Administrative overview · FIPS 17091
Kankakee County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Kankakee County Planning Department, Building & Zoning Division
For a project in or near Kankakee County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
815-937-2940 (Building Division); 815-936-5500 (County Administration)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
189 East Court Street, Room 201, Kankakee, IL 60901
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; closed holidays; appointments recommended
Review expectation
N/A; the official county materials do not publish a standard plan-review timeline. Complete applications are reviewed by the Building & Zoning Division before issuance.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Kankakee County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Kankakee County Planning Department, Building & Zoning Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 815-937-2940 (Building Division); 815-936-5500 (County Administration).
How long might review take?
N/A; the official county materials do not publish a standard plan-review timeline. Complete applications are reviewed by the Building & Zoning Division before issuance.
How are inspections scheduled?
The owner or contractor must contact the Building Division at 815-937-2940 to arrange inspections and comply with the applicable footing, framing, rough mechanical/electrical/plumbing, insulation, energy, and final requirements. Inspections and permits are handled for unincorporated county areas; floodplain projects require additional review and inspections.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The current county ordinance adopts the 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 International Fire Code, 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2020 National Electrical Code, Illinois Plumbing Code, Illinois Accessibility Code, Illinois Elevator Safety Rules, and applicable Illinois life-safety and manufactured-housing statutes. The 2021 Illinois Energy Conservation Code applies under state law. The county publishes separate applications by project type rather than a single general exemption list. Its current residential application is specifically for houses, additions, garages, pole buildings, and accessory buildings larger than 200 square feet; other work is routed to separate deck, fence, maintenance, pool, demolition, electrical, or utility-shed applications. Confirm any minor/cosmetic exemption with the Building Division before work begins.