Retaining walls in unincorporated Cook County over 4 feet in height require a building permit from the Department of Building and Zoning. Walls 4 feet or under that do not support a surcharge or impound liquids are exempt. The Cook County Site Engineering Guidance governs grading and drainage requirements.
Cook County follows the International Building Code (2009 IBC as amended under Chapter 102) for retaining wall requirements. A building permit is not required for retaining walls that are not more than 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), not supporting a surcharge, and not impounding liquids. Retaining walls exceeding 4 feet require a permit, engineered drawings sealed by an Illinois-licensed structural engineer, and a Plat of Survey. The Cook County Site Engineering Guidance document (updated March 2022) establishes additional requirements for grading and drainage associated with retaining walls. Retaining walls must not redirect stormwater onto neighboring properties. Permit applications are submitted digitally to intake.bnz@cookcountyil.gov with a $100 residential deposit. Wall construction must comply with applicable setback requirements under the Zoning Ordinance.
Unpermitted retaining wall over 4 feet: fine of $500-$2,000. Failure to comply with site engineering requirements may require corrective action within 30 days.
Cook County, IL
Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance covers fast food and other large employers within Chicago city limits only. Cook County has not extended predictable scheduli...
Cook County, IL
Illinois has not enacted a healthcare worker minimum wage equivalent to California SB 525. Cook County has no industry-specific healthcare wage ordinance. He...
Cook County, IL
Cook County has not adopted a grocery worker premium wage ordinance like Los Angeles GWRO. Illinois state law sets a $15 statewide minimum wage as of January...
Cook County, IL
Illinois has no statewide utensils-on-request statute. Cook County has not adopted countywide rules. Some Cook suburbs including Evanston restrict automatic ...
Cook County, IL
Illinois Eavesdropping Act 720 ILCS 5/14 makes it a felony to record private conversations without consent of all parties. Doorbell cameras with audio captur...
Cook County, IL
Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act 410 ILCS 45 and Cook County Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Program require lead inspections in pre-1978 re...
See how Cook County's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.