Who pulls the permit — the homeowner or the contractor?

Either can apply in most villages, but the contractor doing the work should pull the permit — it ties responsibility for code compliance and inspections to the professional. GS Construction pulls and manages permits on every project; villages generally also require the contractor to be registered with them before a permit is issued.

Do I need a permit for a kitchen or bathroom remodel?

In virtually every Chicago-area village, yes. All ten towns covered by these guides explicitly require a building permit for interior remodels such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements — typically with electrical and plumbing permits rolled in or filed alongside.

How long does permit review take?

It depends on the town and the scope. Simple same-layout remodels can clear in a few days (some villages offer same-day express review for small scopes), while kitchens, baths, basements, and additions typically take one to three weeks. Each town guide lists the review times the village itself publishes.

How much does a building permit cost?

Most villages price permits as a base fee plus an amount tied to construction value, with separate trade fees for electrical and plumbing. For a typical remodel, expect several hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on scope and town — the town guides list each village's published fee schedules.

What happens if I remodel without a permit?

The village can issue a stop-work order, charge penalty fees (often a multiple of the original permit fee), and require finished work to be opened up for inspection. Unpermitted work also surfaces at resale and can complicate insurance claims — it is nearly always cheaper to permit the work up front.

Permit Guides · 2026

Building permits, town by town

What your village requires, what it costs, and how long review takes — from official municipal sources.

Nearly every kitchen, bathroom, basement, or addition remodel in the Chicago suburbs requires a building permit — and every village runs the process a little differently. GS Construction pulls and manages the permits for our remodeling clients as part of every project, so these town-by-town guides show you what your village requires, what it costs, and how long review typically takes — all from official municipal sources.

0

town guides, each verified against the village's own permit pages

100%

of these villages require a permit for kitchen, bath & basement remodels

0

permit paperwork left to you — GS handles applications and inspections on every project

Pick your town

Your town not listed yet? We pull permits across every community we serve — the process below applies almost everywhere.

What usually needs a permit — and what doesn't

Exact rules vary by village (that's what the town guides are for), but across Chicago's suburbs the pattern is consistent:

Permit required

Kitchen, bathroom & basement remodels
Room additions, porches & sunrooms
Moving or adding walls, doors, or windows
New or altered electrical wiring and panels
Plumbing changes — moving fixtures, new lines, water heaters
HVAC replacement and new ductwork
Decks, fences, sheds & driveways (most villages)
Roof tear-offs and siding replacement (most villages)

Usually exempt

Painting and wallpaper
Flooring replacement (carpet, hardwood, LVP)
Cabinet and countertop swaps in the same layout, with no plumbing or electrical changes
Replacing faucets or light fixtures like-for-like
Minor trim and interior cosmetic repairs

"Usually" is doing real work here — a few villages permit more than you'd expect. When in doubt, check your town's guide or ask us; a five-minute question beats a stop-work order.

How the permit process works

1

Apply

Drawings, scope of work, and contractor information go to the village — most towns now take everything through an online portal. Contractors typically must be registered (and sometimes bonded) with the village before the application is accepted.
2

Plan review

The building department checks the plans against local codes. Simple interior remodels often clear in days; kitchens, baths, basements, and additions typically take one to three weeks depending on the town — each guide lists real review times.
3

Build with inspections

Work proceeds in stages, with village inspections at the points that matter: rough framing, electrical, plumbing, and insulation before anything is covered up.
4

Final approval

A final inspection signs the project off and closes the permit — the paper trail that protects you at resale and keeps insurance claims clean.

Why skipping the permit costs more

Resale comes with questions

Illinois sellers disclose known work, and buyers' attorneys and appraisers ask for permits on remodeled kitchens, baths, and basements. Unpermitted work can stall a closing or come off the price.

Insurance can push back

If unpermitted electrical or plumbing work is implicated in a loss, a claim gets harder. Permitted, inspected work keeps the paper trail on your side — more on that in our insurance claim rebuild guides.

Retroactive permits are the expensive kind

Villages that discover unpermitted work can issue stop-work orders, charge multiplied fees, and require opening finished walls for inspection. Permit fees are a rounding error next to that — see what remodeling really costs.

How GS handles permits for you

When you remodel with GS Construction, permits are our job, not yours. We prepare the drawings and application, register with your village where required, submit and track the review, and schedule every inspection through to final sign-off. See how the GS process works.

Permit questions homeowners actually ask

Who pulls the permit — the homeowner or the contractor?: Either can apply in most villages, but the contractor doing the work should pull the permit — it ties responsibility for code compliance and inspections to the professional. GS Construction pulls and manages permits on every project; villages generally also require the contractor to be registered with them before a permit is issued.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen or bathroom remodel?: In virtually every Chicago-area village, yes. All ten towns covered by these guides explicitly require a building permit for interior remodels such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements — typically with electrical and plumbing permits rolled in or filed alongside.
How long does permit review take?: It depends on the town and the scope. Simple same-layout remodels can clear in a few days (some villages offer same-day express review for small scopes), while kitchens, baths, basements, and additions typically take one to three weeks. Each town guide lists the review times the village itself publishes.
How much does a building permit cost?: Most villages price permits as a base fee plus an amount tied to construction value, with separate trade fees for electrical and plumbing. For a typical remodel, expect several hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on scope and town — the town guides list each village's published fee schedules.
What happens if I remodel without a permit?: The village can issue a stop-work order, charge penalty fees (often a multiple of the original permit fee), and require finished work to be opened up for inspection. Unpermitted work also surfaces at resale and can complicate insurance claims — it is nearly always cheaper to permit the work up front.