Champaign, IL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger section
- Municipal Code § 22-40(b)
- Adopted building codes
- 2021 IBC, IRC, IEBC, IMC, IFGC (Sec. 9-157)
- Extra gate
- no permit if subdivision noncompliant (Sec. 37-6)
- Unpermitted work penalty
- double the normal permit fee
- General fine range
- $1-$750 per offense, Sec. 1-21
Summary
Champaign requires a permit before any work begins on a building or structure whenever a permit is required by applicable law, under Section 22-40 of the Municipal Code. The City separately adopts the 2021 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes under Section 9-157, and a permit cannot issue for construction that does not comply with the Chapter 31 subdivision regulations.
(a)All persons engaging in the construction, renovation, alteration, repair, rehabilitation, remodeling, maintenance or use of any building, other structure or land shall comply with all the codes and ordinances of the City and state including, but not limited to, any property code, and any accessibility standards as these codes and standards are amended from time to time.(b)No person shall begin work on any building or structure without first obtaining a permit for such work, if such a permit is required, in accordance with applicable law.(c)It shall be unlawful and a strict liability offense for any person to erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, remove, demolish, use, occupy, maintain or fail to maintain any building other structure, or land, contrary to, in conflict with or in violation of any property code or issued permit.(d)Any person committing a violation under this section shall be subject to the penalties set out in Section 1-21 of the Municipal Code of Champaign, 1985, as amended.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
B. No. 2016-115 in 2016, is the City's general permit trigger: no person may begin work on any building or other structure without first obtaining a permit for that work, if a permit is required under applicable law, and everyone doing construction, renovation, alteration, repair, rehabilitation, remodeling, or maintenance work must comply with every applicable code and ordinance, including the property maintenance code and accessibility standards. Section 9-157 supplies the substantive codes that actually define when a permit is required: Champaign has adopted by reference the 2021 International Building, Existing Building, Residential, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes, along with the 2021 International Fire and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, the 2020 National Electrical Code, and the Illinois Plumbing, Energy Conservation, and Accessibility Codes, each controlling construction, reconstruction, and maintenance citywide.
Section 37-6 adds a land-use gate on top of that: no building permit may be issued unless the development complies with the Chapter 31 subdivision regulations. 0016 multiplier. 11, on top of having to bring the work into compliance.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 22-40(c), building, altering, or occupying a structure in violation of an adopted code or an issued permit is a strict-liability offense; no proof of intent is required. Violators face the general penalty of Section 1-21, a fine of $1 to $750 per offense, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense, and starting work before securing a required permit doubles the applicable permit fee under Section 19-8.6.2.11.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Champaign require a building permit?
Can the City refuse to issue a building permit?
What if I start construction before getting a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Champaign
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