Do I Need a Permit to Build a Deck in Joliet, IL?

Joliet’s deck permit process has a few distinctive features compared to other Illinois cities: no over-the-counter permit issuance (everything goes through email or the drop box), the contractor must pull the permit (not the homeowner for contracted work), and a plat of survey is required for every deck application. Plan ahead, because deck permits have a 15-business-day processing timeline.

Joliet IL deck permit rules — the basics

Joliet's Building & Inspectional Services Division handles deck permits through an email and drop-box system that differs meaningfully from the online portals used by Naperville and Bellevue. Building permits will not be issued in-person over the counter in Joliet. To apply for a deck permit, complete the required application forms (available at joliet.gov/government/departments/community-development/building-inspectional-services-division/building-permit-forms), assemble the required documents, and either email everything to permitapplication@joliet.gov or drop it at the large metal permit drop box in the Community Development lobby at Joliet City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson Street. After payment is confirmed, notify the Building Department by emailing permitapplication@joliet.gov with the application reference number and the address. Note: the payment system is not automated and the Building Department does not receive automatic notifications of payment — this manual step is critical.

Joliet's distinct rule for contracted deck work: per Section 8-36 of the Joliet Code of Ordinances, if a contractor is performing the work, the contractor must be the one to pull the building permit. A homeowner cannot apply for the deck permit and then have a contractor perform the work under that homeowner-pulled permit. This means your deck contractor must be registered with the City of Joliet (all contractors performing work within Joliet must have current registration on file prior to permit issuance) and must submit the permit application in their own name. Verify any deck contractor's Joliet registration status before signing a contract by calling the Building Division at (815) 724-4070.

A plat of survey is required for all Joliet deck permit applications. The plat of survey is your property's legal survey document showing the lot boundaries, easements, and the location of any existing structures. You must mark the proposed deck placement on a copy of the plat of survey and include it with the permit application — the location is reviewed by the Planning Division for setback compliance and easement clearance. If you cannot locate your plat of survey, Joliet's permit page provides several options: check your home purchase closing papers, contact your mortgage company, file a FOIA request with the City Clerk, or hire a licensed surveyor to resurvey the lot.

The 42-inch frost depth requirement applies in Joliet as in all of Illinois. All deck footings must extend below this depth to undisturbed soil. The footing inspection is the first and most critical inspection milestone — conducted before any concrete is poured. Illinois JULIE (811) must be called at least 3 business days before any footing excavation. Joliet also has specific setback requirements: unroofed decks must remain at least 3 feet from the property line where no easements exist; covered decks (with a roof structure) must meet the same setbacks as the principal structure. Decks are not permitted in corner side yard setbacks. Additionally, decks may not encroach on Public Utility and Drainage Easements, which are clearly defined on the plat of survey — this is a particularly important consideration in Joliet's terrain, where drainage easements are common along rear lot lines in flood-prone areas near the Des Plaines River and other waterways.

Three Joliet deck scenarios

What a deck costs in Joliet, IL

Deck construction in Joliet's Will County market is somewhat more affordable than DuPage County (Naperville), reflecting different labor market dynamics in Joliet's working-class and middle-income residential neighborhoods. Standard pressure-treated decks run $10,000–$22,000 for 300–400 sq ft; composite decks run $18,000–$38,000 for the same size. Permit fees are set by the City of Joliet's fee schedule and are valuation-based, typically $150–$350 for standard residential deck permits. The 42-inch frost depth adds modest but unavoidable cost to Joliet deck footings — approximately $150–$400 per footing for concrete, depending on diameter and depth.

Common questions about Joliet IL deck permits

General guidance based on City of Joliet Building & Inspectional Services Division sources as of April 2026. For a personalized report, use our permit research tool.