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Vernon Hills adopts 2024 building codes with new accessibility, sprinkler triggers
Summary
The Village Board approved Ordinance 2026-008 to adopt the 2024 International Code suite with local amendments (accessibility triggers for larger multifamily buildings, clarified sprinkler triggers for additions/remodels and other technical updates). The ordinance takes effect March 1; a brief grace period applies to some entitled projects.
Vernon Hills on Feb. 3 adopted an update to its building code that brings local regulations in line with the 2024 International Code suite and Illinois state codes, with local amendments the village says will improve accessibility and clarify when fire sprinklers are required.
Director Jennings told the board the project has been under staff review for about 18 months and that the village submitted notice to the state to meet a March 1 effective date. He described several local amendments included in Ordinance 2026-008: a local trigger to require automatic door openers or equivalent accessibility features in larger multifamily buildings; clarified thresholds for when an addition or extensive remodel must be brought into full code compliance and when sprinklers are required; a requirement for drip pans under plumbing-connected appliances in multifamily units; a concrete-pad requirement for sheds above a specified size; and modest electrical-code adjustments.
The ordinance also contains a short grace period for large projects already entitled under the previous code: developments that had already secured full zoning entitlements may finish their designs under the former code if submitted within a limited window, Jennings said.
The board discussed the scope of the amendments and praised staff for completing a lengthy review. "We have been working on this for about 18 months," Jennings said, adding that the revisions had been reviewed with the fire department to remove gray areas on sprinkler triggers.
President Cook and trustees voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance. Under the village's stated timeline, the code becomes officially effective March 1, 2026, subject to the state notice requirement cited by staff.
What it means: The local amendments aim to increase accessibility in larger multifamily buildings and reduce ambiguity about when safety systems such as sprinklers are required during additions and remodels. The village said routine remodeling projects will generally remain below thresholds that trigger full-code retrofit. Developers with existing entitlements have a limited period to finish designs under the prior code.
The village did not publish specific dollar figures tied to implementation; the ordinance text and staff memo circulated with the agenda provide the detailed code language and thresholds.
