What do these permits involve in Kane County?

Question

Accepted Answer

Sign Permit (Advertising Signs and Billboards)

Kane County Code §6-12(J) sets the fee for advertising signs and billboards at $425, per Kane County Code §6-12 (fee schedule, most recently amended by Ord. 25-347 on October 14, 2025 and Ord. 26-156 on April 14, 2026); the Building & Zoning Division's Fee Summary 2026 is headed "Effective January 1, 2026". A business putting up a sign in unincorporated Kane County applies to the Building & Zoning Division. Work started before a permit doubles the fee under §6-12(P). A business inside a city or village applies to that municipality instead.

Zoning Petition — Rezoning, Special Use or Variation (Non-Residential)

Kane County Code §16-1(B) sets the fees for hearings before the Zoning Board of Appeals in unincorporated Kane County. For a non-residential rezoning or special use the fee is $1,500 under 2 acres, $1,800 for 2 to under 5 acres, $2,250 for 5 to under 10 acres, and $2,250 plus $75 for each acre over 10. A variation of more than 10% costs $550 per lot and one of 10% or less $300 per lot; each additional variation on a lot is $50, and a variation requested as part of a rezoning or special-use petition is $100. The fees include publication costs, an applicant making more than one type of request pays the highest fee, and fees double where the use was begun before approval. The county's blank zoning application cites Chapter 16-1 and shows the same non-residential figures. Code §16-1(D) exempts public taxing bodies.

County Highway Access Permit

A business that builds or changes a driveway or entrance onto a Kane County highway needs an access permit from the Kane County Division of Transportation, wherever the property sits. The KDOT Permit Fee Schedule Update, effective April 1, 2025, sets $500 for a minimum use access, $4,000 for a minor access and $7,500 for a major access, with $100 agricultural, $750 temporary, $750 right-of-way alteration, $100 special event and $100 renewal or extension permits; where multiple permits are needed the fee is the highest one plus $2,500, and fees are non-refundable. The KDOT Permits page states that the County Board adopted the revised fees by Ordinance 25-093 on March 11, 2025, effective April 1, 2025, and that they supersede the amounts in the KDOT permit and access control manuals. Access onto municipal streets or State routes is permitted by those road authorities instead.

Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Permit — Commercial

A business on a private sewage disposal system rather than a public sewer needs a Health Department septic permit for a new or renovated system. A new commercial or multi-family system costs $400 and a renovation $270; an experimental or alternative system is $400, aerobic treatment plant monitoring $100, a site inspection $100, a plan revision $65, a soil interpretation, variance, feasibility letter or letter of approval to a municipality $65, and a change of contractor $50. Figures are as published on the Kane County Health Department's Environmental Health Permits and Fees page under the heading "FEES EFFECTIVE 1/1/2026 – 12/31/2026" (the 2026 schedule, in effect through December 31, 2026); the page states that all fees are non-refundable and that an annual adjustment equal to the Chicago-area Consumer Price Index increase applies to each fee, never below the schedule effective January 1, 2025. A business on a public sewer has no septic permit.

Water Well Permit

A business served by a private well needs a Health Department permit to construct, deepen, modify or seal it. Construction, deepening or modification costs $100 plus $180 for each inspection, paid at the time of the permit fee; geothermal wells cost $100 for the first ten and $10 for each additional well; well sealing is $225; a variance, feasibility letter or letter of approval to a municipality is $65; and a change of contractor is $50. Figures are as published on the Kane County Health Department's Environmental Health Permits and Fees page under the heading "FEES EFFECTIVE 1/1/2026 – 12/31/2026" (the 2026 schedule, in effect through December 31, 2026); the page states that all fees are non-refundable and that an annual adjustment equal to the Chicago-area Consumer Price Index increase applies to each fee, never below the schedule effective January 1, 2025. A business on a public water supply without a private well has no well permit.

Building Permit — All Other (Non-Residential) Construction

The Building & Zoning Division page states that building permits are required for all new construction, remodel, repair or demolition projects on properties in unincorporated Kane County. For commercial work ("All Other Construction"), new buildings and additions cost $120 per 100 square feet of each floor above ground with a $3,000 minimum, and alterations cost $120 for the first $1,000 of estimated cost plus $10 for each additional $1,000. Plan examination adds 25% of the building fee with a $100 minimum. A non-residential electrical service upgrade is $350, demolition is $300, $600 or $900, a permit extension is $180, and each extra inspection (second re-inspection onward, incomplete work, missed inspection) is $120. Work started before a permit doubles the fees, and religious, educational or charitable projects are capped at $2,000 per permit. Figures are per Kane County Code §6-12 (fee schedule, most recently amended by Ord. 25-347 on October 14, 2025 and Ord. 26-156 on April 14, 2026); the Building & Zoning Division's Fee Summary 2026 is headed "Effective January 1, 2026"; where the Fee Summary or web page differs, the code amount is given. Inside a city or village the municipality issues building permits instead.

Establishment of Use (New Business or Change of Use)

Kane County Code §6-12(T) sets a fee of $600 for an Establishment of Use for a new business or a change of use in an existing building or space, per Kane County Code §6-12 (fee schedule, most recently amended by Ord. 25-347 on October 14, 2025 and Ord. 26-156 on April 14, 2026); the Building & Zoning Division's Fee Summary 2026 is headed "Effective January 1, 2026". The Building & Zoning Division takes the Establishment of Use with the permit application. A business opening in an existing building in unincorporated Kane County is the typical case; inside a city or village the municipality handles occupancy instead.

Zoning Use Permit — New Use or Change of Use

Kane County Code §16-1(C)(2) sets the zoning use permit fee for establishing any new use, or changing an existing use, of a building, structure or land in unincorporated Kane County at $2.50 per 1,000 square feet, or portion, of the overall land area, with a $50 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. Where the change involves a building only, such as a business building with parking already established, the code applies the fee to the building's overall dimensions. The code states that no charge is made for public or governmental use, caps not-for-profit religious, educational or charitable uses at $50, and excludes single-family residences. Contact the Building & Zoning Division for the permits a specific new use requires.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Sign Permit (Advertising Signs and Billboards)only if it applies to you	Kane County Development & Community Services, Building & Zoning Division	$425 per sign permit	per sign	2026-10-07
Zoning Petition — Rezoning, Special Use or Variation (Non-Residential)only if it applies to you	Kane County Development & Community Services, Building & Zoning Division	Non-residential rezoning or special use under 2 acres $1,500, 2 to under 5 acres $1,800, 5 to under 10 acres $2,250, 10 acres or more $2,250 plus $75 per acre over 10; variations over 10% $550 per lot, 10% or less $300 per lot, each additional variation on a lot $50, each variation within a rezoning or special-use petition $100; fees include publication; the highest fee applies to combined requests; use begun before approval: fees +100%	per petition	2026-10-07
County Highway Access Permitonly if it applies to you	Kane County Division of Transportation	$100–$7,500 per permit, non-refundable: agricultural $100; temporary $750; minimum use $500; minor $4,000; major $7,500; right-of-way alteration $750; special event $100; renewal or extension $100; multiple permits: highest fee plus $2,500	per permit	2026-10-07
Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Permit — Commercialonly if it applies to you	Kane County Health Department, Environmental Health	$50–$400 per permit or service: new construction commercial/multi-family $400; renovation commercial/multi-family $270; experimental/alternative system $400; aerobic treatment plant monitoring $100; site inspection of septic disposal area $100; septic plan revision $65; soil interpretation, septic variance, feasibility letter or letter of approval to municipality $65; change of contractor $50	per project	2026-10-07
Water Well Permitonly if it applies to you	Kane County Health Department, Environmental Health	Construct, deepen or modify $100 plus $180 for each inspection (paid with the permit fee); geothermal wells $100 for the first ten and $10 for each additional well; well sealing $225; well variance, feasibility letter or letter of approval to municipality $65; change of contractor $50	per project	2026-10-07
Building Permit — All Other (Non-Residential) Constructiononly if it applies to you	Kane County Development & Community Services, Building & Zoning Division	New construction and additions $120 per 100 sq. ft. (or portion) of each floor above ground, $3,000 minimum; basement and crawl space $120 (or portion), $3,000 minimum; alterations/remodel $120 for the first $1,000 of estimated cost plus $10 per additional $1,000; plan examination 25% of the building fee, $100 minimum; non-residential electrical service upgrade $350; demolition $300 (under 500 sq. ft.), $600 (500 sq. ft. or more), $900 (residential or commercial building); permit extension $180; extra inspections $120 each; work started before a permit: fees +100%; religious, educational or charitable work: maximum $2,000 per permit	per project	2026-10-07
Establishment of Use (New Business or Change of Use)only if it applies to you	Kane County Development & Community Services, Building & Zoning Division	$600 per Establishment of Use	per application	2026-10-07
Zoning Use Permit — New Use or Change of Useonly if it applies to you	Kane County Development & Community Services, Building & Zoning Division	$50–$3,000 $2.50 per 1,000 sq. ft. (or portion) of overall land area, $50 minimum, $3,000 maximum; for a change of use involving a building only where parking already exists, applied to the building's overall dimensions; public or governmental use no charge; not-for-profit religious, educational or charitable use maximum $50	per new use or change of use	2026-10-07

Business licenses and permits in Kane County, Illinois

What are you opening in Kane County?

Permits that apply to every type of business in Kane County