(A) No building or other construction shall be built, and no building or other structure shall be altered or repaired, nor structural, electrical, or plumbing work of any kind or nature may be performed unless a building permit authorizing such construction is first procured from the village. For the purpose of this section, the permitting requirement does not include routine or regular maintenance and/or minor repairs, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Electrical Work: The replacement of electrical fixtures including lights, outlets, switches provided such repairs do not involve or require installation, replacement or rearrangement of wiring or circuits, or, the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved receptacles.
2. Plumbing Work:
(a) Stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drain pipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, then a permit shall be required;
(b) The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, sinks, and showerheads provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
3. Other Minor Work: Routine or regular maintenance and/or minor residential repairs, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Replacement of standard doors and overhead garage doors of the same size-opening.
(b) Addition, replacement, or removal of window screens, storm windows or doors.
(c) Window tinting and glazing.
(d) Interior cosmetic changes including addition, replacement or removal of carpeting, tile, flooring, trim, wall coverings, painting or staining, and replacement cabinetry or countertops.
(e) Installation of low voltage electrical for alarms, garage doors, or similar function.
4. Other Exceptions:
(a) Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.
(b) Installation of prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep.
(c) Installation of swings and other playground equipment accessory to the residence.
(d) Replacement of any minor part of equipment that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
5. Portable Equipment: A permit shall not be required for connection of the following approved portable equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.
(a) Portable heating, cooking, or clothes drying appliances.
(b) Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid.
(c) Portable heating appliances.
(d) Portable ventilation appliances.
(e) Portable cooling units.
The restrictions of this subsection shall not be applicable to situations requiring emergency repairs related to health or safety of persons or property. Once the emergency has been remedied, the property owner must notify the village of the emergency repairs and subsequently comply with the permit process.
The exceptions to the permitting requirement in this subsection shall not apply to situations requiring the application of a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work at a landmark property.
(B) No building shall be demolished in whole or in part unless a demolition permit is procured.
1. The application for a demolition permit shall include provisions for controlling dust and other airborne particles from the subject property, including, without limitation, a source of water and spraying equipment and any other measures to be taken to control airborne particles.
2. Notice of the filing of an application for a permit to demolish a dwelling shall be given to all residents of property within two hundred fifty feet (250') of any part of the property where the demolition will occur. Such notice shall be in a form provided by the village and shall be given by first class mail with purchase of a certificate of mailing or by personal delivery not later than ten (10) days after the filing of the application. Within fourteen (14) days after the filing of the demolition application, the applicant shall file with the village written certification that such notice has been given. The certification shall be in a form provided by the village and shall include the original receipts from the certificate of mailing, if any. The village will not process, and will return to the applicant, any application for which such notice was not given or for which such certification was not filed as provided herein.
(a) Required Personal Visits: Notwithstanding subsection (B)2 of this section, personal visit must be made by the applicant to the owner or adult resident of each property that immediately abuts the property where the demolition will occur or that is separated from the property where the demolition will occur only by an alley (the "abutting owner").
(b) Required Number Of Visits And Attempted Visits: The applicant must undertake to make one personal visit to each abutting owner. The applicant must make at least two (2) attempts to complete each required personal visit. Each attempt must be made at a time when it is reasonable that the abutting owner will be present. All personal visits must be made after the applicant's application for a building permit has been submitted to the village for review.
If there is no answer by the abutting owner on the first attempt to make a personal visit, then the applicant must leave a letter, in a standard form provided by the village, stating that a project is proposed, that the applicant is trying to make personal contact, that the applicant will stop by again, and that the abutting owner may call the applicant to set a time for a visit.
If there is no answer on the second attempt, then the applicant must leave a second standard letter and a standard village information packet that the second attempt was made, that the abutting owner may call the applicant or the village for information about the proposed work, and that the plans related to the work are available for review at the village offices.
(c) Scope Of Visit: During a personal visit, the applicant must show the abutting owner a copy of the proposed site plan and the tree preservation plan for the project. The applicant must explain to the abutting owner, in general terms, the scope of the work, the timetable for the work, any special measures such as those being made to protect property, and other matters that may be relevant to the abutting owner. The applicant also must provide the abutting owner with a village prepared packet of information including, among any other things, a summary of construction regulations and procedures.
The purpose of a personal visit is not to secure any form of approval from the abutting owner, but instead to assure that the abutting owner has had the opportunity to learn, in general terms, about the proposed project.
(d) Record Of Visit: The applicant must file with the village, prior to the issuance of any permit for work on the subject property, a standard "personal visit completion form" that states that the applicant successfully completed the required, abutting owner personal visits. If one or more of the personal visits could not be completed, then the applicant must state on the personal visit completion form that he or she properly attempted to make the visits, when the attempts were made, why the attempts were unsuccessful, and that he or she left the required letters.
(e) Demolition Notice Requirements Still Applicable: The personal visit provision of this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the demolition notice provisions of this section.
3. At least seven (7) days prior to the commencement of any demolition, the applicant shall post notice of such demolition in the front yard of the subject property. The notice shall be provided by the village.
4. Any demolition work performed in the village must be performed by a contractor licensed with the village.
5. Prior to the commencement of any demolition, the applicant shall ensure that the subject property is cordoned off by a chainlink fence in accordance with subsection 4-1-16(G) of this chapter. If the demolition is for less than the entire structure, the fencing required hereunder may be limited to an area surrounding the area subject to the demolition.
6. Prior to demolition, the applicant shall provide the village with written releases from the applicable utility companies, with the exception of Commonwealth Edison, indicating that the utility company has been informed of the demolition and that the necessary steps to secure the utility during the demolition have been taken. For the electric service, a visual inspection by the village shall serve to verify that electric service has been secured.
7. The applicant shall provide the village with written notice of the completion of any demolition within three (3) days of such completion.
8. Demolition must be completed within twelve (12) weeks from the date of issuance of the demolition permit. If the demolition is not completed within twelve (12) weeks of the issuance of the demolition permit, the applicant shall immediately: a) take such action as is necessary to return the property to a condition substantially similar to that which existed prior to the demolition; or b) ensure that the property is restored to a safe level and
grade.
(C) It shall be the duty of the Building Department to inspect the construction, installation, alteration, and repair of all work requiring a permit in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. Inspections may be conducted using any methods of in-person or virtual observation that allow the Village Manager or their designee to determine that work completed is in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. (Ord. 2605, 1-22-2007; amd. Ord. 4068, 9-7-2023)