DeKalb County, IL permit planning guide

• Start with the parcel location. County authority can differ inside the same county depending on whether the site is in an incorporated city, village, town, or unincorporated area.
• Use this page as a readiness checklist before any phone calls so you can submit complete, accurate information to the right office.
• Flag overlays early—shoreland, floodplain, roads, drainage, septic, and access approvals can add extra approvals that are easy to miss.
• Gather owner information, a rough site plan, and project scope details before contacting agencies.
• Validate the final office list with Permit Check once your parcel and project context are captured.

1. Confirm the parcel, municipality, project scope, and any county or state overlay before choosing an application.
2. Gather the site plan, project dimensions, ownership information, and any trade or contractor details the office requests.
3. Resolve prerequisite zoning, shoreland, floodplain, sanitary, access, or land-use reviews before the building application when applicable.
4. Submit each approval to the office that issues it and keep the records together through inspections and closeout.

A practical preparation order

1. Confirm the parcel, municipality, project scope, and any county or state overlay before choosing an application.
2. Gather the site plan, project dimensions, ownership information, and any trade or contractor details the office requests.
3. Resolve prerequisite zoning, shoreland, floodplain, sanitary, access, or land-use reviews before the building application when applicable.
4. Submit each approval to the office that issues it and keep the records together through inspections and closeout.

Offices that may be involved

• DeKalb County Community Development Department: Electrical Permit (Pool Pump / Heater)

Permit triggers

• Building Permit (Shed / Accessory Building): A shed / accessory building requires a permit. Detached accessory rear/side setback 5 ft (A-1 = 20 ft, § 53-E-6.D.1); accessory height 21 ft on residential lots <2 acres / 30 ft on lots >=2 acres / no limit in agricultural districts (§ 53-E-6.B); the accessory must sit behind the primary building, occupy <=30% of the yard, and may not be used for dwelling purposes (§ 53-E-6.D.2).
• Building Permit (Addition): A heated addition requires a building permit and must meet the district principal setbacks + lot coverage (RC-1 20% / RC-2 30%) + the 3-story height cap (§ 3.1). A project in the FP/C floodplain-conservation district triggers § 53-D-1 conditions + the FEMA FIRM (Flood_Hazard_Zone overlay).
• Building Permit (Basement / Interior Alteration): An interior alteration affecting walls/egress/structure, or adding electrical/plumbing/mechanical, requires a building permit. No exterior zoning change; egress/energy per the 2021 IRC + 2021 IECC (Ch. 14). Electrical / plumbing / mechanical sub-permits as scope requires.
• Building Permit (Deck): A deck requires a building permit (accessory structure). A detached deck has a 5 ft rear/side accessory setback (A-1 = 20 ft, § 53-E-6.D.1); an attached deck follows the district principal setbacks (§ 3.1). Guards are required at >30 in above grade (2021 IRC).
• Building Permit (Detached Garage): A detached garage requires a building permit (accessory building). Same § 53-E-6 accessory bulk/setback rules as a shed (5 ft rear/side, A-1 = 20 ft; height 21 ft <2 ac / 30 ft >=2 ac; behind the primary building; not for dwelling use).
• Fence Permit: A fence requires a fence permit in unincorporated DeKalb County (fee $75). Zoning: max height 6 ft (10 ft only in manufacturing districts, § 53-E-3.E); a fence forward of the primary structure closest point to a street line is allowed ONLY by permission of the zoning administrator (§ 53-E-3.D); a corner-lot sight-distance triangle bars anything 2-8 ft high within a 40 ft triangle. No opacity rule.

Packet requirements

• Building Permit Application (paper, complete): Complete the DeKalb County Building Permit Application (cd-bldgpermitapp) and drop off / mail it at Community Development, 110 E. Sycamore St., 4th Floor, Sycamore IL 60178; application fees (cash or check) are due at application. No online portal.
• Site plan and/or plat of survey: The proposed structure with distances to lot lines. New primary residences + commercial must use an official Plat of Survey.
• Detailed building plans & specs (2 sets): Two complete sets of building plans & specifications; all non-residential and non-agricultural plans must be signed, sealed and dated by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
• Well & septic permits or Health-Dept Site Verification Form: For a new structure on well/septic: approved well & septic permits or the DeKalb County Health Dept Site Verification Form (815-758-6673).
• Notarized contractor letter of intent or Homeowner Exemption: A notarized letter of intent on company letterhead for the plumber/HVAC/roofer/electrician, OR a Homeowner Exemption from Registration as a Contractor form for an owner-occupant self-performing the work.
• Road-authority access permit: Required if construction is on a parcel with no driveway entrance or only an agricultural field entrance.

Fee schedules

• Building Permit (floor area): minimum $150 · $0.6 per sq. ft. · Uniform $0.60 per sq ft of floor area with a $150 minimum (per_sqft 0.60, minimum_fee 150) — cleanly prices new principal ((1)(a)(i)), addition/alteration ((1)(b)), deck ((1)(c)(4) $150 min), accessory >120 sf ((1)(c)(2) $150 or $0.60/sf greater) AND accessory <=120 sf ((1)(c)(3) $150, which equals the minimum). Trade Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical $150 each ((1)(a)(ii-iv)). Work before permit => fees doubled; local-gov/school waived. Solar is priced separately by kW (§ 14-7, on the solar trigger notes).
• Fence Permit: Base fee $75 · minimum $75 · Flat $75 (§ 14-A-2(1)(c)(1), "Fences and permanent signs"). DeKalb DOES require a fence permit — opposite of Will/Kendall which exempt fences. Max height 6 ft (§ 53-E-3.E).
• Swimming Pool Permit (in-ground): Base fee $300 · minimum $300 · Seeded as in-ground with electric $300 (§ 14-A-2(1)(c)(6)). Above-ground with electric $150 ((1)(c)(5)) and pool fencing if none exists $75 ((1)(c)(7)) noted here (one flat per permit_id). A minimum 4-ft barrier is required (2021 ISPSC); an electrical permit is separate.

• Illinois statewide code source

Confirm the current office instructions, application version, and adopted fee schedule before filing.