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Building permits in Naperville, IL
In Naperville, kitchen and bath remodels, finished basements and decks need a permit, while painting, carpet and flooring do not. Here is what the City asks for.
What needs a permit
- Remodeling that affects the structure, electrical or plumbing needs a Residential Room Alteration permit. Kitchen and bath remodels and finished basements are the typical examples.
- Any elevated deck needs a permit, and so does replacing a deck's beams, joists, stairs or railings.
- Additions, patios, fences and pools also need permits.
What does not
- Cosmetic work, such as painting, carpeting or flooring.
- Replacing vinyl, aluminum or cement board siding.
- Replacing an asphalt shingle roof when the existing sheathing stays. Brick, stone, metal, wood and slate do need a permit.
How to apply
- Apply through the City's online permitting portal.
- Remodels need real drawings, not sketches. The drawings must show the floor plan, egress, the furnace and water heater, electrical and plumbing layouts, and a wall section with insulation and ceiling height.
- The City will not issue the permit until everyone working on the project is identified. Electricians must be licensed and registered with Naperville, and plumbers need a state license.
Review and inspections
- Simple projects can be reviewed in under a week. Complex ones take three to four weeks, longer in busy season.
- Typical inspections are rough framing, electrical and plumbing, then insulation before drywall, then a final. Schedule them at least 72 hours ahead.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the renovated area must be hard-wired, interconnected and have battery backup.
- Post the permit where it can be seen from the street. Work must start within 180 days.
Contact the village
Naperville Building Permits · 630-420-6100, option 2 (inspections: option 1)
Summarized from the village's own pages in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the village before you start. Sources: Naperville building permits · Residential room alteration handout · Deck, patio and shed permits.
Let us handle it
For projects we build in Naperville, we tell you what the village requires, help prepare the paperwork and coordinate each inspection. More about our work in Naperville.
Questions
Do I need a permit to finish a basement in Naperville?
Remodeling that affects the structure, electrical or plumbing needs a Residential Room Alteration permit. Kitchen and bath remodels and finished basements are the typical examples. Any elevated deck needs a permit, and so does replacing a deck's beams, joists, stairs or railings. Additions, patios, fences and pools also need permits.
Who applies for the permit?
For projects we build, we tell you what the village requires, help prepare the paperwork and coordinate the inspections.
Planning a project in Naperville?