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Waukegan, IL Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Code adopted
Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Admin. Code Part 890 (2014)
Enabling statute
225 ILCS 320/36
Local amendment
WaterSense-labeled fixtures required (Sec. 6-217)
Adopting ordinance
Ord. No. 22-O-44, § 6, April 18, 2022

Summary

Waukegan enforces plumbing work under the Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Admin. Code Part 890, 2014), adopted wholesale by Sec. 6-216, meaning every plumbing permit, fixture standard and inspection requirement in that state code applies inside city limits.

The Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Illinois Administrative Code, Part 890, (2014), is hereby adopted as and for the Plumbing Code of the City of Waukegan, and is further hereby amended as set forth in the following sections of this article, in accordance with the provisions of 225 ILCS 320/36. ... each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Illinois Plumbing Code are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this section.

View official code

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

Sec. 6-216 adopts the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Illinois Administrative Code, Part 890 (2014), 'as and for the Plumbing Code of the City of Waukegan,' citing 225 ILCS 320/36 as the statutory basis. The section states that all regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of the Illinois Plumbing Code 'are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this section,' subject only to the local amendments in Sec. 6-217. S. EPA WaterSense Program when a labeled fixture is available.

Because the Illinois Plumbing Code itself governs permits, licensed contractor requirements, fixture counts, and inspections, Waukegan issues plumbing permits and inspections through its building department under the state code's terms rather than a separate locally drafted permit chapter, and violations carry whatever penalties the adopted state code prescribes. The article was last rewritten by Ord. No. 22-O-44, § 6, adopted April 18, 2022, which repealed the prior Article VII in its entirety and replaced it with the current two-section structure.

Violations & Fines

Violations of plumbing work performed without a permit or contrary to the adopted Illinois Plumbing Code are punished under the penalties built into that adopted code; where no specific penalty is set, Sec. 1-13 imposes a fine of $25.00 to $750.00 per day, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Waukegan have its own plumbing code?
No. Sec. 6-216 adopts the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Illinois Administrative Code Part 890 (2014), in full as the city's plumbing code under authority of 225 ILCS 320/36, rather than writing a separate local plumbing chapter.
Are there any Waukegan-specific plumbing rules on top of the state code?
Yes, one: Sec. 6-217 requires all new plumbing fixtures and irrigation controllers to carry the WaterSense label from the EPA WaterSense Program whenever a labeled fixture is available for that type.
Where do I get a plumbing permit in Waukegan?
Permits are issued and inspected through the city's building department under the terms of the adopted Illinois Plumbing Code, since Sec. 6-216 makes that state code's permitting and inspection provisions part of the city code as if fully set out there.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Waukegan

All Waukegan rules

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