Do I need a permit for a full kitchen remodel in
Lombard, Illinois?

Lombard full kitchen remodel permits — the key details

Lombard's Building Department enforces the 2021 Illinois Building Code, which incorporates the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) by reference. For kitchens, the three critical code sections are IRC E3702 (small-appliance branch circuits — you need at least two dedicated 20-amp circuits for counter receptacles), IRC E3801 (GFCI protection — all countertop outlets within 6 feet of a sink must be GFCI-protected or on a GFCI circuit), and IRC P2722 (kitchen drains — sink tailpiece and trap-arm pitch requirements). A full remodel requires separate permits: one Building/Structural permit (for any wall moves, load-bearing verification, or framing changes); one Electrical permit (for circuit additions, GFCI, appliance hookups); and one Plumbing permit (for sink relocation, drain rework, gas line modification if applicable). If you're installing a range hood with exterior ducting that requires cutting through a wall, the duct termination detail must be on the electrical or building plan, showing a wall cap with backflow damper per IRC M1503.2. Lombard's permit fee schedule is published on the city website and bases fees on construction valuation: expect $150–$500 for the building permit alone, depending on the scope and whether any structural work is involved. Plan review typically takes 3–6 weeks; the city's online portal shows your application status and any red-flag comments from the plan examiner in real time.

The most common rejection reason in Lombard is missing or inadequate detail on the two small-appliance branch circuits. The code requires two separate 20-amp circuits serving only countertop receptacles and no other loads; many homeowners omit this on their electrical drawings and then face a request for information (RFI) that delays review by another week. A second frequent stumble is counter-receptacle spacing: IRC E3801.3(1) mandates that no point on a countertop be more than 24 inches from a receptacle measured horizontally along the countertop surface, and Lombard inspectors enforce this strictly. If you're relocating a sink island to a new location in the kitchen, you must show the new trap arm and vent stack routing on the plumbing plan; Lombard's plumbing inspector will reject any plan that doesn't clearly show trap-arm slope (1/4 inch per foot minimum per IRC P3005.1) and vent rise to the roof or wall. If the kitchen touches any load-bearing wall (even to add an opening for a pass-through), you'll need a structural engineer's letter or a truss diagram showing the beam sizing; Lombard's building department will not sign off on load-bearing wall removal without that letter (IRC R602.1 governs load-bearing walls, and the city strictly enforces the requirement).

Exemptions exist but are narrow in Lombard. Cosmetic-only kitchen work — cabinet and countertop replacement without moving plumbing or electrical, vinyl flooring installation, paint, backsplash tile, appliance replacement using existing 240V or 120V circuits — does not require a building permit. However, if you replace a range or cooktop and the existing outlet is not the correct amperage or type, that circuit upgrade requires an electrical permit. If you remove lower cabinets to install a dishwasher on an existing circuit with an existing outlet, no permit is needed as long as the outlet is already GFCI-protected (or you add a GFCI receptacle in place of the old one). But if you run a new 20-amp circuit to that dishwasher location, you must pull an electrical permit. Lombard's Building Department staff will answer these gray-area questions via phone or email, so call before assuming your work is exempt.

Lombard sits in Chicago's 42-inch frost-depth zone (IRC R403.1.4.1), which affects any kitchen remodel touching the foundation or basement. If your remodel includes relocating a sink or island across the basement floor, and that work requires cutting through the concrete or rerouting a drain line below the frost line, the building inspector will verify that the drain is properly sloped and vented per IRC P2722 and that any new openings in the foundation are sealed (IRC R402.4.2). Gas line changes — if you're moving a range or adding a gas cooktop — are also strictly regulated: IRC G2406.1 requires a licensed gas fitter to perform all gas work, and the city will not approve the permit unless the applicant is licensed by the state of Illinois. Lead-paint disclosure is required if your home was built before 1978; the seller must provide an EPA-approved disclosure form and a 10-day inspection period before the sale closes (this doesn't affect permitting directly, but it's a disclosure requirement tied to any renovation work in pre-1978 homes).

The practical next step: obtain a set of kitchen plans (floor plan, electrical plan, plumbing plan, and framing plan if walls are being moved), identify the total construction valuation (materials plus labor), and file all three permits simultaneously via Lombard's online portal or in person at City Hall. The city's plan examiner will flag any missing details (circuit counts, GFCI schedules, trap slopes, beam sizing) in the first review; you'll have 10–14 days to respond with clarifications or revised drawings. Each trade (building, plumbing, electrical) gets its own inspection sequence: rough framing, rough mechanical (plumbing and electrical rough-ins), drywall, and final. Budget 4–8 weeks from permit issuance to final sign-off, assuming no major revisions and no supply-chain delays on appliances or fixtures.

Three Lombard kitchen remodel (full) scenarios

The two small-appliance branch circuit rule: why it matters in Lombard kitchens

IRC E3702.1 requires at least two small-appliance branch circuits in every kitchen, each rated for 20 amps and dedicated to serve only countertop receptacles and the kitchen refrigerator. This rule exists because modern kitchens run multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously (toaster, coffee maker, blender) and the old 15-amp standard caused nuisance breaker trips. Lombard's Building Department enforces this rule strictly on every kitchen permit review, and it's the single most common RFI (request for information) reason — homeowners forget to show both circuits on their electrical plan, or they show only one, and the plan examiner flags it.

When you file your electrical permit for a kitchen remodel in Lombard, your plan must clearly label and schedule both 20-amp circuits, showing which outlets they serve and that they are dedicated (i.e., no other loads, not even a light fixture, are on these circuits). The two circuits can share a two-pole breaker in the panel, but each circuit must be shown separately on the electrical riser diagram. If your kitchen is small and you're only adding one receptacle (say, for a toaster), Lombard's plan examiner will still require you to show compliance with the two-circuit rule — either by confirming that a second circuit already exists (from a prior remodel) or by running a new second circuit even if you're only using one initially. This ensures future homeowners have the capacity.

Many homeowners and electricians miss this rule because they think of the kitchen as a single electrical load. In reality, Lombard (like all Illinois jurisdictions) treats the kitchen as a special zone with dedicated branch-circuit requirements. If your remodel doesn't touch any electrical work, you're exempt; but if you add even one new countertop receptacle, you're now responsible for ensuring the two-circuit rule is met. Cost: a second 20-amp circuit is roughly $200–$400 in material and labor, depending on the distance from the panel and whether you're cutting new holes in framing. Most electricians budget it into the initial estimate once they understand the code rule.

The rule applies to countertop receptacles only. Receptacles mounted on or within 18 inches of a kitchen island top, on a peninsula countertop, and within 6 feet of the sink are all considered 'countertop receptacles' and must be fed by one of the two small-appliance circuits. Receptacles for built-in appliances (microwave, dishwasher, range, oven) do not count toward this rule and can be fed by dedicated appliance circuits. Lombard's inspectors understand the distinction, but you must show it clearly on your plan — label your island outlets as 'small-appliance circuit #1' or similar, and label your dishwasher and range outlets as 'dedicated appliance circuits,' so there's no confusion during the plan review.

Plumbing trap arm and vent routing in Lombard kitchens: frost depth and code compliance

When you relocate a kitchen sink in Lombard, the plumbing drain and vent must comply with IRC P3005 (trap arm sizing) and IRC P3103 (vent routing). The trap arm is the horizontal run from the sink tailpiece to the trap, and it must slope at exactly 1/4 inch per foot downward (never upward or level). Lombard's plumbing inspector will measure this slope and reject any plan showing a trap arm that's level or pitched backward. This rule exists because if the trap arm doesn't slope properly, water and grease accumulate, and you get clogs and siphoning of the trap seal (which allows sewer gases into the kitchen). The vent stack (also called the vent rise) must rise continuously upward from the trap and exit through the roof or through an exterior wall, and it cannot have a trap or 'belly' that would collect moisture.

Lombard's 42-inch frost depth (per Chicago-area geotechnical data and IRC R403.1.4.1) matters if your sink drain runs below grade or near the basement floor. The plumbing plan must show the trap arm slope and must confirm that any below-grade portion of the drain is below the frost line or is insulated and sloped to a sump or ejector pit (if the drain can't gravity-flow to the main line). Most kitchens remodeled above the first floor don't face this issue, but if you're adding an island sink in a kitchen adjacent to the basement, you need to show the vent stack routing clearly — either up through the roof or up an interior wall and out through the soffit or sidewall.

A frequent rejection is a plumbing plan that shows the vent stack rising vertically inside the cabinet toekick but doesn't specify how it will pass through the finished ceiling or roof. Lombard's plumbing inspector requires you to show the actual exit point (roof or wall) and the termination detail (typically a roof flashing with a 1/2-inch air gap per IRC M1601, or a wall cap with a damper per IRC M1503 for range-hood vents; kitchen sink vents are simpler, just a standard 1.5-inch or 2-inch PVC pipe with a roof boot). If you don't show this detail, the plan examiner will issue an RFI, and you'll lose 1–2 weeks in the review cycle.

The vent stack minimum size depends on the trap size and the number of fixtures draining into it. A typical kitchen sink uses a 1.5-inch trap, which requires a 1.5-inch vent (IRC P3103.2). If you're adding a second fixture (e.g., an island sink) and combining their drains into one main line before the trap, you may need to upgrade to a 2-inch trap and 2-inch vent. Your plumber knows this, but your plumbing plan must show it clearly with pipe sizes labeled. Lombard's inspector will verify pipe sizing against the fixture count and load (expressed in 'drainage fixture units' per IRC P3107), and they will reject any plan that undersizes the vent or trap.

Common questions