The Building Department and Code Enforcement are located in the Village Hall.

Building Inspector/Economic Development: Mike Smith 708-672-5431
Code Enforcement Officer: Darrell Hornback 708-672-5431

The Village follows: International Code Council 2003, National Electric Codes 2005, Illinois Plumbing Code 2004, Illinois Accessibility Code 1997, with Local Amendments. Please link to Municipal Code for more information.

The Village of Crete employs a full-time Code Enforcement Officer and a combination of full-time and part-time Building Inspectors. The Village's code enforcement is a complaint-based system and residents are urged to contact the Code Enforcement Officer if they have a concern. Informal resolution of code violations will be attempted first with the assumption that the resident or business owner was not aware of the problem or violation. If this process is not successful, the owner of the property in violation of municipal code will be ticketed and ultimately summoned to court if the violation is not corrected. This process is meant to serve all of the residents and is NOT meant to penalize any one individual over another. It is up to all of us to keep Crete a beautiful place to live and work!

Code Enforcement ­ The Village of Crete Property Maintenance Code requires the following:

• All property and premises shall be maintained in an orderly, clean and safe condition.

• Outdoor storage is prohibited in residential districts.

• Weeds and grass shall not exceed heights of 8 inches and all noxious weeds are prohibited.

• All accessory structures, including garages, fences and walls shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.

• All exterior walls, doors, windows and frames shall be free of holes, breaks, loose or rotting materials; peeling, flaking or chipped paint shall be eliminated and surfaces re-painted.

• Swimming pools shall be maintained in good repair and in a clean, clear and sanitary condition.

• No recreational vehicle may be stored or parked on private property within a residentially zoned area unless such vehicle is wholly located within the lot lines of the private property and on a parking surface composed of an asphalt or concrete pad wholly encompassing the area underneath the vehicle.

Building Permits ­ Village of Crete ordinance requires that a building permit be obtained for ALL new construction and remodeling. This includes but not limited to: fences, decks, pools, garages and sheds, driveway or sidewalk replacement, repair or shingling a roof, residing, lawn irrigation systems and more. Contact the Building Department pertaining to questions regarding building permits.

All residents are asked to make sure that contractors they hire are insured and licensed by the Village even though they are licensed by the state. All trades must be licensed by the Village for the protection of the residents.

When the Village issues a permit, it is considered legal permission to begin work. In some cases it may be necessary to go before the zoning board to get permission for construction before the permit can be issued. A building permit indicates that improvement plans are in accordance with Village building codes and zoning laws. The Village has the authority to impose fines on contractors or residents who do not obtain the proper permits for work requiring building permits. Residents should be aware that when a contractor is hired to do the work, it is the property owner's responsibility to obtain the proper permits and permits must be posted in clear view at the jobsite. The insurance carried by the contractor covers injuries on the job or problems caused by improper construction.

Applications for a building permit are available at the Village Hall. All fees are paid at the same location. Any questions regarding permits, codes or whether a contractor is licensed in the village may be directed to the Building Department at 672-2731

Grading ­ Property grades CANNOT BE CHANGED without the approval of the Superintendent of Public Works (672-7100).

Drainage - In order to prevent drainage problems, sump pumps and gutter drains should be directed away from the house and to the rear yards. Drainage easements along the rear property line include a swale system that will carry excess water away. Only when there is no rear yard drainage system can sump pump and gutter drains be directed to the front yard. This should only be done in such a manner as to not cause icing to occur on sidewalks and streets in the winter.

Procedures for Obtaining a Building Permit ­

• Alteration, repairs and improvements including but not limited to remodeling, rewiring, change of electrical service, repiping, roofing, window and/or door replacement, siding, soffit, fascia, gutters, concrete placement, paving, sheds, fences, and swimming pools require a Building Permit in the Village.

• If the property is located in the Heritage District, your application must be submitted with a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Heritage and Architecture Commission.

1. A meeting with the Building Inspector is recommended.
2. Obtain a Building Permit Application from the Building Department.
3. Complete the application and submit with all of the required supporting documents to the Building Department.
4. All Contractors and Subcontractors working on the site for which the Building Permit is requested must have a current Contractor's license from the Village and provide a Certificate of Insurance with the ³Village of Crete, 524 W. Exchange St., Crete, IL 60417² listed as the holder of the certificate prior to the start of work.
5. Once the Building Permit is issued and the Applicant notified, the Permit must be picked up within 5 days of the notice and must be continuously displayed at the worksite throughout the construction.
6. Inspections are required and must be requested at least 24 hours in advance. Inspections are conducted between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, holidays excluded.
7. Building operations and material storage must be confined to the lot on which the Building Permit was issued.
8. All precautions must be taken to keep streets and adjoining properties free of mud, debris, and windblown materials by maintaining a dumpster on site or provide for the daily removal of waste - violation of this element will cause work to be stopped by the Village.
9. Additional information and questions may be posed to the Building Department at 708-672-2731.