Campton Hills staff propose exempting routine home repairs from permits; safety and energy-code concerns raised

Campton Hills staff presented a draft ordinance change on Oct. 12 that would eliminate permit requirements for a set of routine, like‑for‑like home repairs while keeping permits for larger or materially different installations.

The revisions, outlined by Nick (Staff member), would exempt replacements such as water heaters that do not change fuel type or capacity; electrical panel replacements that keep the same service amperage; in‑kind plumbing and irrigation repairs; same‑size window and door replacements; same‑size generator swaps with no changes to mechanical, electrical or plumbing connections; and repairs or component replacements for solar arrays. The draft would keep permits for new installations, capacity upgrades (for example, moving from 100‑amp to 200‑amp service), and changes that involve different fuel types or new electrical loads. Nick also proposed raising the application fee for additions from $200 to $500 and suggested additions merit higher fees because they are as complex as new construction.

The proposal matters because it would change what work homeowners can do without municipal oversight, potentially speeding routine repairs while shifting responsibility for compliance to contractors and residents. It also intersects with the Illinois Energy Conservation Code, which the village must enforce for window replacements.

Discussion and details Nick said tankless systems and any increase in size or capacity would still require permits: “That would all require a permit. Nothing changed there,” he said. On electrical work he advised: “If you were putting in a new electrical panel and changing from a 100 to 200 amps … that would all require a permit,” but added that replacing a panel with the same amperage is intended to be permit‑exempt in the draft.

On plumbing, Nick said routine repair or replace work would be exempt but that new irrigation systems and devices subject to backflow prevention would continue to require permits and inspections. For solar, he said repairs and component replacements would be permit‑exempt while new installations would not.

Windows and energy code enforcement The draft treats same‑size window replacements as a permit exemption but raised questions about enforcing the state energy code. Nick said the 2024 Illinois Energy Conservation Code requires local enforcement but does not prescribe a single enforcement method; he proposed homeowners retain records showing new windows comply and produce them on request. As Nick put it, “the homeowner would maintain a record of the window and if asked by the village, could provide the documentation that the window meets these energy standards.”

Other participants flagged practical concerns. Mike Hammerstein (not specified) and others warned that some replacement windows, particularly vinyl retrofit inserts, can reduce egress or be installed improperly, and that a final inspection might not reveal all defects. Mike said intermediate inspections would be required if the village wanted to ensure workmanship, which could slow projects and increase costs. The group also discussed a possible requirement that sheds be anchored to address wind risk, and debated what size threshold would be appropriate for permitting small outbuildings.

Safety concerns Seth (Commenter) urged the village not to remove permits on life‑safety grounds and cited national incident data: “The reason that those statistics are so low is because there are permits and inspections,” he said, adding figures he referenced to the Consumer Product Safety Commission about water‑heater–related incidents and carbon‑monoxide risks. Seth said contractors sometimes cut corners and that a low‑cost verification through permitting provides homeowner protection.

Other participants noted contractual protections — such as withholding payment until a final inspection is passed — that can provide incentives for contractors to correct defects. One commenter noted refrigeration and refrigerant handling as a reason to keep HVAC work permitted and inspected because of public‑health and environmental risks.

Fees and next steps Nick said current addition fees of $200 are low and that he initially proposed $500; another speaker suggested $1,000 would be more appropriate for addition permits given the scope of work. No formal motion or vote was recorded at the meeting; a motion to remove water heaters from the permit list was mentioned as something “he’s gonna make later,” according to one speaker, indicating further action at a future meeting.

No formal actions or votes were taken at the meeting. The village staff said it will refine the draft and return for further discussion at a subsequent meeting, taking into account safety concerns, the state energy code requirement for enforcement, and public feedback.