Evanston, IL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning approval
- certificate of zoning compliance
- Approving official
- Zoning Administrator
- Yard placement
- rear yard only
- Rear yard coverage cap
- 40 percent
Summary
Evanston requires a certificate of zoning compliance from the Zoning Administrator before any structure, including a deck or patio, is built, and zoning confines decks and patios to the rear yard only.
After the effective date of this Ordinance and except as expressly limited in Section 6-3-2-1 below, no land shall be proposed to be occupied or used and no building or structure shall be proposed to be located, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged or structurally altered, nor work commenced upon the same, nor occupied or used in whole or part for any purpose whatsoever until the Zoning Administrator has issued a certificate of zoning compliance stating that the building and use comply with the provisions of this Ordinance governing the proposed use. No change of use shall be made in any building or part thereof, now or hereafter located, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged or structurally altered, without a certificate of zoning compliance issued by the Zoning Administrator indicating such change to be in conformance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
6-3-2-1. - RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT LIMITATION. The provisions of this Section 6-3-2 shall apply to residential districts only with respect to a proposed change of use or a proposed structural alteration.
6-3-2-2. - APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF ZONING COMPLIANCE. Application for a certificate of zoning compliance for a new or expanded structure or use, or a change in use shall be made to the Zoning Administrator on a form provided by the Zoning Administrator that requires the submittal of such information as the Zoning Administrator shall determine is necessary for the proper consideration of the application.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Section 6-3-2 bars locating, constructing, or structurally altering any building or structure -- or commencing work on one -- until the Zoning Administrator issues a certificate of zoning compliance confirming it meets the Zoning Ordinance. Table 4-A under § 6-4-6-3(B) lists "Decks, patios and outdoor facilities" as an accessory use permitted only in the rear yard (R) in both residential and nonresidential districts, and detached accessory structures in a residential district may cover no more than 40 percent of the rear yard (§ 6-4-6-3(A)). A building permit is also required for the construction itself unless the work falls within a narrow exemption list (§ 4-2-2).
Violations & Fines
Building or altering a deck or patio without an issued certificate of zoning compliance violates § 6-3-2, and locating one outside the rear yard or beyond the 40 percent rear-yard coverage cap violates § 6-4-6-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need City approval to build a deck or patio in Evanston?
Where on my lot can I put a deck or patio in Evanston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
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