Building Safety in Skokie, IL (2026)
11 verified building safety rules for Skokie, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
Skokie requires every elevator, escalator, dumbwaiter and movable stage or orchestra floor in the Village to be inspected under the Village Manager's direction at least once every six months, with unsafe equipment ordered stopped until it is brought back into compliance.
Skokie Elevator Inspection Requirements
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 22-33(48) (IBC § 3001.5.2)
Add 3001.5.2 Inspections. Every elevator, movable stage, movable orchestra floor, movable platform, dumbwaiter or escalator shall be inspected under the direction of the Village Manager or designee at least once every 6 months, and no new equipment shall be placed in operation until an inspection of such equipment has been made. When the required inspection shows that all equipment and safety d...
Scaffold & Sidewalk Shed
Village Code Sec. 70-156 makes it unlawful to erect or set up a scaffold or ladder on any public street, alley or roadway in Skokie unless it is securely anchored or firmly constructed and safeguarded so it cannot fall or injure a person or damage property.
Skokie Rules for Scaffolds and Ladders on Streets
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 70-156
It shall be unlawful to erect or construct any scaffold or ladder upon any public street, alley or roadway unless the scaffold or ladder is securely anchored or firmly constructed and safeguarded so as to prevent harm or injury to any person or property.
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Skokie requires an automatic fire sprinkler system throughout new one-family, two-family and townhouse construction, and in most additions or alterations that substantially rebuild an existing home, under the Village's amended Section R313 of the residential code.
Skokie Residential Fire Sprinkler Requirement
Significant RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 22-63(26) (IRC § R313.1-R313.2)
(26)R313 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems. Delete R313.1, R313.1.1, R313.2, R313.21 and replace with: R313.1 Fire Sprinklers. An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed throughout an entire one-family, two-family or townhouse residence under the following circumstances: A.Any new construction of such residence;B.Building additions that increase the floor area of such residen...
Childcare Center Rules
Skokie requires every family day care home to meet the BOCA/National Existing Structures Code, provide at least 100 square feet of occupant load per child, and give sleeping, living and dining rooms two means of egress, under Village Code Section 54-166. Stairs, wiring and heating equipment all carry their own numeric safety standards.
Skokie Day Care Home Building Safety Rules
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 54-166
(20)Construction requirements. Each building used as a family day care home must meet the requirements of the BOCA/National Existing Structures Code, as adopted by the Village.( ... 21)Maximum occupancy. The occupant load shall be a minimum of 100 square feet per occupant.(22)Exits.a.Every room used for sleeping, living, or dining purposes shall have at least 2 means of egress, at least 1 of wh...
Door Locking Hardware
Every door into a rented dwelling, room or housekeeping unit in Skokie must carry a heavy-duty deadbolt with a 1-inch throw, a separate knob-in-lock set, a four-screw strike plate and a 160-degree peephole under the Village's amended Property Maintenance Code.
Skokie Rental Unit Door Lock Standard
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 22-183(15) (IPMC § 304.18.1)
(15)304.18.1 Doors. Replace text with the following: Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, room unit or housekeeping unit that is rented or let shall be equipped with a heavy-duty deadbolt to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a minimum lock throw of 1 inch. The door shall also have a heavy...
Anti-Mansionization
To keep new construction proportionate to R1 lots, Skokie's zoning code caps land coverage by the principal and accessory buildings at 40 percent of the lot area and limits the floor area ratio for all buildings and structures on the lot to 0.6, working alongside the district's tiered height limits to prevent oversized rebuilds.
Skokie R1 District Lot Coverage and FAR Caps
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 118-124(8)-(9)
(8)Maximum land coverage by buildings. The maximum land coverage of the principal and accessory buildings shall be 40 percent of the lot area.(9)Floor area ratio. The floor area ratio for all buildings and structures on a lot shall not exceed 0.6.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Skokie's residential code requires carbon monoxide alarms that meet Illinois State Fire Marshal rules and carry UL or Canadian Standards Association listing in every dwelling unit, defined to include single-family homes and each unit of a multi-family or mixed-use building.
Skokie Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standard
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 22-63(28) (IRC § R315.1)
(28)R315 Carbon Monoxide Alarms. Delete text in its entirety. Replace with R315.1 Carbon Monoxide Detection, Group R. "Approved carbon monoxide alarm" or "alarm" means a carbon monoxide alarm that complies with all the requirements of the rules and regulations of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, bears the label of a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and complies with the most recent sta...
Building Permits
The Village of Skokie adopts the 2021 International Building Code by reference under Skokie Village Code Section 22-31, making a permit mandatory for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs and demolition anywhere in the village, Cook County, Illinois. A building permit issued under the adopted code is valid for 18 months, with one 6-month extension available on application to the Village Manager or designee, and construction work is confined to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on non-Sundays and non-holidays.
Skokie Building Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code §§ 22-31, 22-33
Pursuant to authority granted by 65 ILCS 5/1-3-2, the Village hereby adopts by reference the International Building Code, 2021 edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., as the building code, excepting those provisions that are modified or deleted as provided in this article. ... The issued permit shall be granted for 18 months, and pursuant to submission of an application f...
Electrical Permits
Skokie adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, by reference under Village Code Section 22-91, governing every electrical installation in the village, Cook County, Illinois. Section 22-93 layers on local amendments before an electrical permit is issued: underground service is required for new construction unless the Village Manager or designee finds it impractical, non-metallic raceway is generally banned, and sub-panels cannot be added to a single-phase 100-amp service.
Skokie Electrical Code Requirements
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code §§ 22-91, 22-93
Pursuant to authority granted by 65 ILCS 5/1-3-2, the Village hereby adopts by reference the National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition, and all regulations thereto, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, as the electrical code, excepting those provisions which are modified or deleted as provided in this article. ... Sub-panels will not be allowed to be added to single phase 100 ...
Plumbing Permits
Skokie adopts the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Admin. Code Part 890, and the Lawn Irrigation Contractor and Lawn Sprinkler System Registration Code, 77 Ill. Admin. Code Part 892, by reference under Village Code Section 22-151, rather than writing its own separate plumbing code for the village, Cook County, Illinois. A plumbing permit application under that adopted code must also meet Section 22-152's WaterSense requirement for new fixtures and irrigation controllers.
Skokie Plumbing Code Requirements
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code §§ 22-151, 22-152
Pursuant to authority granted by The Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/1-3-2, et seq., and the Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320/36, the Village hereby adopts by reference the 2014 Illinois Administrative Code Title 77, Public Health, Chapter 1, Department of Public Health, Subchapter, Water and Sewage, Part 890, Illinois Plumbing Code (referred to in this article as the "Illinois Pl...
Building Inspections
Before Skokie will issue a certificate of compliance, the Building, Fire, Engineering, Plumbing, Electrical and Health Inspectors must each sign off that the completed work matches the permit, plans and every applicable code under amended IBC Section 111.3.
Skokie Building Inspection & Compliance
Some RestrictionsSkokie Village Code § 22-33(15) (IBC § 111.2-111.3)
111.2 Compliance with codes. No certificate of compliance shall be issued unless a building or structure has been completed in accordance with the building permit and all applicable codes, ordinances and rules and regulations of the Village. ... 111.3 Inspections. Upon written application and payment of the fees required in Chapter 46, Article IV, of the Village Code by the owner, building perm...
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