Building Department

The Village of Lakewood is dedicated to ensuring the public health, safety and welfare of the community by providing review, permitting, and inspection services. Building Permits are required prior to all construction projects. Individual project handouts, posted right, provide the individual guidelines and requirements for each project type. When you are ready to begin work, simply submit your Building Permit Application, along with the required documents and fees. Please contact the Building Department at (815) 459-3025 for more information or with any questions you may have regarding the application process.

Permit intake and issuance is between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Construction Activities: Operating or permitting the operation of any tools, vehicles or equipment used in construction, excavation, drilling, demolition or similar work if such is audible outdoors beyond any real property boundary, except between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday, and not at any time on holidays if within a residential zoning district or within 1,000 feet of any residence.

BUILDING CODES ADOPTED

2018 International Building Code (IBC) w/Local Amendments

2018 International Residential Code (IRC) w/Local Amendments

2017 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) w/Local Amendments

2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC)

2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa (ISPSC) w/Local Amendments

2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

2018 International Fire Code w/Local Amendments

2000 NFPA Life Safety Code

2018 Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC)

2014 Illinois Plumbing Code (IPC)

2018 International Property Maintenance Code

CASH PERFORMANCE BONDS

In addition to the building permit application and associated fee, a $100 cash performance bond will need to be submitted for the following projects: pools, roofs, driveways, windows, fences, siding, decks, patios, accessory buildings, irrigation systems, and electrical upgrades.

Upon successful completion of the project, the applicant must submit a Request for Bond Release to the Building Department. The Building Department will review and verify that the project has successfully completed each step of the permit process. Once verified, a refund check will be generated and mailed back to the applicant. If upon review it is determined that the project has not successfully completed the permit process, the Building Inspector will document the reasons why the Request for Bond Release is being rejected and mail this back to the requestor.

Cash Performance Bonds will be considered forfeited to the Village if either of the following occur:

1) The permit fails to comply with Village requirements
2) The permit is closed for 30 days without a request for refund

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

General contractors as well as contractors for single or small-scale projects must have a $10,000 bond posted in the Village. Sub-contractors (plumbers and electricians) need to provide a letter of intent and a copy of their registration.

OBLIGEE: Village of Lakewood

BOND AMOUNT: $10,000

A copy of the surety bond can be faxed to (815) 459-8346 or emailed to info@village.lakewood.il.us, with the original mailed to:

Village of Lakewood
Building Department
2500 Lake Avenue
Lakewood, IL 60014

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW

The Architectural Review Process was established for the purpose of providing standards to evaluate plans for new construction or other exterior improvements in the Village. Along with your building permit application, all new residential construction or additions must submit three sets of final construction documents, signed and stamped by an Illinois licensed architect (the “ILA”). Projects responsible for compliance under Chapter 21, Landscaping Code, must also include three sets of landscaping plans with the application.

Architectural review will not begin without the submission of all required materials (building permit application, design plans, site plan, landscape plans, etc.) and without payment of the required review fees, which are listed below:

$100 for minor projects, such as decks, patios, porches, garages and accessory buildings
$150 for additions, exterior alterations and remodeling
$300 for new construction.
$100 per hour for sketch plan review

The Village Board approved the creation of Chapter 36, Architectural Review Process, in October, 2014. This Chapter consolidated the Village's architectural requirements into one location, while also bringing a number of the Village's requirements more current. A summary of some of the more significant changes has been listed below:

Consistent message requiring continuity of design and detail, as well as the harmonious use of materials.
While vertical termination is still prohibited at an outside corner, the Village will now allow for an 18” wrap of the masonry material.
A run of an exterior wall greater than 36’ will require a visual break.
Variations to the required 7/12 roof pitch will be allowed, provided the pitch is consistent with the architectural design of the project.
“Bubble” type skylights may be considered.
There are no minimum R-value requirements for windows, which allows the existing Energy Code to appropriately establish minimum standards. Windows must be aluminum or vinyl clad wood or fiberglass composition.
Exterior mechanical requires screening.
Ornamental lights do not need to be “carriage” lights and the type of bulb is no longer regulated. Colored bulbs remain prohibited.
Treated engineered wood is an acceptable exterior finish.
Standing seam metal is an acceptable roofing material. Roofing must have a minimum wind resistance of 110 miles per hour.
Fences and pools will go through the standard building permit review, but will no longer require architectural review.

J.U.L.I.E.

Call J.U.L.I.E. (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) at (800) 892-0123 for utility line locations on your property.

Call before you dig!
Includes landscaping work
Service is free of charge