Department Information

Welcome to the City of Palos Heights Building Department homepage. We hope that this website will help guide you in your building project. Permits are required for most home improvements, see our list of permit applications at the bottom of this page to check if there is an application for the type of work you will be doing. If you do not see the type of work listed, please give us a call and check to see a permit is needed.

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For Residential New Construction and Additions

Before a building permit can be issued, it will be necessary to submit the following:

1. Building Permit Application
2. Four sets of blueprints (signed and stamped, each page)
3. A license for each contractor (See Contractor's License Application)
4. At the time of application, an escrow account will need to be set-up for our City Engineer. For New Construction, an escrow amount of $5,000 is required. For additions that require foundations, an escrow amount of $1,000 is required. Any funds not used from these accounts will be refunded once the entire project is completed (including landscaping and final grading).
5. Site Plan/Topographical Survey (required if any ground is broken)
   • Showing building plotted on location drawing, containing elevations.
6. Foundation Location/Spot Survey
   • Upon completion of foundation, contractor must submit to the Building Department a Foundation Location/Spot Survey of the foundation on the lot giving all front, side, and rear yard dimensions. A survey prepared by anyone but a licensed surveyor will not be acceptable.
   • Contractor must NOT proceed with construction until the City Engineer has approved the Foundation Location/ Spot Survey.
7. The plumbing inspector will turn off the water at the Buffalo Box following the final inspection. When the Occupancy Permit is issued, water will then be turned on, the meter sealed and read by the water department.
8. Model homes will be billed for water the same as a resident when completed.
9. State law requires a residential smoke detector on each habitable level, any rise of seven inches or more constitute a level. Detector shall be powered by 110-volt supply on separate circuit and shall also be equipped with a batter back-up system. Smoke detectors shall cause the actuation of all other smoke detectors on the residence.

Building Height Worksheet

Construction Packet

THE BUILDING CANNOT BE OCCUPIED
WITHOUT AN OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE

For Commercial/Industrial New Construction Instructions, Click Here

• Cook County Plumbing Code
• Chicago Electric Electrical Code
• International Building Code 2006
• International Private Sewerage Disposal Code 2006, MWRD & City of Palos Heights
• ICC Performance Code For Building and Facilities 2006
• International Mechanical Code 2006
• International Zoning Code 2006 & City of Palos Heights
• International Fuel and Gas Code 2006
• International Energy Conservation Code 2006
• Life Safety Code NFPA 101
• International Residential Code For One and Two Families 2006
• International Fire Code 2006

An electronic version of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Palos Heights is available through the American Legal Publishing website.

Above Ground Pool

 Above Ground Tank

If you have further questions, please contact me at (708) 361-1804.