Bolthole Index

DuPage County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in Village of Woodridge, Illinois

Village of Woodridge, Illinois requires a building permit before construction, alteration, repair and other listed work begins.1 Woodridge sets its own zoning, and its Community Development Department handles building review and planning.23 For a parcel in DuPage County, contact DuPage County Health Department Plan Review about septic installation or repair; we could not confirm the septic authority for every Woodridge parcel.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required before listed construction, repairs, building-system and driveway work1
Zoning
Village zoning applies; lot size and setbacks depend on the district2567
Residential building fees
$400 plan review; $0.40 per square foot for building permit and inspection, with a $350 minimum; additional fees excluded8
Accessory dwellings
Conditional in R-1, R-2 and R-3; detached ADUs limited to 800 square feet9
Public sewer
Connection required for qualifying new buildings when sewer is within 400 feet along the available main-extension path10
Owner plumbing work
Qualifying owner occupants may do their own plumbing, subject to code, inspection and local permit requirements1112

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Woodridge Community Development Department

Village building permit applications, building inspections and plan review, planning and zoning; ask for a planner for parcel-use questions.

630-719-4750

5 Plaza Drive Woodridge, IL 60517

Septic permits

DuPage County Health Department Plan Review

Questions about permits for septic installation or repair on the DuPage County portion of Woodridge; confirm parcel jurisdiction and sewer requirements with the Village.

630-221-7045

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Village of Woodridge, IL?

Woodridge requires a building permit before erection, construction, alteration, repair, demolition or movement of a building or structure, including listed electrical, plumbing and mechanical work.1 The requirement also covers site clearing or excavation for a proposed building and driveway work in or across a public walk, parkway or curb.1 A Woodridge property owner remains responsible for compliance even when a former owner performed the work.1 Building permit issuance requires submitted plans, adequate approved water and sewerage facilities, and payment of required fees.13

Who handles building permits in Village of Woodridge?

The Village of Woodridge Community Development Department provides building inspections, plan review, planning and zoning services.3 Call 630-719-4750 to confirm the applications needed for your building project; ask for a planner when the question concerns the proposed use or development of a parcel.3 Woodridge residential fees for single, duplex and townhouse buildings include a nonrefundable $400 plan-review fee plus $0.40 per square foot for the building permit and inspection, including basement and garage space, with a $350 minimum.8 Accessory-structure, plumbing and electrical fees are additional.8

Does Village of Woodridge have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Woodridge has village zoning, with separate residential, business and industrial districts.2 In Woodridge’s R-1 district, the minimum lot area is 43,560 square feet; front, rear and exterior side yards require 50 feet, while the interior side yard requires 15 feet.57 R-1 maximum building coverage is 35%, and maximum height is the lower of 35 feet or 2 stories.1415 Woodridge’s R-2 minimum lot area is 12,000 square feet, while R-3 requires 8,200 square feet.6 Ask the Village’s Community Development Department planner to identify the parcel’s district before designing a house or addition.3

How do septic permits and sewer connections work inside Woodridge?

Woodridge requires qualifying new houses, buildings and structures to connect to public sanitary sewer at the owner’s expense when the property abuts a street or right-of-way containing sewer and the sewer is within 400 feet of a property line, measured along the available main-extension path.10 Connection is due within 90 days after official notice.10 Illinois requires approval of new private sewage-disposal system plans from IDPH or the applicable local authority before construction begins.16 For Woodridge land in DuPage County, ask Health Department Plan Review about installing or repairing septic; we could not confirm the complete septic-permit authority for all village parcels.4 Confirm adequate approved water and sewerage facilities with the Village before seeking building permit issuance.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Village of Woodridge?

We could not confirm Woodridge’s rules for residential RV occupancy, temporary camping or a standalone tiny home; ask the Village Community Development Department planner about the proposed use before buying land for that purpose.3 Woodridge does allow accessory dwelling units conditionally on lots with a single dwelling unit in R-1, R-2 and R-3, with a building permit required.9 At least one occupant of the primary dwelling or ADU must own the property, and yard, bulk, exterior-design and parking requirements apply.9 A detached ADU may be no larger than 800 square feet and requires 10 feet between foundations.9

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

  1. Ask Woodridge Community Development to confirm the applications needed and discuss the proposed development with a planner.3
  2. Prepare the survey, required topographic information and building plans; plans generally need an Illinois-licensed architect’s seal, with stated exceptions for working drawings for single-family additions or accessory structures.13
  3. Establish approved water and sewerage, drainage protection and satisfactory all-weather emergency access, and pay the required fees before building permit issuance.13
  4. Arrange required Village building inspections during construction.17
  5. Obtain Woodridge’s occupancy permit before occupying a new home; the premises must meet approved plans and applicable zoning regulations.18

For a subdivision lot, Village Board approval of the plat and public-improvement plans must precede building permit issuance.19

What should you check before buying land in Village of Woodridge?

Ask Woodridge Community Development about the parcel’s proposed use and required building or development applications.3 We could not confirm complete village floodplain-development or driveway-access standards; include those questions in the same discussion.3 Illinois requires an IDOT permit before work within a state-maintained road’s right-of-way, including access-driveway requests.20 For a private well on the DuPage County portion of Woodridge, the DuPage County Health Department has a permit process for installation or repair.21 For land outside village limits, see DuPage County’s guide: the county building-code material applies to unincorporated land.22

Watch-outs

  • A Woodridge temporary occupancy permit is limited to 6 months and requires a cash bond equal to 150% of estimated completion costs; obtain Village approval before moving in.18
  • Illinois’s qualifying owner-occupant plumbing exemption does not establish a general exemption from Woodridge building permits or local plumbing permits.1112
  • An ADU must remain accessory to a principal structure in Woodridge; conditional ADU permission does not establish permission for a standalone tiny home.9

Sources

  1. 8-1A-9: Building Permits (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  2. Woodridge, IL Code of Ordinances (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Woodridge Community Development Department (woodridgeil.gov)
  4. DuPage County Health Department Plan Review (dupagehealth.org)
  5. 9-5-1: R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  6. Zoning District Dimensional Table (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  7. 9-5-1: R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  8. 3-1A-3: Fee Schedule (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  9. 9-3-17: Accessory Dwelling Units (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  10. 7-5C-1: Use of Public Sewers Required (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  11. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. 225 ILCS 320/18 — Local regulation; Department standards (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. 8-1A-9: Building Permits (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  14. 9-5-1: R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  15. 9-5-1: R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  16. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. 8-1A-10: Inspections (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  18. 8-1A-12: Certificate of Occupancy (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  19. 10-7-3: Building and Occupancy Permits (Village of Woodridge), quoted and re-checked
  20. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Water | DuPage County Health, quoted and re-checked
  22. Building and Permits, quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 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 Woodridge

Village of Woodridge’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, alteration, repair, demolition, movement, site clearing or excavation of buildings or structures, building-system work, and certain driveway work inside Woodridge village.

    • The permit is required before the listed work begins.
    • The owner remains responsible even for work performed by a current or former owner.
    • Plans and required information must be submitted; proof of adequate approved water and sewerage facilities is required before issuance.
    • A permit is not issued until required fees are paid.
    “A permit shall be obtained prior to the erection, construction, alteration or repair”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building regulation inside Woodridge village.

    • The title was adopted by Ordinance 2013-29 on June 13, 2013 and amended by Ordinance 2023-36 on November 2, 2023.
    “This title shall be known as the BUILDING CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF WOODRIDGE.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction and specified footing, drain-tile, sewer-connection, and water-connection work inside Woodridge village.

    • Inspections are made by the building official.
    • The owner or contractor must call 24 hours in advance for listed inspections.
    • A reinspection fee may be charged if the job is not ready, inaccessible, or obstructed by excessive debris; no further inspections occur until the fee is paid.
    “Inspections required under the provisions of this chapter shall be made by the building official.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New, moved, remodeled, reconstructed, or changed-use structures and vacant land used inside Woodridge village.

    • An occupancy permit must be obtained before occupancy or use.
    • The premises must be inspected and comply with approved plans and applicable zoning regulations.
    • A temporary occupancy permit may last no more than six months and requires a cash bond equal to 150% of estimated completion costs.
    • An occupancy permit or written denial must issue within 21 days after application or written readiness notice.

    temporary occupancy maximum duration: 6 months · temporary occupancy cash bond: 150 percent of estimated completion costs · issuance or denial deadline: 21 days

    “No owner or tenant shall take occupancy of a building without an occupancy permit having been issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Woodridge village, including the Village's R-1, R-2, R-3, A-1, A-2, business, and industrial districts.

    • The code lists residential, business, and industrial zoning districts.
    • The zoning code is current through the code publication reviewed.
    “For the purpose of this Title, the Village is hereby divided and classified into the following zoning districts:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Woodridge village zoning districts.

    • The published classifications include R-1, R-2, R-3, A-1, A-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, RBC, ORI, and M-1.
    “Residential Districts R-1 | Single Dwelling Unit District R-2 | Single Dwelling Unit District R-3 | Single Dwelling Unit District”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units on lots with a single dwelling unit in Woodridge village's R-1, R-2, and R-3 districts.

    • One ADU per lot; it must be accessory to a principal structure.
    • At least one occupant of the primary unit or ADU must own the property.
    • The ADU must meet yard and bulk requirements and have compatible exterior design.
    • The entrance may not face the front yard lot line.
    • One additional vehicle must be accommodated while maintaining primary-unit parking requirements.
    • The ADU may not exceed the principal structure's gross living area.
    • Detached ADUs require 10 feet between foundations, no more than three accessory structures including the ADU, and a maximum detached ADU size of 800 square feet.
    • A building permit is required.

    detached ADU foundation separation: 10 feet · detached ADU maximum area: <= 800 square feet

    “An ADU may be maintained as an accessory use on a lot with a single dwelling unit in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New houses, buildings, and structures inside Woodridge village where a public sanitary sewer is within 400 feet of the premises and the property abuts a street or right-of-way containing that sewer.

    • Connection is at the owner's expense.
    • The public sanitary sewer must be within 400 feet of any property line, measured along the available path of extension of the sanitary sewer main.
    • Connection must occur within 90 days after official notice.
    • The code separately addresses existing private systems found inadequate by the DuPage County Department of Health and/or Illinois EPA.

    public sanitary sewer distance: <= 400 feet from any property line (measured along the available path of extension of the sanitary sewer main) · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days

    “which abuts any street [...] provided that said public sanitary sewer is within four hundred feet (400')”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and replatting inside Woodridge village.

    • A plat and public-improvement plans must be approved by the Village Board before a building permit is issued for a subdivision lot.
    • Required utility facilities must be installed and ready to service the property, and access must be constructed, before an occupancy certificate is granted.
    “No building permit shall be issued providing for the improvement of any lot in a subdivision until the plat of subdivision”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Residential building permits inside Woodridge village.

    • For single, duplex, and townhouse residential buildings, the plan-review fee is $400; the building permit and inspection fee is $0.40 per square foot, including basement and garage square footage, with a $350 minimum.
    • Accessory structures, plumbing, and electrical fees are not included.
    • Expedited reviews, if approved, are charged at 1.5 times normal rates and minimum charges.
    • The plan-review fee is nonrefundable.

    plan review fee: 400 USD (single, duplex, and townhouse residential buildings) · building permit and inspection fee: 0.4 USD per square foot (basement and garage included) · minimum building permit and inspection charge: 350 USD · expedited review multiplier: 1.5 times normal rates and minimum charges (if approved by the director of community development)

    “Building permit and inspection fee | 0.40 per square foot”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Woodridge village.

    • Applications must include applicant and owner information, subcontractor information, and a work description.
    • Two copies of a sealed survey and required topographic data are required.
    • Plans must meet building-code requirements and generally be prepared and sealed by an Illinois-licensed registered architect; working drawings are excepted for single-family additions or accessory structures.
    • Proof of adequate approved water and sewerage facilities, drainage protection, pedestrian walks and curbs where required, and satisfactory all-weather emergency access is required before issuance.
    • All required fees must be paid before issuance.
    “An application for a permit shall be submitted in such form as the building official may prescribe.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Woodridge

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

  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-2 and R-3 residential districts inside Woodridge village.

    • R-2 and R-3 have separate dimensional standards.

    R-2 minimum lot area: 12000 square feet · R-3 minimum lot area: 8200 square feet

    “R-2 | 12,000 | 80’ for SFD 120’ all other | 150’ | 30’ | 10’ | 40’ | 30’ | 40% | 35’ or 2 stories (less of) | N/A R-3 | 8,200 | 66’ for SFD 100’ all other | 100’ | 25’ | 7’ 10% of lot width for other uses | 25’ | 15’ | 50% | 35’ or 2 stories (less of) | N/A”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District inside Woodridge village.
      “Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) | 43,560 Minimum Lot Width (ft.) | 100 - Residential 150 - Other Uses Minimum Lot Depth (ft.) | 175”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District inside Woodridge village.

    • Interior and exterior side yards have different requirements.

    front yard setback: 50 feet · interior side yard: 15 feet · exterior side yard: 50 feet · rear yard: 50 feet

    “Minimum Front Yard Setback (ft.) | 50 Minimum Side Yard (ft.) | 15 – Interior 50 – Exterior Minimum Rear Yard (ft.) | 50”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District inside Woodridge village.

    maximum building coverage: 35 percent

    “Maximum Building Coverage | 35% Maximum Building Height | 35 ft. or 2 stories, whichever is lower”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Detached Single Dwelling Unit District inside Woodridge village.

    • The lower of 35 feet or two stories applies.

    maximum building height: 35 feet or 2 stories, whichever is lower

    “Maximum Building Height | 35 ft. or 2 stories, whichever is lower”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemptions inside Woodridge village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Primary dwellings inside Woodridge village.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Woodridge village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Woodridge village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Woodridge village.
10 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Woodridge publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. DuPage County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of DuPage County: county rules, score and offices