/sq ft
Multi-family (apartments / condos)	$20 per $1,000 of construction cost (minimum $100) New construction valuation: $90/sq ft (gross area within exterior walls) Accessory structures: $40/sq ft Recreational structures: $60/sq ft Remodeling: based on construction cost (minimum $200)

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Commercial fees

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Scope	Fee
Commercial / Industrial (all areas within outside walls)	$30 per $1,000 of construction cost (min $150)
Valuation references (by occupancy)	Business $75/sq ft Educational $75/sq ft Factory/Industrial $50/sq ft Mercantile $65/sq ft Residential hotels $70/sq ft Storage $45/sq ft
Remodeling	Based on cost of construction (min $200)
Public agency reduction	50% reduction on building permit portion for public agencies
Green Building Incentive	10% reduction if meeting LEED Gold/Platinum or County-approved equivalent (private sector)

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For the full list of building permit fees, review the fee schedule.

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How long do building permits last in DuPage County?

Building permits in DuPage County become void if you don't start work within 180 days from the date they're issued. The permit also expires if more than 180 days pass between required inspections.

You can request extensions to keep your permit active, but you must maintain progress on the project and schedule inspections regularly.

Questions about permits or inspections? Call the Building Division at 630-407-6700 or visit their office at 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.

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DuPage County trade permits

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Plumbing permits

Any installation, modification, or replacement of plumbing systems in unincorporated DuPage County requires a separate plumbing permit.

Item	Fee
Minimum fee (Residential)	$50
Minimum fee (Commercial)	$100
Per plumbing fixture	$15 each (fixtures include toilets, tubs, showers, roughed-in fixtures, and any device needing a plumbing connection)

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Electrical permits

Electrical permits are needed for all service upgrades, rewiring, or system modifications.

Item	Fee
Minimum fee – includes service upgrades/revisions (Residential)	$50
Minimum fee (Commercial)	$100
Residential by area	0–1,000 sq ft: $50 1,001–1,599 sq ft: $60 1,600–2,399 sq ft: $70 2,400–2,999 sq ft: $80 3,000+ sq ft: $90
New electrical service (res/comm)	100–199A: $50 200–299A: $55 300–399A: $60 400–499A: $65 500–599A: $70 600–699A: $75 700–799A: $80 800A+: $80 + $10 per additional 100A

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Special permits

These permits apply to accessory structures and specialty work on residential or commercial properties.

Item	Fee
Fences	Residential $60 Commercial $120
Commercial driveways & parking lots	$850 with electric $500 without electric
Demolition / Moving structures	Residential accessory $50 residential principal $150 commercial accessory $100 commercial principal $300
Excavation / Fill	First acre $120 each additional acre (or part) $60 $50 Unincorporated Stormwater administrative fee
Certificate of Use & Occupancy	Single-family $100 SF additions/alterations $75 Multi-family (per dwelling unit) $100 Multi-unit commercial/industrial (per unit) $100 Single-unit commercial/industrial 0–10,000 sq ft $200 over 10,000 sq ft $300 (not for commercial electric)
Work started without a permit	Double the normal permit fee

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To get the full list of trade permit fees, refer to the schedule of fees.

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How to get a building permit in DuPage County

Step 1: Prepare your plans and documents

Before you apply, make sure you have the core items the County expects at intake so your application passes review.

Application & forms: Use the County’s Building & Permits page to access the online process and the Permits & Forms area (e.g., Minimum Building Plan Requirements, List of Required Inspections). These are the checklists staff use at intake:
Plans & supporting PDFs: Prepare a site/plot plan, building elevations, and construction drawings (signed/sealed when required by scope). Upload as PDFs through the portal
Contractor registration: General and trade contractors must be registered with DuPage County before work on new projects; registration is annual. Call 630-407-6700 if you need help
Valuation & fees at submittal: DuPage County collects an application fee at submission (credited to final fees). The current Schedule of Fees explains how building, electrical, and other fees are calculated
Jurisdiction reminder: County permits apply only to the unincorporated areas. If your address is inside a city/village, apply with that municipality

Need help?

Building & Zoning phone: 630-407-6700
You can also schedule an in-person appointment from the main Building & Permits page

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Step 2: Submit your DuPage County building permit application online

DuPage County uses Accela Citizen Access for building permits in unincorporated areas. Create an account and use ‘Start Online Permit Process’ to enter project info, upload plans, and pay the application/plan-review fee. You can also search the portal for status after intake.

Examples of tutorials for specific projects:

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Step 3: Plan review

After intake, your application is routed to all necessary reviewers. You’ll receive comments and resubmittal requests through the portal.

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Step 4: Pay final fees and receive your permit

When reviews are approved, the County will finalize your fees and issue your permit. Pay fees online. Your permit documents will be available in the portal to print/download. Post the permit on site before work begins.

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Step 5: Begin work and schedule inspections

Inspections verify the work matches your approved plans and the County code.

Scheduling: Allow at least 24 hours’ notice; call 630-407-6700 to schedule. The County’s published List of Required Inspections shows typical milestones (e.g., erosion control, footing, framing, rough-ins, finals)

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DuPage County permitting resources

DuPage County Building & Zoning Department
- Address: 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
- Phone: 630-407-6500
- DuPage County Permit Portal
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Building and permits
Permits and forms
Schedule of fees

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