Residential - New Construction

What to Bring: 

• Site Plan (a scaled drawing showing property boundaries, proposed buildings and improvements (including driveway location and width), and setbacks from buildings to property lines). Example. Be sure you are aware of any easements, including utilities, that may be on your property. JULIE may be contacted at 1.800.892.0123 if you are in need of assistance.
• Complete set of Construction Plans (a scaled drawing showing size & depth of footing/foundation; dimensioned floor plan; plan elevations, electrical plan; and plumbing plan). Plan must include: window brand; rise & run of stairs; roof type; and floor joist type.
• Completed Residential Building Permit Application

After the site plan, construction plans, and information form are submitted a plan review will be completed for the construction. Permits are generally issued the following business day.

Zoning Setback Requirements - New Home and Addition Construction

Note that the side yard measurements in the table below must be taken from the overhang of the structure and all other measurements in the table are made from the structure wall. Be sure to check restrictive covenants within the subdivision you are building - their front yard setback may be greater than 25'

* Each not less than five (5) feet from the facia (overhang) of the building to the lot line, and the sum of the two (2) side yards shall not be less than twelve (12) feet. For zero lot line duplexes in R-1, only one (1) side yard of nine (9) feet need be provided for each dwelling unit, and on a corner lot, there shall be two (2) front yards of not less than twenty-five (25) feet facing each of the streets. For zero lot line duplexes in R-2, each side yard shall have not less than five (5) feet from the facia (overhang) of the building to the lot line, and the sum of the two (2) side yards shall not be less than twelve (12) feet.

** Each not less than 20', but in no event less than 20% of the depth of the lot.

What Fees to Expect

Building Permit Fees: $20 filing fee plus $2 for every $1,000 in estimated R.S. Means construction value (R.S. Means construction value is calculated using the most recent edition of the R.S. Means Square Foot Costs manual). If construction commences without a valid building permit, the above fee shall be doubled. Only property owners or an authorized agent can sign the permit application. Construction value is in no way associated with the assessed value of the property.

Water and Sewer Fees: $415 Water Connection Fee, $4,317 Sewer Connection Fee, $500 Water Construction Fee ($400 of said fee shall be reimbursed based on the following: that a passing meter inspection is made by city personnel prior to the installation of the lawn (sod or seed) and/or landscaping at the subject property. In the event that a passing meter inspection is not achieved prior to the installation of the lawn and landscaping, the $400 reimbursable fee shall be forfeited. A $50 charge will be deducted from the $400 reimbursable fee and retained by the city for each and every water meter re-inspection needed), and $140 Water Meter Fee.

Reimbursable Lot Grading Fee:  A refundable lot grading fee of $2,000 shall be paid prior the issuance of a building permit for a new construction building project.  The lot grading fee shall be refunded to the owner and/or general contractor upon: 1) the final grading is satisfactorily completed within thirty (30) days following final inspection described in Section 160.009(A) and 2) the City Engineer (or his/her designee) certifies that the final lot grading complies with the approved site construction plans.  If the City Engineer (or his/her designee) concludes that the lot grading is not in compliance with the approved construction plans, the owner and/or general contractor shall have twenty (20) days from receipt of the City Engineer’s report, which illustrates the noncompliance, to bring the lot grading into compliance with the approved construction site plan.  The lot grading fee shall be forfeited upon the failure to notify the City of completion of the site grading within thirty (30) days of the final inspection or upon the failure to conform the site grading with the approved site construction plan within twenty (20) days of receipt of the report by the City Engineer (or his/her designee).

Upon the forfeiture of the lot grading fee, in accordance with Section 160.009(D) of the Washington Municipal Code, the City shall take reasonable actions to cause the lot grading to be in conformance with the construction site plan.  If the costs incurred by the City exceed the lot grading fee, the owner and the general contractor shall be jointly and severally liable for the expenses incurred by the City in excess of the lot grading fee.  Any additional amount due and payable by the owner and the general contractor hereunder shall be paid within thirty (30) days of the City’s completion of the final grading.

A Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued by the City to the owner or general contractor until either the lot grading fee is refunded in accordance with Section 160.009(D), or the additional cost described in Section 160.009(E) is paid in full.

Refundable Building Inspection Fees: $100 water/sewer connection, $100 footing/foundation, $100 framing, and $100 final. All fees for which an inspection call has been made are reimbursed upon the final inspection of the project. If more than one re-inspection of the initial noted corrections is required, the inspection fee for that phase will be forfeited. If final inspection is not made prior to occupancy, the entire $400 will be forfeited.

What Inspections to Expect:  The property owner must notify the City for one (1) water/sewer/sump inspection. No excavations may be filled nor any connections made without a City inspection.

It is the owner's responsibility to notify the City during normal business hours, at least one (1) business day (twenty-four hours) in advance of the following three (3) phases of construction:

• Prior to pouring concrete or setting block for the foundation and prior to backfill. Principal items to be inspected include the setbacks, footing and foundation widths and depths, reinforcing steel, and foundation drainage.
• Prior to covering over the framing and roughed-in electrical and plumbing. Principal items to be inspected include the frame, floor joists, firestopping, roof trusses, and roughed-in electrical wiring, circuits and grounding. Roughed-in plumbing will be viewed and if questioned the State Plumbing Inspector will be contacted. This inspection is done prior to exterior siding installation.
• Upon completion of the building or structure and before the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. Principal items to be inspected include a final check of the structure, interior and exterior walls, roof, operability of fixtures and equipment, and final electrical inspection of conductors, lighting and receptacles, circuits and water meter installation.
  A license is required for electricians. In order to obtain a certificate of registration to install electrical equipment an electrician can submit a current license issued by any of the following communities: Peoria, IL, Bloomington, IL, Springfield, IL, Decatur, IL, Pekin, IL, Ottawa, IL, Joliet, IL, or any other Illinois testing community upon verification by the city building official. Upon receipt, the City will issue an electrical certificate of registration.

Inspections focus only upon the work which is the subject of the Building Permit.