Bolthole Index

DuPage County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Willowbrook, Illinois

The Village of Willowbrook, Illinois requires a Village building permit before you build, alter, repair, demolish or move a building or structure1. Willowbrook adopts and administers its own zoning, with districts from R-1 to R-5 plus business, office, manufacturing and institutional zones2. Septic systems answer to the DuPage County Health Department, not the Village alone3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the Village for building, alteration, repair, demolition or moving of a structure1
Zoning
Village-administered, with residential districts R-1 through R-5 and commercial, office, manufacturing and institutional districts2
Septic
DuPage County Health Department ordinance, adopted by the Village; county and state permits come first34
Wells
State and DuPage County Health Department permits required before the Village permit5
Driveway
Village permit for a driveway across a public walk, parkway or curb6
Single-family plan review fee
$450 initial examination and review, plus a $1,000 deposit credited to the permit fee7

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Willowbrook Community Development Department, Building & Zoning Division

Building permits, inspections and zoning enforcement inside Willowbrook village limits

630-323-8215

835 Midway Drive, Willowbrook, IL 60527

Septic permits

DuPage County Health Department, Environmental Health Division

Septic and private well permits, including inside Willowbrook

630-682-7400

111 N County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Willowbrook, Illinois?

Yes. Inside the Village of Willowbrook, no one may begin to erect, construct, alter, repair, demolish or move a building or structure without a written Village permit1. The Village's Community Development Department issues building permits, runs inspections and enforces zoning codes8. Willowbrook has adopted the 2024 International Mechanical Code, the Illinois State Plumbing Code, the 2024 International Fire Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code, each with Village amendments9.

Before a building permit for new residential construction, a demolition or an addition, the Village requires a sanitary sewer permit from Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District or the DuPage County Department of Environmental Concerns, plus proof that impact fees are paid1. We could not confirm which small projects, if any, are exempt from a building permit or whether a certificate of occupancy is needed; ask the Village Building & Zoning Division.

Who issues building permits in Willowbrook, and how do you reach them?

The Village of Willowbrook issues its own building permits through the Building Official or designee, after you submit an application, plans and fees10. New applications go through the Village's online permitting portal8. Call the Village at 630-323-8215 or visit Village Hall at 835 Midway Drive8.

For a single-family home, the initial plan examination and review fee is $450, and the Village asks for a $1,000 cash deposit that is credited to the permit fee7. Third-party plan review is allowed for single-family projects at the applicant's cost10. A permit becomes void if work does not start within six months10.

The DuPage County Building & Zoning Department serves unincorporated land only; inside Willowbrook, the Village is the office to call. For land outside village limits, see the DuPage County page.

Does Willowbrook have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and outbuildings?

Yes. The Village of Willowbrook administers its own zoning, with residential districts R-1 through R-5 plus business, limited office and research, light manufacturing and institutional districts2. R-1, R-2 and R-3 are single-family detached districts, R-4 is single-family attached and R-5 is multi-family2. Land annexed into the Village is placed in R-1 until it is reclassified2.

For accessory buildings such as sheds and garages, the general rule is a setback of at least 5 feet from interior side lot lines and 10 feet from rear lot lines, with 10 feet between the accessory building and the house11. Accessory buildings are capped at 20 feet or the height of the principal building, whichever is less12.

We could not confirm minimum lot sizes, minimum home size, lot coverage or the main-house setbacks for any district. Ask the Village Building & Zoning Division for the dimensional table for your parcel's district, and check the zoning map before you make an offer.

How do septic permits work inside Willowbrook?

Willowbrook has adopted the DuPage County Health Department's private sewage disposal ordinance, so septic work inside the Village follows the county health department's rules3. Anyone applying for a Village permit for a septic tank or private sewage disposal system must first show evidence of the permits required by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the DuPage County Health Department4.

The county health department lists a new private sewage disposal system permit and plan review at $684 and a septic repair or renovation permit at $34413. For questions, call the county health department's Plan Review desk at 630-221-704514. Illinois requires state plan approval for any new private sewage disposal system15.

Where public sewer is available, the Village's sewer permit comes from Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District or DuPage County3. We could not confirm whether a new home must connect to public sewer or water; ask the Village.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Willowbrook?

We could not confirm whether the Village of Willowbrook allows living in an RV, camping on private land or occupying a tiny home. The Village's residential use and temporary use rules were not located, so do not assume any of these is allowed. Ask the Village Building & Zoning Division at 630-323-8215 before buying a lot with a camper or small dwelling in mind8.

Statewide rules about licensed campgrounds do not answer whether you can live in an RV on your own lot16.

Building a home in Willowbrook: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and its lot, setback and use rules with the Village Building & Zoning Division2.
  2. If the lot is not on sewer, get septic permits from the DuPage County Health Department; if it is, get the sanitary sewer permit from Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District or DuPage County3.
  3. For a well, obtain state and county health department permits first5.
  4. Prove that impact fees are paid1.
  5. Apply for the building permit in the Village's online portal with plans and the review fee8.
  6. Book inspections through the portal and finish within the permit's deadlines: work must start within six months of issuance10.
  7. A driveway across a public walk, parkway or curb needs its own Village permit6.

What stays with DuPage County, and what to check before you buy in Willowbrook

Septic and well permits stay with the DuPage County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health even inside Willowbrook45. A driveway onto a state or county road may also need an access permit from the road's owner; the Village does not confirm that on its own code pages6. Illinois requires a state permit for work in the right-of-way of a state-maintained road17.

DuPage County's effective property tax rate is 2.1%, and the median property tax bill is $7,833 a year1819. Floodplain rules inside the Village could not be confirmed; ask the Village before buying near a creek.

For land outside village limits, use the DuPage County page, where the county's own rules apply to unincorporated land.

Watch-outs

  • Willowbrook's zoning code is dated and was replaced by a new ordinance adopted in January 2023, so confirm the current district standards with the Village before relying on printed copies20.
  • We could not confirm exemptions from a building permit, minimum lot size, RV or tiny home occupancy, or floodplain rules inside the Village; call the Village Building & Zoning Division at 630-323-82158.
  • A septic permit from the county does not replace the Village permit; the Village requires evidence of the county and state permits first4.

Sources

  1. Willowbrook Code 4-2-10 Building permits (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  2. Willowbrook UDO 9-2-1 Districts established; 9-2-2 Purpose and intent of districts; 9-2-3 Unclassified and annexed territory (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  3. Willowbrook Code 4-2-24 Plumbing code adopted (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  4. Willowbrook Code 4-2-24 Plumbing code adopted (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  5. Willowbrook Code 4-2-24 Plumbing code adopted (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  6. Willowbrook Code 4-2-10 Building permits (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  7. Willowbrook Code 4-2-11 Permit fees (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  8. Village of Willowbrook Community Development Department, Building & Zoning Division (willowbrookil.org)
  9. Willowbrook Code 4-2-24 Plumbing code adopted (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  10. Willowbrook Code 4-2-10 Building permits (Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code) (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  11. Willowbrook UDO 9-4-11 Accessory uses (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  12. Willowbrook UDO 9-4-11 Accessory uses (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked
  13. Fees | DuPage County Health, quoted and re-checked
  14. DuPage County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (dupagehealth.org)
  15. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Willowbrook UDO 9-2-1 Districts established; 9-2-2 Purpose and intent of districts; 9-2-3 Unclassified and annexed territory (Village of Willowbrook), quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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 Willowbrook

Village of Willowbrook’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, alteration, repair, demolition or moving of any building or structure inside Willowbrook village.

    • Permit must be applied for and obtained in writing from the Village before work begins.
    • Building-code exemptions in section 4-2-5 were not opened and may narrow this requirement.
    • Sanitary sewer permit from Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District or DuPage County Department of Environmental Concerns is required before a building permit for new residential construction, demolition, and expansions of existing residential or nonresidential buildings (4-2-10(h)).
    • Impact fee proof required before permit issuance (4-2-10(i)).
    “no person shall begin the erection, construction, alteration or repair, demolition or movement of any building or structure in the village”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction, plumbing, mechanical, fire, electrical and related trade codes for work inside Willowbrook village.

    • Adopted by reference in Title 4, Chapter 2 Building Code: 2024 International Mechanical Code (4-2-22), Illinois State Plumbing Code (4-2-24), 2024 International Fire Code (4-2-28), National Electrical Code 2023 edition (4-2-27).
    • The base building code adoption section (4-2-21) and its edition were not opened; the specific model building code edition is therefore not confirmed here.
    • Adoption is by reference with village amendments listed in each section.
    “there is hereby adopted by reference as if fully set out herein that certain code known as the 2024 international mechanical code, second printing, prepared and published by the international code council, inc.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Willowbrook village limits. The Village administers its own Unified Development Ordinance (Title 9) with residential, commercial, office, industrial and institutional base districts.

    • Use and dimensional rules vary by district; see the district-specific claims.
    • The UDO header reads 'rep. and replaced by ord. 23-0-05, 1-23-2023'; the chapters cited here carry the ord. 23-0-05 (1-23-2023) adoption note and the code is shown as current through ord. 26-O-23 (5-26-2026).
    “9-2-1: districts established: (a) base districts: 1. residential districts: (a) r-1 - single-family detached district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside Willowbrook village limits: base zoning districts R-1 through R-5, B, LOR, M-1 and I.

    • Official zoning map is a separate 2026 document (Chapter 12 Zoning Map) that was not opened.
    • Land annexed into the Village is automatically placed in R-1 until reclassified by amendment.
    “(a) r-1 - single-family detached district. (b) r-2 - single-family detached district. (c) r-3 - single-family detached district. (d) r-4 - single-family attached district. (e) r-5 - multi-family district. 2. commercial, office, and industrial districts: (a) b - community shopping district. (b) lor - limited office and research district. (c) m-1 - light manufacturing district. (d) i - institutional district. (ord. 23-0-05, 1-23-2023)”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Accessory buildings and accessory structures inside Willowbrook village, in any district where section 9-4-11 applies.

    • Applies unless otherwise detailed in Table 9-3-04(B).
    • Accessory building must be at least ten (10) feet from the principal building.
    • Accessory structures must not be over an easement unless a release letter is submitted.
    • Pools with walls under four feet above grade must be fenced as required by the adopted building code.

    accessory building interior side lot line setback: >= 5 feet (unless otherwise detailed in Table 9-3-04(B)) · accessory building rear lot line setback: >= 10 feet (unless otherwise detailed in Table 9-3-04(B)) · accessory building distance from principal building: >= 10 feet

    “unless otherwise detailed in table 9-3-04(b), an accessory building shall be located either: (a) completely within the required rear yard and five (5) feet interior side lot lines and ten (10) feet from rear lot lines.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Accessory buildings and accessory structures inside Willowbrook village.

    • Accessory buildings and accessory structures are limited to the lesser of 20 feet or the principal building height.
    • Principal-building height in the R-1 district is not confirmed (see wb-building-height-r1).

    maximum height of accessory building or structure: <= 20 feet (or the height of the principal building, whichever is less)

    “an accessory building shall have a maximum height of twenty (20) feet or the height of the principal building, whichever is less.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land inside Willowbrook village.

    • Subdivision standards and procedures are in UDO Chapter 7 and Title 10 Subdivision Regulations.
    • Planned developments are in UDO Chapter 8.
    • Subdivision chapter text was not opened.
    “chapter 7 subdivision standards and procedures chapter 8 planned development standards and procedures”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Constructing or maintaining a driveway in or across a public walk, parkway or curb inside Willowbrook village.

    • Driveway in or across public walk, parkway or curb needs a Village permit.
    • IDOT or DuPage County DOT access permits may also apply for state or county roads (not verified against official source in this run).
    • Private on-site driveway standards were not located in the opened pages.
    “or construct or maintain any driveway in or across any public walk, parkway or curb”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit fees for single-family residential and other construction inside Willowbrook village.

    • Fees as amended by ord. 25-o-30 (12-15-2025) as shown in the code's section history; no later fee schedule was found in the opened pages.
    • Single-family permits require a $1,000 cash deposit credited to the permit fee (4-2-11(a)(1)(g)).
    • Multi-family and nonresidential projects use a separate cash-deposit table and cubic-content fees (4-2-11(a)(2)).

    single-family initial plan examination and review fee: 450 USD (additional reviews $275 each) · residential interior cubic content fee: 0.1 USD per cubic foot (exterior roofed/open areas contiguous with SFR $0.04 per cubic foot) · alterations, remodeling and repairs minimum fee: 125 USD (for work not requiring architectural plans or detailed drawings) · single-family permit application cash deposit: 1000 USD (credited to permit fee if permit issued)

    “(1) initial: four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00) (2) in situations where the building plans are required to be subjected to additional reviews, an additional examination and review fee of two hundred seventy-five dollars ($275.00) shall be charged for each additional examination and review.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit process for work inside Willowbrook village, administered by the Building Official.

    • Permits are issued by the Building Official or designee after application, plans and fees; permit issued only after all required fees are paid (4-2-10(n)).
    • Plans are reviewed by the Building Official; third-party plan review is allowed for single-family projects at applicant cost (4-2-11(f)).
    • Permit becomes void if work not started within six months; work stopped for six months ends permit rights; completion within 18 months after issuance and certificate of occupancy or completion otherwise ends permit rights (4-2-10(r)).
    • Application form and submittal list details (4-2-10(b)-(m)) were not fully read.

    permit start deadline: 6 months (void if operation not started within six months after permit date)

    “if after a building permit required by this chapter shall have been granted, if the operation called for by such permit shall not have been started within six (6) months after the date thereof, such permit shall be void and no operation thereunder shall be begun.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Willowbrook

Village of Willowbrook 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)

    Private septic tanks, sink drains, grease traps and private sewage disposal systems on land inside Willowbrook village; the DuPage County Health Department ordinance is adopted by the Village and governs their construction, installation, alteration and repair in the village.

    • The Village has adopted the DuPage County Health Department Private Sewage Disposal Ordinance (Feb. 2006) by reference (4-2-26).
    • Permits from the Illinois Department of Public Health and DuPage County Health Department are required before permit issuance (4-2-26(c)).
    • Sanitary sewer permits from Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District or DuPage County DEC apply where sewer service is provided (4-2-10(h)).
    “(a) code adopted: there is hereby adopted by reference as if fully set out herein that certain code known as the dupage county health department private sewage disposal ordinance, february 2006, prepared and published by the dupage county health department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing, altering or repairing private septic tanks or private sewage disposal systems on land inside Willowbrook village.

    • Applicant must show evidence of all required permits from IDPH and the DuPage County Health Department before the village permit is issued.
    • Specific septic permit fees and steps are in the DuPage County ordinance, not opened here.
    “upon application for any permit for private septic tanks, private sink drains, private grease traps or private sewerage disposal systems, the applicant shall show evidence that he has obtained all necessary permits as required by the illinois department of public health, dupage county health department and all other governmental agencies exercising jurisdiction over the improvement.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Private wells and private water supply systems on land inside Willowbrook village.

    • Water Well Construction Code (IDPH, 2013) and Water Well Pump Installation Code adopted by reference (4-2-25) and DuPage County private water supply ordinance (2005) are also adopted.
    • Applicant must show all required IDPH, DuPage County Health Department and other agency permits before the village permit is issued.
    “upon application for any permit for a private well or private water supply system, the applicant shall show evidence that he has obtained all necessary permits as required by the illinois department of public health, dupage county health department and all other government agencies exercising jurisdiction over the improvement.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for owner-occupied homes inside Willowbrook village.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for permitted construction inside Willowbrook village.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for buildings inside Willowbrook village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the R-1 low density single-family detached district inside Willowbrook village.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area in the R-1 low density single-family detached district inside Willowbrook village.
10 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Willowbrook publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. DuPage County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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