DuPage County, IL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- any excavation or fill of land
- Grading plan
- sealed by IL Professional Engineer
- Swale slope minimum
- 1% along property lines
- Discharge setback
- 10 ft from property line
- Max driveway slope
- 8%
Summary
Excavating or filling any tract of unincorporated land in DuPage County requires a Building Official permit and an engineer-stamped grading plan before work starts.
It shall be unlawful to change the occupancy of, construct, add to, alter, relocate, remove or demolish a building or structure, or excavate and or fill any tract of land ... without first filing with the Building Official an application in writing and obtaining a formal permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 8-112.1 it is unlawful to excavate or fill any tract of land, or grade a lot, without first filing a written application with the Building Official and obtaining a formal permit. Sec. 8-128.2 then requires a grading plan sealed by an Illinois Registered Professional Engineer showing one-foot contours, drainage swales at a minimum 1% slope, sump pump/downspout lines routed at least 10 feet from any property line, driveway slopes capped at 8%, and erosion controls meeting the Illinois Urban Manual as amended by the Countywide Stormwater and Flood Plain Ordinance. Grading affecting a neighboring parcel needs that owner's notarized consent and may itself trigger a separate grading permit.
Violations & Fines
Working without the required permit is a Building Code violation subject to stop-work orders and fines; unresolved cases proceed through County administrative adjudication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit just to regrade my yard?
Does a grading plan need an engineer's seal?
Can I direct my sump pump discharge onto a neighbor's yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DuPage County
Compare DuPage County to another location·View the Illinois environmental rules overview
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