Frequently Asked Questions

YES. Section 50.2 of the Municipal Code established approved truck routes and requires permits for overweight vehicles traveling through the Village. This requirement is being enforced by the Police Department. More information about the permit process can be found here: www.clarendonhills.us/372/Overweight-Oversize-Vehicles.

Most people know that new buildings, additions to existing structures, renovations, demolitions, and temporary buildings usually require building permits and inspections. Less obvious projects that may require a permit include installing a swimming pool, deck and patios/fire pits. Also, tasks that involve electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and fireplaces require a building permit. Please call the Community Development Department at 630-286-5410 if you have questions.

The plat of survey can be found with the mortgage papers that you received from your lender when you closed on your property. If you do not have your plat of survey with these papers, please call your lender to have them send you a copy. If there has ever been a permit on your property within the last eight years, a copy of your plat of survey may be on file in the Community Development Department. If you are unable to find you plat in either of these locations, you will need to hire a land surveyor to create a new plat of survey.

You will receive a list of required inspections when a permit is issued. It is the responsibility of the person doing the work to schedule inspections. Inspections requested prior to 2pm can usually be scheduled the next business day. Inspection requests left by voicemail will not be accepted. If the inspector finds that some of the work does not meet minimum code requirements, the inspector will provide a written explanation of the corrections that must be made to bring the work up to acceptable standards. When the work has been completed and the inspector approves the final project, you will receive either a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Compliance. This will formally mark completion of the project with the understanding that it has been inspected.

The original issued building permit card must be on display in a visible location at the construction site. A copy of the approved plans must be on the job site at all times. Any proposed changes to the approved plan must be brought to the attention of the Building Official prior to making the change. Some changes will require review and approval. Please contact the Community Development Department at 630-286-5410 if you have questions.

The Village of Clarendon Hills Community Development Department exists to help make residential and business improvement projects safe and long-lasting. If you need more information about building permits, inspections, and fees, please call 630-286- 5410 between 9 am and noon, and 1pm and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

The time to call the Community Development Department is before you start a project. Tell them what you plan to do and they will explain the requirements and assist you until the project has been safely and successfully completed. The Department staff will make themselves available to meet and discuss your project specifications. If you hire a professional contractor to do the work, select one who is familiar with local building codes. A list of village licensed contractors is posted at www.clarendonhills.us/golocal.

When work is completed and has been inspected and approved, The Community Development Department will issue either a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Compliance when the permitted work is completed, inspected and approved, and a parkway inspection has been completed and approved. Permit construction deposits will not be released until a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Compliance has been issued.

A building permit provides protection to the property owner that the proposed scope of work meets the health, safety, and welfare of the adopted model codes. Building permits maintain safe, healthy buildings, and high property values. A building permit ensures the plans will be reviewed for all code and zoning compliance, the scope of work is inspected for code compliance, and all applicable municipal codes are met. If you are contemplating work being done either inside or outside of your home it never hurts to call the Community Development Department at 630-286-5410 and ask if a permit will be required. Below is a list of resources and codes relative to building construction in the Village of Clarendon Hills.

• Building Permits [link]
• Planning/Zoning/Development Review [link]
• Municipal Code [link]
  • Building Codes [link]
  • Subdivision Code [link]
  • Zoning Code [link]

All areas disturbed by the construction must be restored to their original condition by either the contractor or owner. This includes, but is not limited to streets, sidewalks, parkways, trees, bushes, fences and damage to neighboring private property caused by the construction project. A Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance will be issued by the Village once these conditions are confirmed as approved or restored to their original condition.

Without proper stormwater management, rain events may result in flooding on roads and properties throughout the Village, leading to property damage and dangerous road conditions. Stormwater run-off must be channeled through a system of pipes, ditches, catch basins and storm drains before being safely discharged into local streams and rivers. Even if a specific property has never flooded, the stormwater that flows from the property still contributes to the overall flow and must be managed so that it does not cause flooding downstream on property or roads.

An impervious area is any area within a parcel which prevents or significantly impedes the infiltration of stormwater into the soil. Examples of impervious surfaces include: Parking lots, Roofs, Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, Swimming Pools, and Gravel and stone areas. As pervious areas (natural soil) become "paved", increased amounts of stormwater are generated, placing an increased demand on the stormwater system.

Water flowing through the sanitary sewer system is transported through a dedicated collection system and treated before being released back into the environment. Stormwater flows from surfaces; off roof tops, streets, parking lots, etc. and is absorbed into the ground or conveyed by ditches and storm sewer to ponds and streams. Stormwater is not treated before it is released or absorbed back into the environment.

The Village's Sanitary Sewer System is owned, managed and maintained by the Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District.

Any property is likely to generate run-off in a severe rain storm, even if the ground is able to absorb water in a normal rain event. Everyone in the community benefits from adequate, properly functioning drainage and flood control systems, which decrease the likelihood of flooding, erosion, and the amount of pollutants discharged in surface and stormwater run-off.

The Village stormwater system is regulated by local, county, state and federal entities. The Village is required to manage the stormwater system at a level that ensures compliance with the federal Clean Water Act and in accordance with DuPage County stormwater regulations.

Ongoing maintenance operations include inspecting and cleaning of stormwater inlets, ditch repair and the repair and replacement of stormwater mains. In addition, the Village has commissioned several studies and reviews to help assess the condition of the existing stormwater system and to prioritize the work. These continue to provide the framework for stormwater maintenance and improvement projects.

By adding stormwater control features (PCBMP) to your property, you help reduce the amount of stormwater flowing into the Village's stormwater system and onto your neighbor's property. You also help the environment by improving the quality of the runoff that reaches our waterways.

Village code requires property owners provide water quality and stormwater control features (PCBMP) any time new construction or additions to structures result in more than 300 square feet of net new impervious area. Property owners can meet the requirements by adding features such as rain gardens or dry wells.

More information about the PCBMP program can be found at www.clarendonhills.us/pcbmp.