Building Safety in Arlington Heights, IL

If you live in Arlington Heights or are thinking about moving there, building safety are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Arlington Heights has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of building safety, and some of them might surprise you.

Electrical Permits

Arlington Heights enforces the 2017 National Electrical Code for every wiring job, adopted under Municipal Code Section 23-601 with local amendments in Section 23-602. Anyone doing electrical contracting work must register annually with the Village Electrical Inspector under Chapter 14, and permit inspection fees run from $60 to $155 depending on the home's square footage.

Key details: Adopted code: 2017 NEC, § 23-601. Contractor registration: Annual, expires Dec. 31 (§ 14-504). Permit fee range: $60.00-$155.00 by sq. ft. (§ 7-1104). New 1-2 family homes: No overhead service drops allowed. Grounding electrode: Village inspection before concrete pour.

Deviating from approved plans or working without required authorization violates Section 23-108, punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $750.00 per offense, on top of any other civil or criminal penalty available to another authority. An unregistered electrical contractor violates Section 14-502, and the Electrical Inspector can also halt permit issuance to a registered contractor who does not correct a cited defect within ten days under Section 14-507.

Building Permits

Arlington Heights Municipal Code Section 23-201 adopts the 2018 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, and Section 23-202 narrows the model code's list of work exempt from permit, meaning several jobs that don't need a permit under the base IRC do require one in the Village. A Chapter 23 violation, including unpermitted work, draws a $50.00-$750.00 fine under Section 23-108.

Key details: Adopted code: 2018 International Residential Code (§ 23-201). Local amendments: § 23-202 narrows IRC's exempt-work list. Conflict rule: Municipal Code controls over IRC text. Fine for violation: $50.00-$750.00 per offense (§ 23-108). Exempt cosmetic work: Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, siding, gutter.

Section 23-108 fines any Chapter 23 violation, including construction performed without the required permit or a deviation from approved plans without written authorization, not less than $50.00 nor more than $750.00, without precluding other civil or criminal penalties another authority could bring. Section 23-109 applies the same $50.00-$750.00 range to ignoring a Village stop-work order or notice.

Plumbing Permits

Arlington Heights adopts the Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890) by reference in Section 23-901 for all plumbing work in the Village. Local amendments require WaterSense-labeled fixtures on new installations and, since a 2023 ordinance, hot water recirculation systems on long supply runs.

Key details: Adopted code: Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890. Governing local section: § 23-901, amended by § 23-903. WaterSense mandate: New fixtures/irrigation controllers (§ 23-902). Hot water recirculation trigger: Over 50 ft. of supply piping (§ 890-1210). Water heater install fee: $25.00 (§ 7-1104(a)(17)).

Installing plumbing without a permit, or deviating from Village-approved plans without written authorization from the Director of Building, violates Section 23-108 and carries a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $750.00 per offense, in addition to any other legal or equitable remedy the Village may pursue, including a stop-work order under Section 23-109 that carries the same fine range for noncompliance.

The Bottom Line

Arlington Heights's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Arlington Heights is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Arlington Heights can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.