Waukegan, IL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- 2021 International Building Code, § 6-26
- Permit validity
- 12 months, one 6-month extension
- Permitted work hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. only
- Single-family permit fee
- 1.5% of construction cost
- Penalty
- $25-$750 fine, up to 30 days jail
- Enforcing office
- Waukegan Building Department
Summary
Waukegan enforces the 2021 International Building Code for all construction, and the Building Department alone decides what work is exempt from a permit. Approved permits run 12 months, with the mayor's designee able to grant a 6-month extension, and permitted work is limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. unless the city council orders otherwise.
A certain document, one copy of which is on file in the offices of the city clerk, and one copy of which is available in the office of the building commissioner, being marked and designated as "The International Building Code, 2021 Edition", as published by the International Code Council, Inc., be and is hereby adopted as the building code of the city; for the control of buildings and structures as herein provided... Subsection 105.2 Work exempt from permit. Work exempt from permit shall be as determined by the building official. ... Subsection 105.9 Hours of work. Work under any permit issued under this Code shall be prosecuted only from the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
The City of Waukegan adopts the 2021 International Building Code by reference under City Code § 6-26, covering every building and structure erected, altered, or repaired within the city. 2 hands the exemption call to the building official rather than a fixed list, so property owners must confirm exempt status with the department before starting work. 5, and the mayor or a designee can approve a single 6-month extension on written application. 9; extending those hours requires a special application to and order from the city council.
5 percent of construction cost, duplex and multi-family at 3 percent, and electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling work carries a flat $125 fee up to $3,000 in cost and $150 plus 3 percent above that. Contractors doing work other than plumbing, electrical, heating or city-licensed sign work must also register with the building official under § 117, showing at least $1,000,000 in general liability coverage. 4, punishable by a fine of $25 to $750 or up to 30 days in jail, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit, or violating an approved permit or a building official's directive, is a misdemeanor under IBC subsection 114.4 as amended by § 6-27, carrying a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $750.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. Continuing work after a stop-work order draws the same $25 to $750 fine under subsection 115.4, and appeals of a building official's denial go to a city hearing officer within ten days.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
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