Aurora, IL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City engineer, per council authorization
- Bond required
- $10,000 continuous bond
- Revocation notice
- 30 days to owner/occupant
- Applies
- Citywide, all 4 counties
Summary
Aurora, Illinois bars any private space or areaway under a public sidewalk unless the city council authorizes the city engineer to issue a permit for it.
No person shall build, occupy or use, or suffer or permit to be built, occupied or used in whole or in part any space in any street under any sidewalk in the city unless permitted to do so by the city council authorizing the city engineer to issue a permit therefor. Such permit shall specify the purpose for which the space is to be used, the extent thereof, and the materials and manner of construction, and shall be issued only on condition that the party receiving the same and his assignee shall, as compensation for the privilege granted, build, maintain and keep in repair the walls of such space and the sidewalk extending over the same in such manner so as at all times to conform with the ordinances of the city and the requirements of the division of streets and electricity.
(Code 1969, § 42-56)
Full Breakdown
In Aurora, Illinois (Kane County), no one may build, occupy, or use any space in a street under a public sidewalk, an areaway, vault, or coal-hole, without a permit issued by the city engineer under city council authorization. The permit must specify the purpose, extent, and construction materials, and the permittee must build, maintain, and keep the space and the sidewalk above it in repair as compensation for the privilege. Aurora's city code applies citywide, regardless of which of the city's four counties (Kane, DuPage, Will, or Kendall) the property sits in.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted areaway construction or use can trigger permit revocation on 30 days' notice; permittees must also carry a continuous $10,000 indemnity bond per § 42-46.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put storage space under my sidewalk in Aurora, IL without a permit?
What does an areaway permit require in Aurora?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Illinois sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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Encroachment Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle encroachment permits.