Before You Build in Orland Park, IL: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Orland Park requires fences to be installed inside the property line with the finished (good) side facing neighbors. Shared boundary fences require mutual agreement; village does not mediate civil disputes.

Orland Park requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from base footing). Walls over 4 feet require engineered drawings stamped by a licensed Illinois structural engineer.

Orland Park requires a fence permit from the Building Division for all new fences and replacements. Permit applications include a plat of survey showing fence location, height, materials, and property lines.

Orland Park limits residential fences to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards. Corner lots have additional sight-triangle restrictions. Fences over allowed heights require a variance from the Zoning Board.

Orland Park requires a 4-foot minimum barrier around all swimming pools 24 inches or deeper, with self-closing, self-latching gates. Above-ground pools may use the pool wall as a barrier if access ladder is removable or lockable.

Orland Park requires a building permit for any swimming pool capable of holding 24 inches or more of water, including in-ground, above-ground, and semi-inground pools. Permits are issued by the Building Division of Development Services. Plumbing and electrical work require separate permits and licensed contractors.

Orland Park pool safety rules combine the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, the Illinois Swimming Facility Act for public pools, and general property maintenance provisions. Private residential pools must maintain required barriers, anti-entrapment drain covers compliant with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act, and proper water quality.

Orland Park requires all swimming pools capable of containing 24 inches or more of water to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high. Barrier standards align with the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and include gate self-closing and self-latching requirements. Above-ground pools with 48-inch walls may use the pool wall as part of the barrier with a removable ladder.

Above-ground pools in Orland Park with a depth of 24 inches or more require a building permit. They must comply with setback requirements and barrier rules. Pools with walls at least 48 inches high may use the pool wall as part of the barrier if the ladder is removable, lockable, or otherwise secured.

Hot tubs and spas in Orland Park require a building permit when installed as a permanent fixture. Electrical work must meet NEC requirements with GFCI protection and a disconnect. A safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 exempts the hot tub from the pool barrier requirement. Setback rules apply.

Orland Park's Land Development Code does not broadly permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family residential districts. Multi-family and townhome zones permit multiple dwellings as the principal use. New ADUs in single-family neighborhoods are generally not permitted without a zoning variance. Unlike the City of Chicago, Orland Park has not adopted a broad ADU authorization ordinance.

Converting a garage into living space in Orland Park requires a building permit and must comply with zoning rules including minimum off-street parking requirements. Because single-family zoning requires a minimum number of off-street parking spaces and generally does not permit a second dwelling unit, full garage conversions are difficult to permit without providing replacement parking.

Orland Park does not have a specific tiny home ordinance. Tiny homes must comply with the same zoning and building code requirements as any single-family dwelling, including minimum floor area requirements in the zoning code, full building code compliance, and connections to Village water and sewer. Tiny homes on wheels (park model RVs) are not permitted as permanent dwellings in residential zones.

Orland Park's Land Development Code treats carports as accessory structures subject to setback, height, and lot coverage rules. A building permit is required for construction. Attached carports must meet principal structure setbacks; detached carports follow accessory structure setbacks. Temporary fabric carports are generally not compliant and may be subject to property maintenance rules.

Orland Park requires a building permit for sheds larger than 100 square feet. Sheds up to 100 square feet generally do not require a permit but must still meet zoning setback and location rules. Sheds must be located in the rear yard, meet typical 3 to 5 foot side and rear setbacks, and may not exceed maximum accessory structure height under the Land Development Code.

Orland Park permits non-permanent fire pits in rear setbacks at least 5 feet from the property line under LDC Section 6-302-C.22. Containers cannot exceed 30 inches in diameter. No permit required.

Orland Park regulates outdoor burning under the adopted IFC 2018. Recreational fires in approved containers up to 30 inches are permitted. Open burning of landscape waste requires county and state permits.

Orland Park requires property owners to maintain trees on their property and overhanging public rights-of-way. Parkway trees (between sidewalk and curb) are village-owned and may not be trimmed without permission.

Orland Park requires permits for removal of significant trees on private residential property and prohibits unauthorized removal of parkway trees. Replacement may be required for healthy trees removed.

Orland Park enforces an odd/even lawn watering schedule from May 15 to September 15 per its Lake Michigan water supply allocation. Watering is restricted to early morning and evening hours.