Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Downers Grove?

It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Downers Grove comes down to the details of your project.

Illinois has no single statewide shed threshold, so the 200 square foot figure quoted from the model International Residential Code does not govern here. Requirements are set by each municipality, and the ones we have checked are stricter than that figure: Wheaton does not require a building permit for a shed of 120 square feet or less, and Joliet requires a shed permit with a Residential Accessory Structures Review Form and a plat of survey showing the shed location. Assume the local number rather than a national one, and ask your building department for the threshold that applies at your address before you buy the shed. Zoning setbacks, easements and lot coverage still apply where no building permit is needed, and running electrical or plumbing to the shed triggers its own permit. Downers Grove provides an Accessory Structure / Detached Garage Diagram for shed and accessory-building submittals. Small sheds may qualify for an exemption, but zoning setbacks still apply. Confirm the current size threshold and setback rules with Community Development before building. Even when a small shed is exempt from a building permit, its placement must comply with the Village Zoning Ordinance.