Zoning, building permits and septic rules in DeKalb, Illinois

DeKalb’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois that goes through the city's building permit process

  • The page says some work requires plan submittal and plan review before a permit is issued (new construction, additions, major alterations, and alterations altering egress, structure, or major building systems).
  • The city's permit list includes deck, fence, driveway, electrical, HVAC, roofing, sign, swimming pool and other permit application forms; the page does not state which minor work is exempt.
  • Work may commence after the permit is issued.

  “some work requires plan submittal and plan review prior to a permit being issued.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction and alterations inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois

  • Adopted by City Council under Municipal Code Chapter 24 'Building Code'; the page says the revised chapter was approved on Dec. 9. Ordinance 2024-063 is dated December 9, 2024.
  • The city's Chapter 24 lists the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings in Article 2 with local amendments; the amendments were not read in full.
  • The city's page also lists 2021 editions of the International Building Code, Fire, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pool and Spa, Existing Building, Property Maintenance codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code, plus state-mandated codes (Illinois Plumbing Code, Energy Conservation, Accessibility).

  International Residential Code edition: 2021 edition

  “international residential code for one-and two-family dwellings - 2021 edition”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois limits: zoning is administered under the city's Unified Development Ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter 23

  • The city's web page states that online UDO text may lag amendments and that the official copy is at City Hall, 164 E. Lincoln Highway; do not rely on the online copy in legal proceedings.
  • The page links an official zoning map and a Chapter 23 full text; the district-level dimensional text was not opened (see unknown dimensional claims).

  “the city of dekalb municipal code chapter 23: unified development ordinance (udo) was originally adopted by the city council in 1993.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois

  • The city states the UDO regulates subdivisions; the subdivision standards in Chapter 23 were not opened.

  “the udo’s purpose is to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the city of dekalb through the regulation of zoning, subdivisions, and land use.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for work inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois

  • The page labels the schedules 'fees (subject to change)'. Schedules A-D (new construction, minor/miscellaneous, for one- and two-family and for multi-family/commercial) are linked as PDFs that were not opened.
  • Plan review fee is charged with the permit application for plan-reviewed work.

  “fees (subject to change) schedule a - new construction, 1, and 2 family residential (pdf) schedule b - minor/miscellaneous, 1, and 2 family residential (pdf) schedule c - new construction, multi-family, and commercial (pdf) schedule d - minor/miscellaneous, multi-family, and commercial (pdf)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit process for work inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois

  • Plans are logged, routed for review, comments sent back for correction, then the fee is calculated and the permit issued. Online applications require a BS&A account.
  • Review timing is a goal of two weeks for initial comments, not a guarantee.

  “the general process is plans are submitted for review along with a permit application and plan review fee.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask DeKalb or DeKalb County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permits inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois
• Inspections — Building inspections for work inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts of the City of DeKalb, Illinois
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size, main single-family residential district, inside the City of DeKalb, Illinois

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.