LaGrange Park staff recommends adopting 2024 building and fire codes; council discusses energy, EV charging and storefront window display requirement

Village staff presented a proposal to adopt newer editions of the building and fire codes and to update local amendments to comply with Illinois Public Act 103‑0510, which the staff said requires municipalities that have adopted building codes to adopt code editions from the current year or the preceding nine calendar years.

Rich Piccolo, a building and fire code specialist, briefed the board on recommended adoption of the 2024 International Code Council family of codes (including the 2023 National Electrical Code and the Illinois plumbing, accessibility and energy codes where applicable). Piccolo described significant changes since the 2015 edition adopted locally, including stricter energy provisions, new guidance on electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure, updated tables determining required exits for rooms, and new provisions addressing lithium battery storage and related fire safety. He noted the addition of an “existing building” code that provides repair and reuse options for older structures.

Staff described the state notice received in March 2025 from the Capital Development Board that the village’s 2015 code editions did not comply with section 10.18 of Public Act 103‑0510 and said staff worked with BNF Construction Code Services to draft updated local amendments. The board and staff discussed whether energy‑efficiency requirements could force fuel‑type changes for appliances, and Piccolo and staff clarified that the code does not currently prohibit gas appliances and that some statewide codes (for example the Illinois plumbing code and Illinois energy code) have limits on local amendment.

Staff also proposed a targeted local amendment to the International Property Maintenance Code to address vacant storefront presentation. The draft requires that a commercial property with a ground‑floor vacancy of more than 30 days erect a decorative window display — a backdrop, screen, blind, curtain, partition or similar — in windows facing the street or public right‑of‑way and maintain it after notice with a 30‑day compliance period. Staff said the display can depict cultural, educational, historic, municipal or community themes and is intended to improve streetscape appearance while properties are vacant.

The item was presented for discussion only at the meeting; staff recommended adopting the ordinance and returning it to the board for formal consideration. Trustees asked clarifying questions, and Piccolo and staff answered technical items about insulation and existing‑building change triggers, amendable state codes, and practical effects for local contractors and businesses. No formal adoption vote was recorded at the meeting; staff will return the proposed ordinance for board action after completing the drafting of local amendments and any required state coordination.