Campton Hills to adopt updated building codes; trustees approve permit-exemption list for residential work

The Village Board discussed and directed staff to place on the Dec. 16 agenda adoption of the 2024 International Codes with the 2023 National Electrical Code and to incorporate a new list of permit exemptions for minor residential work.

Seth, the presenter on code updates, told trustees he planned to move exemptions out of the fee schedule and into the code language to make them permanent. The group reviewed 13 categories of proposed exemptions, including small accessory structures under 200 square feet, deck board replacements with similar materials, certain driveway overlays, residential nonstructural interior remodels, fence replacements, and single-layer shingle replacement (up to two layers). Trustees generally favored applying most exemptions to residential work while leaving broader commercial exceptions limited.

Trustee Janet underscored that the permit-exemption list should be separated from fee schedule changes; trustees agreed the fee schedule will be considered separately because commercial projects may require different plan-review and inspection fees. Adoption of the updated codes will bring the village into compliance with state requirements (the village had older codes that needed updating), and staff said the updated codes could take effect in early February to allow a 30-day notice period to the state.

Next steps: Staff will prepare ordinance language reflecting the agreed exemptions, finalize the fee schedule adjustments and present the code-adoption ordinance for board action on Dec. 16.