Oak Park, IL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Oak Park adopted the 2021 International Building Code by reference in Village Code § 7-1-1, then rewrote and localized large portions of it in § 7-1-2, Amendments, which is where the Village's own permit rule actually lives. 1, Required, as amended for Oak Park, states that any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, or to add insulation to an attic, must first apply to the building official, housed in the Permitting and Development Division under the Chief Building Official, and obtain the permit.

2, any work performed without the required permit is illegal and constitutes an unlawful act, subject to administrative penalties under the code and any applicable Village Code penalty. 3 adds teeth for after-the-fact compliance: anyone who starts work before obtaining a permit must submit a signed, sworn statement describing the scope of work, construction dates, contractor names, and supporting documents such as architectural drawings and engineering calculations, on top of whatever fees and penalties section 109 and the Village Code impose. Demolitions and moves of a principal structure or accessory building need both a Village demolition permit and a separate permit from the Cook County Department of Environmental Control, and work in a designated historic district can additionally require a certificate of appropriateness under Chapter 7, Article 9.