A Homeowner Guide 

Romeoville uses a structured building-permit and inspection system that is stricter than many nearby towns. The village has adopted modern model codes, requires contractor registration, and enforces proper plan review for most projects. This guide summarizes what is verifiably required in Romeoville using publicly available sources.

1. Building Codes Used in Romeoville

Romeoville has formally adopted the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), 2020 NEC, and related plumbing, mechanical, gas, and property maintenance codes (Village of Romeoville, 2023b). These codes govern all structural, electrical, safety, and framing requirements for residential projects.

2. When Permits Are Required

Romeoville requires building permits for:

  • Roofing

  • Siding

  • Deck construction

  • Home additions

  • Structural changes

  • Basement finishing

  • Accessory structures

  • Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work


This is confirmed through the Villageā€™s Building Department, which lists permits as required for both residential and commercial projects (Village of Romeoville, 2023a).

Contractors must be registered, insured, and bonded with the Village before a permit will be issued (Village of Romeoville, 2023d).


3. Roofing Requirements in Romeoville

A residential roof replacement requires a permit in Romeoville. The permit application includes structural and material details and must comply with IBC/IRC standards for roof structure, framing, sheathing, and weather protection (Village of Romeoville, 2015).


If framing or structural elements are altered, Romeoville requires stamped plans from a licensed professional in accordance with the adopted 2021 IBC (Village of Romeoville, 2023b).


4. Siding and Exterior Wall Requirements

Because Romeoville adopts the IBC/IRC, siding installation must include:


  • A water-resistive barrier (WRB)

  • roper fastening per the manufacturer

  • Window and door flashing

  • Moisture protection behind cladding


The WRB requirement derives from IBC Chapter 14 (International Code Council, 2021 as cited in Barricade Building Products, 2020).

Any siding or exterior wall project triggers the general permit requirement (Village of Romeoville, 2023a).

5. Deck Requirements

Romeovilleā€™s deck permit application outlines documentation and structural requirements including:

  • A scaled plat of survey

  • Construction drawings

  • Proposed dimensions

  • Structural details

    (Village of Romeoville, 2023c)

Romeoville follows generally accepted Illinois deck-building standards including frost-depth footings, guardrails for decks over 30 inches, joist hangers, ledger board fasteners, and stair requirements (Hard Decks, n.d.).

The frost-line depth in this part of Illinois is 42 inches, based on widely adopted regional standards (City of Wheaton, 2024).


6. Accessory Structures & Additions

Small detached structures under 180 sq ft (such as sheds) have specific placement and zoning limits in Romeoville (Village of Romeoville, 2023e).


Structural additions require stamped architectural or engineering plans under the adopted 2021 IBC (Village of Romeoville, 2023b).


7. Inspection Requirements

Romeoville schedules inspections for:

  • Structural framing

  • Electrical work

  • Plumbing

  • Roofing

  • Siding

  • Deck footings

  • Final completion

The inspection schedule is tied to the permit type and is part of the villageā€™s Building Department workflow (Village of Romeoville, 2023a).

Permit fees are based partly on the number of required inspections (Village of Romeoville, 2023f).


8. Contractor Licensing & Responsibilities

Romeoville requires:

  • Contractor registration

  • Valid liability insurance

  • Valid bonding

  • Proof of trade licensing (if applicable)

This requirement must be met before a contractor can pull a permit (Village of Romeoville, 2023d).


Reference List

Barricade Building Products. (2020). House wrap code requirements: Understanding the IRC & IBC. https://barricadebp.com/news/house-wrap-code-requirements

City of Wheaton. (2024). 2024 International Residential Code amendments. https://www.wheaton.il.us/1203/2024-International-Residential-Code-Amen

Hard Decks. (n.d.). Illinois deck building codes: What homeowners should know. https://www.harddecks.com/deck-building-codes/

Illinois Compiled Statutes. (2024). Roofing Industry Licensing Act. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1360

International Code Council. (2021). 2021 International Building Code. https://codes.iccsafe.org

Village of Romeoville. (2015). Residential and commercial roof guidelines. https://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/romeoville/published_documents/Building%20Permits/Residential-Commercial%20Roof%2009-09-2015.pdf

Village of Romeoville. (2023a). Building department permitting information. https://www.romeoville.org/312/Building

Village of Romeoville. (2023b). Chapter 150: Building ordinance. https://romeoville.org/DocumentCenter/View/9181/Chapter-150-Building-Ordinance---Final-Copy

Village of Romeoville. (2023c). Deck permit application. https://www.romeoville.org/DocumentCenter/View/3877/Deck-Permit-Application-PDF

Village of Romeoville. (2023d). Contractor registration requirements. https://www.romeoville.org/321/Contractors-Registration

Village of Romeoville. (2023e). Accessory structure regulations. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/romeoville/latest/romeoville_il/0-0-0-17993

Village of Romeoville. (2023f). Fee schedule. https://www.romeoville.org/DocumentCenter/View/9182/Final-Fee-Schedule-2023