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Permitting Authorities / Illinois / City of North Chicago Department of Economic and Community Development

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in North Chicago, IL?

Adopted code

City of North Chicago Department of Economic and Community Development

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in North Chicago, IL, issued by City of North Chicago Department of Economic and Community Development. ROOFING IS A CITY PERMIT TYPE. The City's 2026 Building Permit Application lists "Roofing/Soffit/Fascia" among its types of building permit and says "DO NOT START ANY WORK UNTIL THE PERMIT IS ISSUED!" The City's Contractor Registration Information Packet says "The City of North Chicago does not issue over-the-counter permits" and that "Processing simple permit requests such as roof repairs, siding, minor electrical, plumbing, and HVAC will take approximately 3-5 business days." A contractor applying needs "Registration with North Chicago Department of Economic and Community Development" and a "Contract or job proposal signed by the property owner (including a detailed description of work being done and total job value)." The packet says "It is required that the contractor performing the work is present for any inspections" and that failed or no-show inspections are charged "a $50.00 re-inspection fee." The City's FAQ says "we currently do not have any method to submit a building permit online"; completed applications are submitted by email.

Jurisdiction
City of North Chicago, Illinois
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
1850 Lewis Avenue, North Chicago, IL 60064
Contact
  • url: https://www.northchicago.org/departments/economic_development/buildingdept.php
  • phone: 847-596-8650
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Illinois licenses roofing contractors statewide with no dollar threshold. 225 ILCS 335/9(2): "No work involving the construction, reconstruction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of any kind of roofing or waterproofing may be done except by a roofing contractor or a qualifying party licensed or credentialed under this Act." Under 225 ILCS 335/5(a-3), "A municipality or a county that requires a building permit may not issue a building permit to a roofing contractor unless that contractor has provided sufficient proof of current licensure as a roofing contractor by the State," and a holder of a limited license is restricted to permits for work on residential properties of 8 units or less. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation lists "Roofing Contractor, Licensed" among the professions it licenses.
  • city_level: A CITY REGISTRATION ON TOP OF THE STATE LICENSE. The City's Contractor Registration Information Packet says "To be registered with the City of North Chicago, all roofers must be licensed with the State of Illinois. You must submit a copy of your current state license with this application," and "A current surety bond in the amount of $5,000 is required for any work being done by a contractor in the City of North Chicago." Registrants also file a certificate of liability insurance naming the City as certificate holder, and "Each license processed with the City of North Chicago will expire one year from the date of issuance."
Permit process note
ROOFING IS A CITY PERMIT TYPE. The City's 2026 Building Permit Application lists "Roofing/Soffit/Fascia" among its types of building permit and says "DO NOT START ANY WORK UNTIL THE PERMIT IS ISSUED!" The City's Contractor Registration Information Packet says "The City of North Chicago does not issue over-the-counter permits" and that "Processing simple permit requests such as roof repairs, siding, minor electrical, plumbing, and HVAC will take approximately 3-5 business days." A contractor applying needs "Registration with North Chicago Department of Economic and Community Development" and a "Contract or job proposal signed by the property owner (including a detailed description of work being done and total job value)." The packet says "It is required that the contractor performing the work is present for any inspections" and that failed or no-show inspections are charged "a $50.00 re-inspection fee." The City's FAQ says "we currently do not have any method to submit a building permit online"; completed applications are submitted by email.
Adopted code
THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, PER THE CITY'S BUILDING/PERMITS PAGE. The page says "As of October 1, 2024 the City of North Chicago has adopted the following building codes," and lists the "2021 International Residential Code" with the 2021 International Building, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, Property Maintenance and Existing Building Codes and the "Illinois Energy Conservation Code." The City's Contractor Registration Information Packet says "The City of North Chicago City Council has adopted the following as official Codes of the City of North Chicago, effective October 1, 2024," including the "International Residential Code (IRC) 2021." No adopting ordinance was read, and the City's amendments, if any, are in the City Code, which this record did not read, so it does not state whether the City has amended the IRC's roof provisions.
Sales & use tax
Illinois taxes the roofer, not the job, and the operative rate is not keyed to the North Chicago job address. Under 86 Ill. Adm. Code 130.1940(c), a construction contractor "does not incur Retailers' Occupation Tax liability as to receipts from labor furnished and tangible personal property (materials and fixtures) incorporated into a structure," but "incurs Use Tax on the cost price of the tangible personal property that is incorporated into real estate," with "roofing materials" named in the rule's own list of examples. Repair and replacement are taxed identically: 130.1940(a)(3) defines "construct" to include "repair, renovate or remodel." The Illinois Department of Revenue states the Use Tax rate as "6.25% of the purchase price or fair market value, whichever is greater." Where the contractor buys for resale, the local tax follows "the place of business at or from which the contractor or builder handles the transaction" (130.2075(b)(3)), so the combined rate on materials is the supply house's or the contractor's, which this record does not pin down. The authoritative lookup is the Illinois Department of Revenue's MyTax Illinois Tax Rate Finder.

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Building permits in the City of North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County, are handled by the City's Department of Economic and Community Development at City Hall, 1850 Lewis Avenue, through its Building/Permits office. The Illinois Capital Development Board says "The State has not adopted a building code for repairs to existing single family residences," so North Chicago's roofing rules are its own: the City says that as of October 1, 2024 it has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code. This listing covers the office's contact details, the City's own statements on code and permits, and the rules state law sets for every Illinois roofer.

Sources

Roofing questions: North Chicago, IL

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in North Chicago, IL?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in North Chicago, IL.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in North Chicago, IL?

Yes.

What building code does North Chicago, IL use?

THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, PER THE CITY'S BUILDING/PERMITS PAGE. The page says "As of October 1, 2024 the City of North Chicago has adopted the following building codes," and lists the "2021 International Residential Code" with the 2021 International Building, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, Property Maintenance and Existing Building Codes and the "Illinois Energy Conservation Code." The City's Contractor Registration Information Packet says "The City of North Chicago City Council has adopted the following as official Codes of the City of North Chicago, effective October 1, 2024," including the "International Residential Code (IRC) 2021." No adopting ordinance was read, and the City's amendments, if any, are in the City Code, which this record did not read, so it does not state whether the City has amended the IRC's roof provisions.