City of Lake Forest, IL

Building permits are required to assure compliance with health and life safety building codes and protect your family and property.  Most home improvement projects require a permit before work begins.  Permits and inspection results are kept on file in the City offices and are available for review by insurance companies in the event of a loss on the property and by potential future buyers of the property.  To confirm whether or not your project requires a building permit, please contact Carolynn Gaylord at 847-810-3521.

Application ProcessAll applicants are encouraged to submit permit applications (see the links below) and construction documents online via the City's web portal.  City staff is available to assist you in the registration and application process.  Submitting applications and construction documents digitally will allow the City to serve our customers more efficiently.  Design professionals can provide digital plans for submittal, if necessary, City staff will assist in obtaining digital plans from design professionals.  For smaller projects, plans printed on 8 1/2x11 or 11x17, staff is available to scan documents as necessary to convert them to a digital format.

City staff reviews all plans electronically.  The final approved construction plans and documents will be made available on the City's web portal.  Or, upon request, a copy can be emailed to the property owner or applicant.  Property owners are responsible for providing a copy of the approved plans and documents to others who may need them.  Upon request, the City will print a copy of the approved plans in an 11x17 format.

For your convenience, a checklist of permit submittal requirements is included in the permit application packets below.  Help us to expedite the issuance of your permit by submitting a complete application including architectural and engineering plans if appropriate, contractor information and all required technical information.  Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

Plan review and permit fees can be paid in cash, by check, by credit card (a 2.95% fee is assessed for credit card transactions).

To apply for, pay for or schedule inspections online click here.

If you have not registered yet, please follow the prompts to register.  Contact Carolynn Gaylord at 847-810-3521 if you need assistance.

Here are some Quick Tips and Frequently Asked Questions to help your project go smoothly!

Document Center

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Residential Permit Applications36 documents

• Addition Permit
  document Header Addition Permit
• Deck Permit
  document Header Deck Permit
• Demolition and New Single Family Dwelling Permit
  document Header Demolition and New Single Family Dwelling Permit
• Demolition of Single Family Dwelling Only
  document Header Demolition of Single Family Dwelling Only
  (No Replacement Structure)
• Driveway Permit
  document Header Driveway Permit
• Electric Permit
  document Header Electric Permit
• Exterior Lighting (Landscape Lighting) Permit
  document Header Exterior Lighting (Landscape Lighting) Permit
• Exterior Material Permit
  document Header Exterior Material Permit
• Fence Permit
  document Header Fence Permit
• Fountain Permit
  document Header Fountain Permit
• Generator Permit
  document Header Generator Permit
• Grading Permit
  document Header Grading Permit
• Grading Waiver
  document Header Grading Waiver
• Hardscape and Landscape Permit
  document Header Hardscape and Landscape Permit
• HVAC Permit
  document Header HVAC Permit
• Interior Draintile Permit
  document Header Interior Draintile Permit
• Irrigation (Sprinkler) System Permit
  document Header Irrigation (Sprinkler) System Permit
• New Duplex Dwelling Permit
  document Header New Duplex Dwelling Permit
• New Single Family Dwelling Permit
  document Header New Single Family Dwelling Permit
• Patio Permit
  document Header Patio Permit
• Pillar Permit
  document Header Pillar Permit
• Plumbing Permit
  document Header Plumbing Permit
• Pool and/or Spa Permit
  document Header Pool and/or Spa Permit
• Remodeling Permit
  document Header Remodeling Permit
• Residential Fire Suppression (Sprinkler) Permit
  document Header Residential Fire Suppression (Sprinkler) Permit
• Residential Lighting Guidelines
  document Header Residential Lighting Guidelines
• Roof Permit
  document Header Roof Permit
• Satellite Dish Permit
  document Header Satellite Dish Permit
• Sewer Permit (Sanitary or Storm)
  document Header Sewer Permit (Sanitary or Storm)
• Shed Permit
  document Header Shed Permit
• Storage Tank Removal Permit
  document Header Storage Tank Removal Permit
• Tuckpointing Permit
  document Header Tuckpointing Permit
• Wall Permit
  document Header Wall Permit
• Water Heater Permit
  document Header Water Heater Permit
• Water Service Permit
  document Header Water Service Permit
• Window Permit
  document Header Window Permit

Commercial Permit Applications27 documents

• Addition Permit
  document Header Addition Permit
• Demolition and New Multi-Family or Commercial Permit
  document Header Demolition and New Multi-Family or Commercial Permit
• Electric Permit
  document Header Electric Permit
• Exterior Material Permit
  document Header Exterior Material Permit
• Fire Alarm Permit
  document Header Fire Alarm Permit
• Fire Suppression (Sprinkler) Permit
  document Header Fire Suppression (Sprinkler) Permit
• Generator Permit
  document Header Generator Permit
• Grading Permit
  document Header Grading Permit
• Grading Waiver
  document Header Grading Waiver
• Hood and Duct Suppression Permit
  document Header Hood and Duct Suppression Permit
• HVAC Permit
  document Header HVAC Permit
• Irrigation (Sprinkler) System Permit
  document Header Irrigation (Sprinkler) System Permit
• New Multi-Family or Commercial Building Permit
  document Header New Multi-Family or Commercial Building Permit
• Parking Lot (Driveway) Permit
  document Header Parking Lot (Driveway) Permit
• Plumbing Permit
  document Header Plumbing Permit
• Remodeling Permit
  document Header Remodeling Permit
• Roof Permit
  document Header Roof Permit
• Sewer Permit (Sanitary or Storm)
  document Header Sewer Permit (Sanitary or Storm)
• Sign Permit
  document Header Sign Permit
• Signage and Awning Design Guidelines
  document Header Signage and Awning Design Guidelines
• Storage Tank Removal Permit
  document Header Storage Tank Removal Permit
• Street Obstruction Permit
  document Header Street Obstruction Permit
• Technical Submission Form
  document Header Technical Submission Form
• Temporary Construction Trailer Permit
  document Header Temporary Construction Trailer Permit
• Tuckpointing Permit
  document Header Tuckpointing Permit
• Water Service Permit
  document Header Water Service Permit
• Window Permit
  document Header Window Permit

Other Permit Applications and Guides9 documents

• Building Scale (Bulk) Calculation Application
  document Header Building Scale (Bulk) Calculation Application
• Building Scale (Bulk) Workbook
  document Header Building Scale (Bulk) Workbook
• Fee Schedule
  document Header Fee Schedule
• Owner's Designee Form
  document Header Owner's Designee Form
• Residential Design Guidelines
  document Header Residential Design Guidelines
• Revision Application
  document Header Revision Application
• Technical Submission
  document Header Technical Submission
• Tree Removal Permit
  document Header Tree Removal Permit
• Zoning Compliance Application
  document Header Zoning Compliance Application