Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Oak Park, Illinois

Village of Oak Park’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration and repair work inside Oak Park village

  • Plumbing and electrical work: nearly any type of plumbing or electrical work requires a village permit.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.

  “any work governed by building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing codes, or the zoning ordinance requires a permit so that inspections can be made for compliance with the relevant regulations.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Owners of single-family homes doing their own plumbing work in Oak Park village

  • Available only for plumbing permits, by affidavit of intent to do the work personally.
  • No general owner-builder exemption for building, electrical or other work was found on the village permits page.

  “owners of single-family homes may obtain a plumbing permit by signing an affidavit attesting to their intent to do the work themselves.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction and alterations inside Oak Park village

  • Village adopts the 2024 IBC with village amendments; the village permits page lists 2024 IRC, 2024 IEBC, 2023 NEC, 2024 IFGC, 2024 IMC, 2024 IFC (effective Sept. 1, 2026) and 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code, with local amendments.
  • Village code adoption section states the code applies with village code governing over conflicts; effective date stated as 1-1-2026 for the 2025 amendment ordinance (ord. 25-166).

  “the 2024 international building code ("ibc"), as published by the international code council, is hereby adopted by the village by reference and is made a part hereof as if fully set forth in this section”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction, renovation and repair work inside Oak Park village

  • Inspections are tied to permitted work; the village also performs emergency inspections after fire or wind damage and handles elevator inspections through third parties.

  “the permit & development division regulates new construction, renovations and repairs to buildings and structures to ensure compliance with the village's building codes and other pertinent laws and acts through the performance of on-site construction inspections”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New construction, additions, change of occupancy and change of use inside Oak Park village

  • Required for new construction, building additions, commercial build-outs, interior alterations over 50% of commercial lease space, life-safety alterations (other than R-3), change of occupancy, change of use, moved structures, and other projects the building official designates.
  • Moved structures must be inspected and receive a certificate of occupancy for the new location before reoccupancy.

  “111.1.1 certificates of occupancy required. the following work requires a certificate of occupancy to be issued prior to the occupancy of any area: 1. new construction; 2. building additions; 3. commercial build-outs for new tenancy;”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Oak Park village limits: the village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance

  • The village zoning ordinance governs use, height, bulk and open space of land and buildings inside village limits; county zoning does not apply inside village limits.
  • Village zoning PDF titled 'zoning ordinance (pdf, 7mb)' is linked on the village zoning page; its full text was not opened in this research pass.

  “the zoning ordinance divides the village into districts of different classes according to the use of land and buildings, the height and bulk of buildings, the intensity of uses and the area of open space.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Oak Park village limits

  • Zoning map is published as a PDF; district-by-district list not extracted in this pass.

  “a link to a pdf file of the current zoning map is posted under useful links on this webpage”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on single-family residential properties inside Oak Park village

  • An ADU is offered on single-family residential properties; it shares the same zoning lot as the single-family dwelling.
  • Specific ADU/coach-house standards are in the village ADU guideline PDF and the zoning ordinance, which were not opened in this pass.

  “to keep up with the changing needs of the community, the village of oak park offers the option of adding an accessory dwelling unit, or adu, to single-family residential properties.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals (under 182 days) of dwelling units inside Oak Park village

  • A village business license is required for each short-term rental; licenses are renewed annually and require inspection and approval before issue or renewal.
  • No owner may rent for fewer than 24 consecutive hours or more than 182 days.
  • Owners must use a hosting platform, carry at least $500,000 host or homeowner insurance, keep a guest register, and post the license in the unit.
  • Maximum occupancy: 1 bedroom = 3 persons; 2 = 5; 3 = 7; 4 = 9; 5 = 11; 6 = 13.
  • License fee: non-owner-occupied village resident $250; owner-occupied $100; non-resident non-owner-occupied same as bed and breakfast fee under section 8-2-1.
  • Adopted by ord. 21-54, 11-1-2021 and amended by ord. 2022-55 and ord. 2022-76.

  owner-occupied annual license fee: 100 USD · resident non-owner-occupied annual license fee: 250 USD · minimum rental period: >= 24 hours · maximum rental period: <= 182 days

  “no person shall conduct, keep, manage or operate or cause to be conducted, kept, managed or operated a short-term rental without a license therefor as provided in article 1 of this chapter.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Construction permits inside Oak Park village

  • Fee amounts are in the linked 'construction permit fee schedule (pdf, 373kb)'; the PDF was not opened, so no amounts are recorded.
  • Sustainability construction fee credits are listed on the permits page (for example $150 for an air or ground source heat pump).

  “click the link below for the construction permit fee schedule: construction permit fee schedule (pdf, 373kb)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications inside Oak Park village

  • Contractors must have a valid certificate of insurance and register online.
  • Permit & development division staff review plans for compliance and coordinate reviews across village departments.
  • Not every permit can be filed online; the permit submittal guide PDF was not opened.

  “many permits can be processed and paid using the village view permit portal.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Oak Park or Cook County directly.

• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Oak Park village
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district inside Oak Park village (district not yet identified from the zoning text)
• Setbacks — Main single-family residential district inside Oak Park village (district not yet identified from the zoning text)
• Lot coverage — Main single-family residential district inside Oak Park village
• Building height — Main single-family residential district inside Oak Park village

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.