Permit rules differ by North Shore town. What each official page says about painting, drywall, gutters and windows, plus who to call.
Permit rules differ in every town. Painting rarely needs one. Larger drywall jobs, siding, structural work, new circuits and new plumbing often do. Below is what each town's official page says. Where a rule could not be verified, call the building department before work starts.
This is general information. The town makes the final call, and rules can change.
Highland Park
The City of Highland Park posts permit requirements by project type on its Building Permits page. It has separate requirement sheets for single-family interior alterations, siding and exterior wall veneer, doors and windows, roofs, fences and more.
- Windows: The City's document list says permits are not required for residential window replacements only, with no change in opening size.
- Interior alterations, siding, roofs, doors and new openings: The City has a requirements sheet for each, so check the sheet or call before starting.
- Contractors: The City licenses general contractors. See our Highland Park page for details.
Not sure? Call the Building Division at 847-432-0808.
Glencoe
The Village's building permit application lists facade changes, new siding and gutters among the work it covers. Roof replacements use a separate roof permit. New applications go through the Village's online Citizen Self Service portal.
We did not find an official Glencoe list of work that is exempt, such as painting. Call the Village at (847) 835-4111 before you start.
Winnetka
Winnetka's pages on work not requiring permits and work requiring a permit draw a line between maintenance and remodeling. As summarized on the Village's pages:
- No building permit: painting, refinishing, fixture replacement, and new cabinets or shelving. Replacing trim, stair treads or handrails counts as routine maintenance.
- Permit required: removing and replacing 100 square feet or more of wall or ceiling covering such as drywall or plaster, and building or removing walls.
- Electrical and plumbing: a permit for new branch circuits, and for new water lines or added plumbing fixtures. Swapping a plumbing fixture on existing supply and drain lines needs no permit.
The Village also requires electrical, plumbing, irrigation, roofing and fire suppression contractors to have a current license on file before a permit is issued (contractor licensing page).
Permit desk: 847-716-3527.
Kenilworth
The Village's building permit requirements and permit information list what needs a permit:
- Permit required: structural repairs, new or repaired fences, new houses and garages, furnaces, and pools.
- No permit: replacing gutters and downspouts, and painting, wall coverings and decorating.
- Business district: projects with exterior work need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Architectural Review Commission before a building permit is issued.
For anything unclear, call the Village at 847-251-1666.
Lake Forest
The City's FAQ.php) says most construction projects in Lake Forest require a building permit. For single-family homes, it gives this rule of thumb: you need a permit for anything except flooring, painting or planting. It encourages owners to contact Community Development staff early.
Construction hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Permits come from the Community Development Department at 800 Field Drive. For permit questions, call the Community Development Department; the City lists its current number on its website.
Barrington Hills
The Village's building permit application is the main document we could verify. It asks for every contractor's name, address, phone and license number where shown before a permit is issued, and says applications are submitted digitally. It does not list which small repairs are exempt.
Because the rule for small repairs is not published there, call the Building Department at 847-551-3003 before work starts.
Quick comparison for common jobs
| Job | Highland Park | Glencoe | Winnetka | Kenilworth | Lake Forest | Barrington Hills |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Interior painting | Call | Call | No permit | No permit | No permit | Call |
| Gutters | Call | Application covers gutters | Call | No permit | Call | Call |
| Same-size window replacement | No permit | Call | Call | Call | Call | Call |
| 100+ sq ft drywall or plaster | Call | Call | Permit | Call | Call | Call |
"Call" means we could not verify the rule from the town's official pages. Phone numbers are listed in each section above.
Where a handyman fits
Small maintenance jobs such as patching, painting, trim, door adjustment, caulking and mounting are the kind of work most towns treat as routine, but confirm for your address. Plumbing, electrical and roofing go to licensed independent contractors, who also pull the permits that apply. See Handyman vs. licensed contractor in Illinois.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to paint?
Winnetka and Kenilworth say no. Lake Forest lists painting as an exception to its general rule. Check with your town for anything beyond routine painting.
Do I need a permit for a drywall patch?
In Winnetka, only for 100 square feet or more of wall or ceiling covering. For other towns, call the building department.
Who pulls the permit?
For licensed trade work, the licensed contractor usually applies. Ask who is responsible before the job is scheduled.
What if my town is not on this list?
Call the building department of your village or city. Do not assume another town's rule applies.
Have a list of small repairs and not sure which are routine? Call or text (847) 877-1877.
