Inside Chicago, you notify DIGGER, the Chicago Utility Alert Network, at least 48 hours before digging, not counting weekends and holidays. In the suburbs, Illinois law requires notice to JULIE at least two days ahead. This page is general information about Illinois, not legal advice.
Do I need a permit to dig or excavate on my own property in Chicago?
A small dig on your own property may not need a building permit, but every dig needs a DIGGER or JULIE locate first. Permits are needed for demolition, work in the street, alley or parkway, sewer and water connections and most building work. In Chicago, an owner acting as their own general contractor cannot do work that needs a demolition permit or an excavation notice. Where an excavation permit applies, HomeGuide's national figure is $50 to $400.
Is a grading permit needed to move dirt in my Chicago yard?
A grading permit is usually not needed for small regrading in your own yard when water still leaves the lot the same way. Work that sends water onto a neighbor or into the alley, larger site grading and work in a floodplain need city or village review. A grading permit runs $50 to $400 in HomeGuide's figures where one is required.
When is an Illinois EPA stormwater permit needed for grading?
An Illinois EPA stormwater permit, the ILR10 general permit for construction sites, is needed when a project disturbs one acre or more, or less as part of a larger plan that reaches an acre. Smaller sites still need erosion control and catch basin protection under city and village rules, and Chicago watches mud tracked onto its streets.
Do I need a permit for tree removal, clearing or work near a wetland?
You need city approval for any work affecting a parkway tree, because those trees belong to the city. Clearing your own yard usually needs no permit, but work near wetlands, sloughs, creeks or the Des Plaines River can need village, county or federal review. We check before clearing near water.
Who pulls the permits, the excavation contractor or me?
The contractor doing the work usually pulls the permit for it, and in Chicago a demolition permit must be carried out by a Chicago-licensed general contractor. The general contractor or owner pulls building permits. Agree in writing on who pulls each one.
Do I have to call 811 or DIGGER before digging, even a small hole?
Yes, you have to file a locate before any digging, even a fence post or a small garden. Inside Chicago, that request goes to DIGGER, and in the suburbs, dialing 811 reaches JULIE. Utilities mark their own lines; private lines such as power to a garage or a gas line to a grill are not marked by them.
How much notice do DIGGER and JULIE need, and how long are the marks valid?
Chicago's Department of Transportation says DIGGER needs notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and no more than 14 calendar days ahead, and marks must be refreshed no later than 28 calendar days after the last requested date; an expired dig number gets a new ticket and two more business days. In the suburbs, 220 ILCS 50/4 requires notice to JULIE at least 2 days and no more than 10 days before digging, and the original notice expires after 25 days, with pre-marking required before an extension.
Who is responsible if an excavator hits a utility line in Illinois?
Responsibility for a hit utility line in Illinois turns on whether a valid DIGGER or JULIE ticket was in place, whether the line was marked correctly and how carefully the digging was done near the marks. Anyone who digs with no ticket takes on most of that risk. If gas is hit, leave, call 911 from a safe place and then the gas utility. This is general information about Illinois, not legal advice.
Can I dig near the property line on a narrow Chicago lot without my neighbor's permission?
You can dig on your own side of the property line, but not on the neighbor's land without permission, and you must not undermine their foundation, garage or walk. On a 25-foot Chicago lot, the line is often within a few feet of both houses, so a boundary survey, $300 to $900 in HomeGuide's figures, is worth it before any trench or wall. This is general information about Illinois, not legal advice.
For a number on your own Chicago-area property, call or text (872) 201-3760. We look at the lot, then send the scope and the price in writing.