Bolthole Index

Cook County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Park Forest, Illinois

The Village of Park Forest, Illinois requires building permits for listed construction and improvements, including homeowner work, and administers its own zoning.12 Cook County Department of Public Health reviews private sewage systems in the Cook County portion; Will County Health Department handles private sewage services in the Will County portion.34

At a glance

Building permits
Village building permits required for listed work, including homeowner work1
Zoning
Village zoning; district-specific lot and setback standards2
Septic
Cook County public health or Will County health department, depending on the parcel34
Owner-builder
Homeowner waiver available; building permit still required5
Driveway work
Listed concrete or asphalt driveway work needs a Village home-improvement permit6
Private wells
State law requires a permit before construction, deepening, modification or sealing7

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Park Forest Community Development Department

Village building permits, code enforcement, planning and zoning; ask here about floodplain review.

708-503-7703

350 Victory Drive Park Forest , IL 60466

Septic permits

Cook County Department of Public Health — Environmental Health

Private sewage disposal system review in the Cook County portion of Park Forest.

708-836-8600

7556 Jackson Boulevard Forest Park, IL 60130

Septic permits

Will County Health Department — Environmental Health, Eastern Branch

Septic and well services for the Will County portion of Park Forest.

708-534-5721

5601 W. Monee-Manhattan Rd. Ste. 110 Monee, IL 60449

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Park Forest means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Park Forest, IL?

The Village of Park Forest requires building permits for the work listed on its permit page, whether a homeowner or contractor performs the work; separate improvements may need separate building permits.1 Park Forest home-improvement permits cover roofing, siding, soffit, gutters, concrete driveway work and asphalt driveway or parking-lot paving.1 Work valued at $250 or less still needs a building permit but carries no traditional permit fee; listed home-improvement permits cost $60, and electrical or plumbing inspection fees may also apply.8 Park Forest has adopted building codes with Village amendments, so ask the Building Department which code requirements apply to your project before preparing drawings.9

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Village of Park Forest?

Park Forest’s Community Development Department oversees building and zoning services and planning; its Building and Code Enforcement divisions handle new construction and building-permit activity within the Village.10 Submit construction drawings, the scope of work and contracts with the building-permit application.10 Park Forest accepts building-permit documents at the Building Department counter, through the Village Hall drop box, or by FedEx, UPS or US Mail.10 Septic review is a separate health-department responsibility: Cook County Department of Public Health reviews private sewage systems in the Cook County portion, while Will County Health Department handles private sewage services in the Will County portion.34

Does the Village of Park Forest have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

The Village of Park Forest administers its own zoning and Unified Development Ordinance, with requirements that depend on the parcel’s district.2 In Park Forest’s R-1 Single-Family Residence District, the minimum lot area is 7,200 square feet and minimum width is 60 feet; maximum impervious coverage is 40%.1112 In the R-2 Single-Family Estate Residence District, the minimum lot area is 10,000 square feet and minimum width is 100 feet, with maximum impervious coverage of 35%.1314 Park Forest’s R-4 Urban Residential District instead requires front and corner-side setbacks between 5 and 20 feet, an interior-side setback of at least 5 feet and rear setback of at least 10 feet.15 Ask Community Development to confirm the district and applicable standards for your parcel before designing a house or driveway.10

How do septic permits and private wells work inside Park Forest?

For the Cook County portion of Park Forest, Cook County Department of Public Health reviews and approves private sewage disposal systems; a well or septic evaluation is typically needed when buying or selling a home with those systems.3 For the Will County portion of Park Forest, contact Will County Health Department’s Private Sewage Program about septic installation and issued septic permits.4 Illinois requires private sewage plan approval from the applicable authority before construction, and notification at least 48 hours before system construction, installation, repair or modification begins.16 Illinois also requires a permit from IDPH or an approved local health department before constructing, deepening, modifying or sealing a private well; ask the relevant county health department which office will accept the application.7

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Park Forest?

We could not confirm a general rule allowing residential RV occupancy in Park Forest; ask Community Development about the proposed parcel and duration before relying on an RV as housing.10 Park Forest’s floodplain rules apply to RV or travel-trailer placement exceeding 180 consecutive days or 180 days in a calendar year, but that flood-protection threshold does not establish permission to live in an RV elsewhere in the Village.17 We could not confirm Park Forest’s specific tiny-home occupancy, accessory-dwelling or minimum dwelling-floor-area rules; ask Community Development to review the proposed use alongside the parcel’s zoning district.10 Park Forest zoning requirements apply by district, so a small dwelling still needs a parcel-specific zoning answer.2

Building a home in the Village of Park Forest: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Park Forest Community Development to confirm the parcel’s zoning district and proposed residential use before drawing the site plan.210
  2. Confirm water and sewer service with the Village; we could not confirm a general mandatory utility-connection rule, and a proposed septic system needs the appropriate county health department’s review.1034
  3. Submit the Village building-permit application with construction drawings, scope of work and contracts.10
  4. If performing the work yourself, use Park Forest’s homeowner-waiver process: a building permit is still required, unpaid family or friends may help, and compensated workers must be Village-licensed contractors.5
  5. Ask the Building Department about floodplain protection before placing the home; residential lowest floors, including basements, must be elevated to the flood-protection elevation in regulated floodplains.17

For land outside village limits, consult the Cook County guide; Cook County’s building-permit requirement applies to unincorporated land.18

Watch-outs

  • A Park Forest homeowner waiver does not waive the building permit, and paid helpers must be Village-licensed contractors.5
  • Park Forest rental homes need a change-of-occupancy inspection whenever rental occupants change.19
  • We could not confirm tiny-home occupancy, accessory-dwelling or mandatory utility-connection rules; ask Park Forest Community Development before purchasing for those plans.10

Sources

  1. Permits | Park Forest, IL - Official Website (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  2. Zoning | Park Forest, IL - Official Website (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  3. Cook County Department of Public Health — Environmental Health (cookcountypublichealth.org)
  4. Wells and Septic Systems | Will County Health Department (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Department Homeowner Waiver (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  6. Permits | Park Forest, IL - Official Website (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  7. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Permits | Park Forest, IL - Official Website (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  9. Permits | Park Forest, IL - Official Website (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Park Forest Community Development Department (villageofparkforest.com)
  11. Unified Development Ordinance § IV-3 R-1 District Requirements (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  12. Unified Development Ordinance § IV-3 R-1 District Requirements (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  13. Unified Development Ordinance § IV-4 R-2 District Requirements (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  14. Unified Development Ordinance § IV-4 R-2 District Requirements (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  15. Unified Development Ordinance § IV-6 R-4 District Requirements (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  16. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Unified Development Ordinance § XI-51 Protecting Buildings and Vehicles in All Floodplain Areas (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked
  18. Building and Zoning Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  19. Inspections | Park Forest, IL - Official Website (Village of Park Forest), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Park Forest

Village of Park Forest’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work described on the Village permits page, including work performed by an owner or contractor.

    • Separate permits may be required for separate improvements.
    • Home-improvement permits include roofing, siding, soffit, gutters, concrete driveway work, and asphalt driveway or parking-lot paving.
    • Traditional permit fees are based on job cost; work valued at $250 or less still requires a permit although no fee is charged.
    “A permit is needed for the work described below, whether you do the work yourself or employ a contractor. Fees for traditional permits are based on the job cost.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    A homeowner performing work on the homeowner's own house or garage inside Park Forest village.

    • A building permit is still required before work begins.
    • The homeowner may work personally or with unpaid family or friends.
    • Anyone receiving compensation is treated as a contractor and must be licensed by the Village.
    • The homeowner must be present and accepts responsibility for the work.
    “allows for the homeowner to work on his/her own home”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction inside Park Forest village limits.

    • The Village page lists the 2018 ICC International Building Code, 2018 International Existing Building Code, 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, 2015 International Green Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Property Maintenance Code, 2014 National Electric Code, 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code, and 1997 Illinois Accessibility Code.
    • Village amendments apply.
    • For work covered by the International Residential Code or International Building Code, ice-barrier underlayment is required under the stated Village-selected ice-damming provision.
    “The Village of Park Forest has adopted the following codes:”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Rental change-of-occupancy inspections and commercial business occupancy inside Park Forest village.

    • A rental change-of-occupancy inspection is required whenever occupants change.
    • Commercial businesses require inspection, and the Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, and Health Department Inspector may all be involved depending on the business type.
    • Technical inspections or certifications may be required depending on the work.
    “Any time the occupants of a home change for rental, an inspection is required.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A property rented or leased to a tenant inside Park Forest village.

    • The required change-of-occupancy inspection must be completed before the tenant occupies the property.
    • The Village states that a change-of-occupancy inspection and certificate are not required solely because of a sale or ownership transfer.
    “Occupancy can only occur after a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Park Forest village limits.

    • The Village administers zoning through its Zoning Ordinance and Unified Development Ordinance; zoning maps and district-specific requirements apply by parcel.
    • Conditional uses require Planning and Zoning Commission consideration and Board of Trustees approval.
    “Zoning Ordinance (Section 118 of the Municipal Code)”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Park Forest village.

    • The Unified Development Ordinance summary identifies R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, and M districts.
    • District-specific bulk and setback standards are established in the cited sections.
    “Table IV-2-A. Summary Table of Zoning District Requirements R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 C-1 C-2 C-3 M Bulk Requirements Minimum Lot Area”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residence District inside Park Forest village.

    minimum lot area: >= 7200 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 60 feet

    “Minimum Lot Area 7,200 sf A Minimum Lot Width 60 ft”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-4 Urban Residential District inside Park Forest village.

    • Maximum front setback is 20 feet.
    • Maximum corner-side setback is 20 feet.

    minimum front setback: >= 5 feet · maximum front setback: <= 20 feet · minimum corner-side setback: >= 5 feet · maximum corner-side setback: <= 20 feet · minimum interior-side setback: >= 5 feet · minimum rear setback: >= 10 feet

    “Minimum Front Setback 5 ft E Maximum Front Setback 20 ft”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residence District inside Park Forest village.

    maximum impervious coverage: <= 40 percent

    “Maximum Principal Building Height 2 stories and 30 ft Maximum Impervious Coverage 40% Setback Requirements”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residence District inside Park Forest village.

    maximum principal building height: 2 stories and 30 feet

    “Maximum Principal Building Height 2 stories and 30 ft”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Concrete driveway work and asphalt driveway or parking-lot paving inside Park Forest village.

    • A home-improvement permit is required for the listed driveway work.
    • The Village page separately links Driveway Permit Information; no general curb-cut threshold was established in the reviewed material.

    home-improvement driveway permit fee: 60 USD (concrete driveway work or asphalt driveway/parking-lot paving)

    “Home Improvement Permits are provided for a fee of $60 for the following work: Roofing installation or replacement Siding, soffit, and gutter installation or replacement Concrete driveway work Asphalt driveway/parking lot paving”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development inside Park Forest village regulatory floodplains and floodways.

    • All buildings in a floodplain must be protected below the flood-protection elevation.
    • The rule applies to new construction, additions over 70 square feet, substantial improvements, substantially damaged buildings, repetitive loss, manufactured-home placement, and RV or travel-trailer placement exceeding 180 consecutive days or 180 days in a calendar year.
    • Residential lowest floors, including basements, must be elevated to the flood-protection elevation.
    • New onsite waste-disposal systems in regulatory floodplains must satisfy the source's listed elevation, setback, soil, and tank-placement criteria.

    addition threshold: > 70 square feet · substantial-improvement threshold: >= 50 percent of market value (or floor-area increase over 20 percent) · RV or travel-trailer placement threshold: > 180 days (consecutive days or days in any calendar year)

    “All buildings located within a floodplain shall be protected from flood damage below the FPE”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building and home-improvement permits inside Park Forest village.

    • Traditional permit valuation of $250 or less has no fee but still requires a permit.
    • $250 to $1,500 has a $60 fee.
    • $1,501 to $2,000 has a $100 fee.
    • $2,001 and over has a $100 fee plus $10 per $1,000 on valuations over $2,001.
    • Home-improvement permits are $60 for listed work; improvement permits are $40 for listed work.
    • Electrical and plumbing inspection fees may apply.

    traditional permit fee for work valued $250 or less: 0 USD (permit still required) · traditional permit fee for work valued $250 to $1500: 60 USD · traditional permit fee for work valued $1501 to $2000: 100 USD · home-improvement permit fee: 60 USD (listed home-improvement work)

    “$250 worth or less of work | No fee but permit required $251 to $1,500 worth of work | $60 fee $1,501 to $2,000 worth of work | $100 fee $2,001 worth of work and over | $100 fee plus $10 per thousand on valuations over $2,001”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Park Forest

Village of Park Forest does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Will County portion of Park Forest village for private sewage systems.

    • The Will County Health Department Private Sewage Program assures proper installation consistent with codes and issued permits.
    • Services include septic permits, sewage-system oversight, and well-related services.
    “The Private Sewage Program assures proper installation of wastewater treatment systems”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County (with conditions) — Cook County portion of Park Forest village for construction served by a septic field.
      “Cook County Department of Public Health approval of the septic system”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Park Forest village limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Park Forest village limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Park Forest village limits.
  • Well permit — Private wells in the Will County portion of Park Forest village.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — New homes and development inside Park Forest village limits.
2 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Park Forest publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cook County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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