Permits no longer needed for minor repairs in Will County, board rules
Susan DeMar LaffertyDaily Southtown
After several complaints from a board member, Will County will no longer require homeowners to have a permit for some minor repairs.
During Thursday’s county board meeting, members agreed to eliminate permits for roof repairs of 100 square feet or less. It also agreed to eliminate permits for replacing exterior gutters, leaders and exterior doors wiithin the same frame opening.
The changes were “thanks to (county board member) Steve Balich,” R-Homer Glen, said Tom Weigel, chairman of the board’s Land Use Committee in proposing the changes.
For months, Balich has criticized permits for routine maintenance and minor home repairs as “absurd” and “illogical,” noting that most homeowners are unaware that permits are needed.
He also sought to drop the permits for any repair work to maintain the condition of an existing structure, or for any item that does not require a final inspection.
The county’s building code already exempts permits for repairs, such as, replacing storm doors, appliances, smoke detectors, lighting fixtures, roll insulation, or replacing glass in a window or door.
Balich said Thursday he will continue discussion in future committee meetings to eliminate permits for “minor plumbing changes.”
“These are things that upset the general public. It’s an added cost they do not need,” he said.
The board also adopted the updated Illinois Plumbing Code, which defines minor repairs as those that do not require changes in the piping or do not involve removing, replacing or installing any pipe or plumbing fixture.
In earlier discussions on this issues, other board members said they wanted to continue to require permits for any items that could be a safety issue.
In other county board action:
- The board approved special use permits for three solar farms, two in Beecher and one in Manhattan Township. They amended the requirements to add that prevailing wages must be paid when decommissioning a solar facility.
- New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann was approved as Will County’s representative on the Metra board of directors, and J.D. Ross was reappointed to the RTA board, both on a 24 to 1 vote.
Board member Judy Ogalla, R-Monee, cast the lone opposing vote. She said later that she wants such appointments to be open to more people.
“Will County has a lot of talented people. We keep picking the same people, or people from the same area,” she said, adding that she would like to bring in new people, who could offer “a different perspective.”
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