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Kane County, IL Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing code
Illinois Plumbing Code, per §§ 6-4, 6-6
Permitting agency
Building & Community Services Division
Residential fee
$90/100 sq ft, $3,000 minimum (§ 6-12.A)
Commercial fee
$120/100 sq ft, $3,000 minimum (§ 6-12.B)
Permit expiration
2 years if work incomplete (§ 6-2, Sec. 105.5)
Unpermitted work penalty
Fee doubled, 100% surcharge (§ 6-12.P)
General violation fine
Up to $500 per day (§ 1-11)

Summary

Every plumbing installation in unincorporated Kane County must follow the Illinois Plumbing Code, which the county substituted wholesale for the plumbing chapters of the model building codes it otherwise enforces. The Building & Community Services Division issues the permit, charging a $3,000 minimum fee for new residential construction that includes wiring, plumbing and water supply.

City-specific rules exist: Elgin, and Aurora have their own plumbing permits rules that differ from Kane County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Part VII Plumbing Delete the following chapters:

Chapter 25 Plumbing Administration Chapter 26 General Plumbing Requirements Chapter 27 Plumbing Fixtures Chapter 28 Water heaters Chapter 29 Water Supply and Distribution Chapter 30 Sanitary Drainage Chapter 31 Vents Chapter 32 Traps

Insert the following text: “The design and installation of all plumbing shall be in accordance to the Illinois Plumbing Code and all other applicable federal, state and local ordinances.” (Ord. 12-366, 12-11-2012, eff. 1-1-2013; amd. Ord. 21-475, 11-9-2021)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 26-183, passed 4-14-2026).

Full Breakdown

Kane County stripped the plumbing chapters out of both model codes it enforces and replaced them with a single cross-reference to state law. Under the Chapter 6 amendments to the 2021 International Residential Code (Kane County Code § 6-4, Part VII Plumbing), the county deletes Chapters 25 through 32 covering plumbing administration, fixtures, water heaters, water supply, drainage, vents and traps, and instead requires that plumbing design and installation follow the Illinois Plumbing Code. The identical substitution applies to commercial and other new construction under § 6-6, which deletes Chapter 29 Plumbing Systems of the 2021 International Building Code for the same reason.

1. Permit fees for new construction that includes wiring, plumbing and water supply run $90 per 100 square feet of floor area (three-thousand-dollar minimum) for one- and two-family homes, or $120 per 100 square feet ($3,000 minimum) for other construction, under the § 6-12 fee schedule. General permits expire after two years if work is not completed. 8. Starting plumbing work before a permit is issued doubles every fee listed above under § 6-12(P).

Violations & Fines

Working without a permit doesn't just risk a stop-work order: County Code § 6-12(P) doubles the permit fee outright once installation starts before approval. Beyond that, the county's general penalty clause, § 1-11, makes any uncited code violation punishable by a fine of up to $500, with each day the violation continues charged as a separate offense. Permit decisions can be appealed to the county's Development Committee within 20 days under § 6-2, Section 113.1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for plumbing work in unincorporated Kane County?
Yes. Any plumbing tied to new construction, an addition or an alteration needs a building permit from the Building & Community Services Division before work starts, and the installation itself must follow the Illinois Plumbing Code rather than the deleted plumbing chapters of the International Residential and Building Codes, per Kane County Code §§ 6-4 and 6-6.
How much does a plumbing permit cost in Kane County?
Plumbing is priced together with wiring and water supply under the new-construction fee schedule: $90 per 100 square feet of floor area with a $3,000 minimum for one- and two-family homes, or $120 per 100 square feet with the same $3,000 minimum for other buildings, set by Kane County Code § 6-12.
What happens if I start plumbing work before getting a permit?
County Code § 6-12(P) doubles every fee listed in the schedule once work begins without an issued permit, and that surcharge doesn't excuse the contractor from also meeting every code requirement or facing the county's separate $500-per-day general penalty under § 1-11.
How long is a Kane County plumbing permit valid?
A general building permit, including one covering plumbing scope, expires two years after issuance if the work isn't finished, per Section 105.5 as amended by Kane County Code § 6-2. Once expired, a new permit is required to complete the remaining work.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kane County

All Kane County rules

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