Cook County Building Code Ch. 32 adopts the International Energy Conservation Code without a separate cool-roof reach code. Reflective roofing is incentivized but not mandated outside Chicago, which has its own cool-roof requirement under the Chicago Energy Code.
Cook County Code Ch. 32 (Building) adopts the 2018 IECC for unincorporated Cook and provides a model code that suburbs may adopt. The IECC includes minimum solar reflectance index (SRI) requirements only for low-slope roofs in commercial buildings in climate zone 1-3, which excludes Cook County (zone 5A). The county does not impose stricter cool-roof rules. Chicago, as a separate jurisdiction, requires SRI 78 minimum for low-slope roofs under the Chicago Energy Conservation Code. Suburban municipalities follow their own building codes; most adopt the IECC unchanged.
No county penalties for non-reflective roofs. Permit applicants in unincorporated Cook need only meet IECC insulation minimums. Chicago violations carry separate building-code fines under MCC 14B.
See how Evanston's cool roof requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.