Building permits give you legal permission to start construction of a building project in accordance with approved drawings and specifications. The Village of Lake Bluff requires building permits for all projects resulting in an alteration or an improvement to a property. In general, minor changes, such as painting and property maintenance, do not require a permit. The best way to find out if your project requires a permit is to call the Building Division of the Community Development Department at 847-283-6885.
Click here to schedule building inspections online. Select "Schedule an Inspection" from the left-hand menu and have your permit number ready.
Pre-Application Meeting
It is strongly recommended·an applicant schedules a pre-application meeting with Village Staff to review plans for new homes, new commercial buildings, room additions and larger decks for compliance with the Village's various Codes·prior to developing full plan sets.
Building Permit Applications
A building permit application submittal generally consists of construction drawings, a site plan, a plat of survey, a list of contractors, and information on total job cost. All building permits are issued by the Community Development Department and applicants must pick up the permit from Village Hall.
Plan Review
When an application is received, Village Staff will review the application for completeness and examine the proposal for compliance with the Village Municipal Code. Generally, if a project involves drainage issues and public utilities the permit will require review by the Village Engineer. These permits include such projects as:
- Construction of new driveway/parking areas,
- Drainage work, and
- Lawn sprinkler system installation.
Contractor's List
All applicants must provide the Village, prior to the issuance of a building permit, with a list of hired contractors and sub-contractors. All contractors working in the Village are required to obtain a Village Contractor's License.
Utility Locates
Utility locations are the responsibility of the building permit applicant. Please diall 8-1-1 to contact J.U.L.I.E. prior to digging.
Payment and Permit Issuance
After the plans have been reviewed, and the contractors' licenses issued, the applicant must pay the building permit fee and a parkway bond if necessary. The permit fee is based on the cost of the job. The applicant will received: a) a stamped set of plans (if applicable), b) a receipt, c) a copy of the permit form, d) an inspection sheet noting the required inspections, e) a tree protection plan (if applicable), f) an annotated drainage plan (if applicable), and g) a permit placard within a plastic sheath.
Inspection
Following the completion of the work, or at various times during the construction process, the applicant or contractor must call the City of Lake Forest for inspections. All questions relating to scheduling, building materials and construction techniques should be directed to the City of Lake Forest.
Temporary Occupancy Permit (all buildings)
Following receipt of a final inspection report for a conditional occupancy, the Village may, at the request of the applicant, issue a Temporary Occupancy Permit. Note, the final re-inspection and parkway review must be scheduled within 30 days of issuance.
Final Occupancy Permit (all buildings)
At the time a project passes a final inspection for a full occupancy, the Village will issue the applicant a Final Occupancy Permit.
Bond Refunds
Following a final site inspection, including an inspection of the nearby parkway(s), the amount of the bond not used will be refunded to the applicant. Parkway bond refunds must be approved by the Village Board and take approximately three weeks to process.
