What do these permits involve in DuPage County?

Question

Accepted Answer

Private Sewage Disposal System Permit

A business on a private sewage disposal (septic) system needs a Health Department permit to install or repair it. Sec. 18-104 sets the new system permit and plan review at $684, a renovation or repair permit at $344, a variance request review at $305, the annual surface discharge system operating permit at $138, a priority plan review (completed in three days) at $616 on top of the applicable fee, and a resubmittal fee of $138 at the third and later resubmittals, as in effect from December 1, 2025 (the editor's notes to the County Code and the Health Department's fee page both state that date); County Code Sec. 18-111 raises these fees by the Illinois Department of Revenue CPI every December 1, so the schedule adjusts on December 1, 2026, and the Board of Health's draft minutes of September 10, 2026 record that its FY2027 budget assumes EHS fees increased by CPI. The Health Department's fee page lists the same amounts and also a combined new well and septic application at $1,059. A business on a public sewer has no septic permit.

Certificate of Use and Occupancy

County Code Sec. 8-119 governs certificates of use and occupancy for buildings in unincorporated DuPage County. The fee for a single-unit commercial or industrial building is $200 up to 10,000 square feet and $300 over 10,000 square feet (not charged for commercial electrical work), and a multi-unit commercial or industrial building pays $100 per unit, per the Building & Zoning Schedule of Fees attached to Ordinance DC-O-0014-25, adopted by the County Board on March 25, 2025 and effective May 1, 2025 (County Code Sec. 8-114.3:1). A business inside a city or village deals with that municipality for occupancy instead.

County Highway Access / Right-of-Way Permit

A business that builds or changes a driveway onto a County highway, or a contractor working within a County highway right-of-way, needs a permit from the DuPage County Division of Transportation under the Highway Rights-of-Way Permit and Fee Ordinance (County Code Ch. 19 Art. II, effective March 1, 2023). Sec. 19-43 sets an access permit at $1,500 per project, or $4,500 per project with roadway improvements; temporary access at $500; a right-of-way permit at $500 per project; pavement open-cut at $1,000; a detour at $500; extensions at $100 per six months; revisions at $100; and a special event at $50. A single-family residential driveway is no charge. Under Sec. 19-41, working without a permit or against an approved plan carries a fine equal to the greater of $750, twice the standard calculated permit fees, or the amount needed to correct deficiencies, and each day is a separate offence. A returned payment costs at least $30.

Building Site Evaluation (Health Review on Well/Septic Lots)

When a building permit is sought in unincorporated DuPage County for a property on a well or septic system, the Building & Zoning Schedule of Fees adopted with Ordinance DC-O-0014-25 lists a "Health fee (on well/septic)" at the "Current Health Dept Fee Schedule-view on line". The Health Department's fee page sets Building Site Evaluation fees of $171 for Type I and $279 for Type II, as stated on the Health Department's current Environmental Health fee page, which gives its fees as effective December 1, 2025; this item is not itemized in County Code Secs. 18-102 to 18-106, and the fee page states that its fees are adjusted annually by CPI, with the next adjustment due December 1, 2026. County Code Sec. 18-105, which formerly held well and septic evaluation fees, is now reserved.

Water Well Permit / Non-Community Water System Operating Permit

A business served by a private or non-community water well needs Health Department permits. Sec. 18-103 sets the water well construction and installation permit at $376, the non-community water system annual operating permit at $279, a permit to seal a well at $171, a variance request review at $305 and a supplemental well conversion inspection at $138, as in effect from December 1, 2025 (the editor's notes to the County Code and the Health Department's fee page both state that date); County Code Sec. 18-111 raises these fees by the Illinois Department of Revenue CPI every December 1, so the schedule adjusts on December 1, 2026, and the Board of Health's draft minutes of September 10, 2026 record that its FY2027 budget assumes EHS fees increased by CPI. A business that serves water to the public from its own well, such as a restaurant or childcare centre outside a municipal water system, holds the annual non-community operating permit. A business without a private or non-community well has no well permit.

Commercial Building Permit (with Plumbing and Electrical)

In unincorporated DuPage County, Building & Zoning issues building permits; 55 ILCS 5/5-1063 limits county building rules to buildings outside cities, villages and incorporated towns, so inside a municipality the city or village issues them. Figures are per the Building & Zoning Schedule of Fees attached to Ordinance DC-O-0014-25, adopted by the County Board on March 25, 2025 and effective May 1, 2025 (County Code Sec. 8-114.3:1). The industrial and commercial permit fee is $30.00 per $1,000 of construction cost, minimum $150, with remodeling at a $200 minimum; the schedule values new work per square foot by use group (Assembly $80, Business $75, Educational $75, Mercantile $65, Institutional supervised $65, Residential hotels $70, Factory and Industrial $50, Storage $45). A non-refundable application fee of $500 for new commercial buildings and additions or $150 for other commercial work is credited toward the permit. Commercial plan review runs from $150 to $485 by floor area plus $80 per additional 1,000 square feet. Commercial plumbing has a $100 minimum plus $15 per fixture, and commercial electrical a $100 minimum. Commercial drainage review (first review) is $80, $140 or $365 for up to 500, 1,500 or 4,999 square feet of disturbance, and the schedule adds a $200 administrative fee for processing unincorporated stormwater applications. Where work starts without a permit the normal fee is doubled.

Sign Permit

A business sign in unincorporated DuPage County needs a Building & Zoning sign permit. Advertising, business and portable signs cost $2.00 per square foot per face with a $100 minimum, and a sign with electrical work costs $50 more, per the Building & Zoning Schedule of Fees attached to Ordinance DC-O-0014-25, adopted by the County Board on March 25, 2025 and effective May 1, 2025 (County Code Sec. 8-114.3:1). A sign that needs a zoning variation pays the separate Zoning Board of Appeals fee. A business inside a city or village applies to that municipality instead.

Zoning Board of Appeals – Variation, Conditional Use and Rezoning

In unincorporated DuPage County, zoning relief goes through the Zoning Board of Appeals. Fees are per the Building & Zoning Schedule of Fees attached to Ordinance DC-O-0014-25, adopted by the County Board on March 25, 2025 and effective May 1, 2025 (County Code Sec. 8-114.3:1), and higher "violation" amounts apply where the petition follows a violation. For non-residential property a conditional use is $2,500 ($3,750 after a violation), a principal variation $1,500 ($2,250), and a sign variation $1,500 ($2,250). A day care home conditional use is $300 ($450) and a group day care home $500 ($750). Non-residential rezoning runs from $2,500 for less than 2 acres to $10,000 for 21 acres or more, an appeal is $1,500, and a planned development is $3,000 plus $100 per commercial building. A continuation may be charged at half the application fee and an additional appearance at $200. County zoning covers areas outside municipalities that have their own zoning ordinances (55 ILCS 5/5-12001).

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Private Sewage Disposal System Permitonly if it applies to you	DuPage County Health Department	$138–$684 new system permit and plan review $684; renovation or repair permit $344; variance request review $305; annual surface discharge operating permit $138; priority plan review $616 in addition to the applicable fee; resubmittal fee $138 at the third and later resubmittals	per system installation or repair; the surface discharge operating permit is annual	2026-10-07
Certificate of Use and Occupancyonly if it applies to you	DuPage County Building & Zoning Department	$100–$300 single-unit commercial or industrial: 0–10,000 sq. ft. $200, over 10,000 sq. ft. $300 (not for commercial electric); multi-unit commercial or industrial $100 per unit	per certificate	2026-10-07
County Highway Access / Right-of-Way Permitonly if it applies to you	DuPage County Division of Transportation	$50–$4,500 access $1,500 per project; access with roadway improvements $4,500 per project; temporary access $500; right-of-way $500 per project; pavement open-cut $1,000; detour (closure) $500; permit extension $100 per 6 months; revision $100; special event $50; single-family residential driveway no charge	per project; extensions in 6-month increments	2026-10-07
Building Site Evaluation (Health Review on Well/Septic Lots)only if it applies to you	DuPage County Health Department	$171–$279 per evaluation: Site Evaluation Type I $171, Type II $279	per building permit application	2026-10-07
Water Well Permit / Non-Community Water System Operating Permitonly if it applies to you	DuPage County Health Department	$138–$376 well construction and installation permit $376; non-community water system annual operating permit $279; permit to seal a well $171; variance request review $305; supplemental well conversion inspection $138	per well; the non-community water system operating permit is annual	2026-10-07
Commercial Building Permit (with Plumbing and Electrical)only if it applies to you	DuPage County Building & Zoning Department	Industrial and commercial building permit: $30.00 per $1,000 cost of construction or fraction thereof, minimum $150 (remodeling minimum $200), with cost per sq. ft. set by use group (e.g. Assembly $80, Business $75, Mercantile $65, Factory & Industrial $50, Storage $45). Non-refundable application fee credited to the permit: new commercial/additions $500, all other commercial $150. Commercial plan review $150 (0–400 sq. ft.) to $485 (8,001–10,000 sq. ft.) plus $80 per additional 1,000 sq. ft. Plumbing: commercial minimum $100 plus $15 per fixture. Electrical: commercial minimum $100. Work started without a permit: the normal permit fee is doubled.	per project	2026-10-07
Sign Permitonly if it applies to you	DuPage County Building & Zoning Department	$2.00 per square foot per face for advertising, business and portable signs, minimum $100; $50 additional for signs with electrical	per sign	2026-10-07
Zoning Board of Appeals – Variation, Conditional Use and Rezoningonly if it applies to you	DuPage County Building & Zoning Department	$300–$10,000 non-refundable, non-residential (violation) amounts: conditional use $2,500 ($3,750); principal variation $1,500 ($2,250); sign variation $1,500 ($2,250); day care home $300 ($450); group day care home $500 ($750); rezoning non-residential $2,500 (under 2 acres) to $10,000 (21 acres or more); appeal $1,500; planned development $3,000 plus $100 per commercial building	per petition	2026-10-07

Business licenses and permits in DuPage County, Illinois

What are you opening in DuPage County?

Permits that apply to every type of business in DuPage County