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Skokie board adopts building-code amendments to allow temporary occupancy, require fireproof charging storage and parking labeling
Summary
The Skokie Village Board on Monday approved changes to local building rules that allow temporary certificates of occupancy, replace bonds with proof of insurance, add fireproof storage for charging e-devices in new multifamily buildings, and require assigned parking spaces to be labeled.
The Skokie Village Board on Monday approved amendments to the village code that change several building and occupancy rules, including allowing temporary certificates of occupancy, replacing bonds with proof of insurance in some situations, requiring fireproof charging storage in new multifamily buildings and requiring assigned parking spaces to be labeled with unit identifiers.
Village Manager John Lockerbie presented the recommended changes and asked the board to authorize the corporation counsel to draft the necessary ordinance language. "This is a way to help manage that and make sure we're putting in safe spaces in our buildings," Lockerbie said when explaining the fireproof charging-storage requirement, citing concerns about lithium batteries and device charging in dwelling units. He described the temporary certificate of occupancy as a tool to help businesses and property owners open sooner once critical life-safety items are addressed.
The amendments were discussed in detail by staff. Johanna Knighton, community development director, and Angel Schnorr, manager of building services and inspection services, answered trustees’ technical questions on parking labeling and inspection practice. Schnorr told the board labeling deeded or assigned exterior parking spaces with unit numbers helps inspectors identify which unit an inoperable or unlicensed vehicle belongs to so the village can send a compliance notice to the correct owner rather than to the entire association. "We do our inspections from the public way," Schnorr said, adding that interior garages would not be entered without permission.
Trustees raised routine procedural questions about the periodic code review and the source of the proposed changes. Lockerbie and the staff said the updates reflect observed best practices and lessons from other jurisdictions, including micro-mobility concerns and building-owner needs.
A motion to adopt the recommended village code amendments, moved by Trustee Johnson and seconded by Trustee Klein, passed on a roll call vote with all trustees present voting aye.
The amendments will be drafted by corporation counsel and returned to the board as an ordinance for final adoption and codification.
