The City of Palos Heights has updated its code for building regulations and fees, in anticipation of a new, electronic permit filing system coming later this year.
During its meeting on May 19, the city council voted unanimously to approve an amended version of the code. Among the significant changes in the ordinance are an increase in the minimum charge for a permit cost, raising it from $95 to $150, though the alternate cost of 1% of the total construction cost remained unchanged.
According to City Administrator Adam Jasinski, this is the first time the fees have been raised in “at least 20 years.”
Additionally, the ordinance added a list of permits and fees to the code, which Jasinski reported will be available online so residents can “clearly see what permits are required and fees associated with them.” It also updated the code to more modern standards, revising it to reflect the International Energy Conservation code 2024 Edition, instead of the 2021 Edition currently in use, and the International Code Council Inc. 2021 Edition instead of the 2006 Edition.
When introducing the ordinance, Alderman Brent Lewandowski said the code was reviewed and updated in preparation for the introduction of the city’s new online permitting system, which is expected to be available for residents to utilize by late summer.
The new system is being implemented to streamline the permitting process.
“After the 2024 hail storm, the city experienced a large influx of roofing permits, which caused a large delay in permit processing time since our staff was overwhelmed,” Jasinski explained in an emailed statement. “We looked at ways to reduce our permit processing time and settled on a new software that will allow applicants to submit and track permits online.”
Currently, all permits must be physically submitted at the building department at the city hall and entered manually by staff members.