Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Gurnee?
Yes. In Illinois, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Gurnee is no exception.
Additions and structural alterations require a permit in essentially all Illinois jurisdictions. Illinois has no statewide residential building code for this work, so the permit threshold is set by your municipality or county. The statewide codes that took effect on 1 January 2025 apply to commercial, public and state-funded buildings. Many local codes require zoning review for lot coverage and setbacks, and properties in a mapped flood zone face additional elevation requirements. Gurnee treats additions and garages as Long-Form projects that require plan review under the International Residential Code the Village has adopted with local amendments, so a permit is required. The project must meet Gurnee Zoning Ordinance setbacks and lot-coverage limits, and a legal plat of survey is expected as part of the submittal. Follow the Village Construction Document Submittal requirements. General and trade contractors generally must be registered with the Gurnee Building Department before the permit is released, and the permit is filed and inspected through the OneStop online system at onestop.gurnee.il.us.
Documents you may need
- Plat of survey / site plan showing setbacksrequired
- Construction drawings (floor plan, elevations)required
- Structural details or engineered plansLikely required
- Contractor license and insurance informationSometimes required
- Village of Gurnee Long-Form building permit application (for additions and major construction, through the OneStop portal)required
- Construction drawings and, where applicable, structural details or engineeringrequired
- Legal plat of survey showing the addition footprint and setbacksrequired
- List of registered contractors for the general and trade workLikely required
Possible inspections
- Footing/foundation inspection
- Framing inspection
- Rough electrical/plumbing/mechanical inspection
- Final inspection
- Footing and foundation inspection
- Framing and rough trade (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) inspections
- Final building inspection scheduled with the Building Safety Division at 847-599-7550
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Gurnee?
- Yes. In Illinois, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Gurnee is no exception. Additions and structural alterations require a permit in essentially all Illinois jurisdictions. Illinois has no statewide residential building code for this work, so the permit threshold is set by your municipality or county. The statewide codes that took effect on 1 January 2025 apply to commercial, public and state-funded buildings. Many local codes require zoning review for lot coverage and setbacks, and properties in a mapped flood zone face additional elevation requirements. Gurnee treats additions and garages as Long-Form projects that require plan review under the International Residential Code the Village has adopted with local amendments, so a permit is required. The project must meet Gurnee Zoning Ordinance setbacks and lot-coverage limits, and a legal plat of survey is expected as part of the submittal. Follow the Village Construction Document Submittal requirements. General and trade contractors generally must be registered with the Gurnee Building Department before the permit is released, and the permit is filed and inspected through the OneStop online system at onestop.gurnee.il.us.
- Who issues the permit in Gurnee?
- The local building department for Gurnee handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.