Park Ridge Fence Installation

Permits
A permit is required for most construction, including new buildings, additions, garages, interior and exterior alterations, driveways, heating and air conditioning work, electrical and plumbing work, swimming pools, fences, patios, decks, sheds, and siding. 

Routine maintenance that does not alter locations of existing electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems or modify any structural walls does not require a permit. A permit is not required for a window replacement unless the widow size is enlarged nor for residential roof replacements, but roofing contractors must be licensed with the City. 
If in doubt, you may contact our department to find out if your project requires a permit.

Submittal Requirements by Permit Type

Permit Application (hard copy). For digital permits, see the corresponding section below.

Plat of Survey - Owner's Certification/Accuracy of Survey
If the plat of survey is over 6 months old the following form is required
Property Owner CertificationZoningThe Park Ridge Zoning Ordinance regulates the location, height, size, and bulk of a project. You may consult the Zoning Ordinance or request a pre-development meeting with staff of the Department of Community Preservation & Development if you have questions.

Zoning Webpage (more information here)

Appearance Commission All new construction, including residential construction, major additions, and some detached accessory structures on single-family residential parcels, must be approved by the Appearance Commission prior to the acceptance of a building permit application. Contact Claudia Hampel, Planner, to set up an appointment. 

Review TimelinePermits are typically reviewed within 2 weeks. Simple permits such as fencing can be reviewed in as little as 1-5 working days. Larger, more complex projects, such as a new single-family home, may take 5-15 working days.  When revisions are required, you can expect a turnaround of one week.

During the busy season (i.e., May-September) permit turnaround standard is 2 weeks for all permits.
Digital Building Permit ApplicationsThe City offers an entirely digital permitting process, known as the Citizen Self Service (CSS). CSS is generally faster than the paper-based process. If you would like to submit a building permit application online you may do so by using the links below.

• Click here for the Online Permit Submittal Requirements
• Click here for the CSS Citizen Self Service Online Permitting Portal

Note that you will need to establish a CSS account with the City and create a login and password. Once the account is created, you will be able to review the status of all of your permit applications, plan reviews, and inspections in real-time. By submitting your documents electronically you help to reduce paper waste and avoid the travel time required to conduct your business in-person with the City. This feature should prove particularly beneficial for contractors or other applicants who manage large numbers of permit applications or construction projects.  
Although the Department of Community Preservation & Development still accepts paper applications, all are encouraged to use CSS to apply for and track the status of permits and inspections. The Department anticipates moving to an all-digital environment soon at which time paper submissions will no longer be accepted.