Renovation and repair in Palatine, IL

Palatine is a village northwest of Chicago, mostly in Cook County.

Permits in Palatine

Building permits here are handled by the Building Permits & Inspections (Community Development) (opens in a new tab) (Cook County (also partly Lake County)). Before work starts, we confirm what your project needs and who will pull the permit.

Palatine's Express permits are limited to listed smaller projects at detached single-family homes, such as decks, roof tear-offs, fences, small sheds, and furnace, A/C or water heater replacement. Express applications must be filed online.
Source: Apply for Express Building Permits Online | Palatine, IL (opens in a new tab)
Building permits and contractor registration are handled only through the Village's Citizen Self Service portal, which is also used to request inspections. Standard permits cover larger work such as new homes, additions and all multi-family projects.
Source: Building Permits & Inspections | Palatine, IL (opens in a new tab)
Palatine requires permits for projects such as finishing or remodeling a basement, kitchen or bathroom remodels, decks, roofs, sunrooms, and drainage work like connecting downspouts or sump pumps to buried pipe.
Source: When a Building Permit is Required | Palatine, IL (opens in a new tab)
Painting, new flooring, faucet replacement, and swapping a window or door for the same size and type in the same opening usually need no permit. A door between the garage and house must be fire-rated, solid-core, self-closing and self-latching.
Source: When a Building Permit is Required | Palatine, IL (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Facts on this page were checked on September 30, 2026; always confirm with the official office before relying on them.