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

New Lenox kitchen permits — the key details

New Lenox Building Department follows the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) with Illinois amendments. The single most important rule for kitchens: any relocation of a plumbing fixture (sink, dishwasher drain), any new electrical circuit (including a dedicated 20-amp small-appliance circuit per NEC 210.52(C)), any gas line modification, or any structural wall movement triggers a full permit. The city treats kitchen permits as major-project applications, meaning you submit a complete plan set (not over-the-counter), the plan reviewer checks for code compliance over 2–4 weeks, and you're required to schedule rough inspections (plumbing, electrical, framing if applicable) before drywall, then a drywall inspection, then final. If you're only replacing cabinets, countertops, and appliances on existing circuits in the same location, and the appliances plug into outlets already served by 20-amp small-appliance circuits, the work is exempt — no permit needed. However, many homeowners don't realize that swapping an old gas range for an electric one, or vice versa, counts as a gas-line modification and requires a permit even if the cabinet footprint doesn't change.

Electrical work in New Lenox kitchens is heavily scrutinized. Per NEC 210.52(C), you must have at least two separate 20-amp small-appliance branch circuits serving all countertop outlets and the refrigerator outlet; these circuits cannot serve lights, exhaust fans, or disposal. The code also mandates GFCI protection on all countertop receptacles (within 6 feet of the sink) and on the dishwasher outlet — typically achieved via GFCI receptacles or a GFCI breaker. New Lenox's plan reviewer will reject any electrical submittal that doesn't show these two circuits explicitly and doesn't label every outlet as GFCI-protected or on a GFCI-protected breaker. If you're adding an island or moving the sink, you'll need to run new circuits and possibly a new sub-panel, which increases both permit fees and inspection complexity. Adding an under-cabinet lighting circuit or a dedicated garbage disposal circuit requires a separate 20-amp circuit (not tapped onto the small-appliance circuit). The city also requires a load calculation signed by a licensed electrician if you're adding more than 2–3 new circuits; most kitchen jobs require one.

Plumbing relocation in New Lenox kitchens demands detailed venting and drain drawings. If you're moving the sink, you must show the trap-arm distance (max 30 inches from trap weir to vent, per IRC P3005.1), the vent routing (typically up into the wall and through the roof or to a stack vent), and the main drain connection. The city will not approve a plan that shows a sink drain without a vent shown explicitly; dry-venting or S-traps are no longer permitted. If you're adding a dishwasher or moving the existing one, the discharge line must be trapped (a high loop or trap in the line), and the trap must be accessible — not buried inside a cabinet. Plumbing inspectors in New Lenox are strict about trap clearance: no horizontal runs longer than 15 feet without a vent, and island sinks must be re-vented or fitted with an air-admittance valve (Studor vent), which is permitted under Illinois code but must be noted on the plan. If you're upgrading the supply lines from old galvanized steel to copper or PEX, the plan reviewer will ask for the water-pressure test report once rough plumbing is complete (typically 80 psi max for residential).

Gas-line work in New Lenox kitchens is less common but highly regulated. If you're replacing a gas range with another gas range in the same location, you typically do not need a permit — it's appliance replacement on an existing line. However, if you're relocating the range, extending the gas line, adding a gas cooktop and wall oven (separate from range), or converting from electric to gas, the gas-line modification triggers a plumbing permit (gas plumbing falls under plumbing permits in Illinois). The gas line must be installed with black iron, copper tubing, or corrugated stainless steel (CSST per IFGC requirements), and the connection at the appliance must use a listed flexible connector with sediment trap and a manual shut-off valve. The plumbing inspector will pressure-test the gas line at 10 inches of water column and watch for leaks; if the test fails, the line must be replaced at your cost. Many contractors overlook the shut-off valve requirement, which will cause a failed inspection.

Range-hood venting is a frequent source of permit issues in New Lenox kitchens. If you're adding a range hood with exterior ducting (cutting through the wall or roof), you need a building permit and must show the duct termination detail on the plans — specifically, the wall/roof penetration, the duct material (rigid metal, not flex-duct if possible, though flex is permitted in short runs), the exterior cap with damper, and clearance from soffits/windows per the manufacturer spec (typically 12–24 inches). Under-cabinet ductless (recirculating) range hoods do not require a permit because they exhaust to the kitchen interior. If you're venting through an existing soffit ductwork that connects to the roof or exterior, you still need to show that detail; many homeowners assume existing ductwork is permitted, but if it's not — or if the previous owner installed it unpermitted — you'll need a retroactive or new permit. New Lenox building inspectors will climb on the roof to verify duct termination, so the installation must be done per code before the final inspection.

Three New Lenox kitchen remodel (full) scenarios

New Lenox's three-permit kitchen system and plan-review timeline

When you submit a kitchen permit to New Lenox Building Department, you are actually filing three separate permits on a single application: building, plumbing, and electrical. (A fourth, mechanical, may be required if you're venting a range hood to the roof via a new damper box or if you're adding a new HVAC component.) Each permit has its own plan-review section within the city, and each subtrade must approve before the application moves to 'approved.' This means you'll wait for the electrical reviewer to sign off, the plumbing reviewer to sign off, and the building reviewer to sign off simultaneously. New Lenox's typical timeline is 3–4 weeks from submission to approval, though complex jobs (wall removal, island re-venting, gas extension) can stretch to 5–6 weeks. The city accepts plans via email or in-person drop-off at City Hall (check current process via phone, as COVID-era practices are still evolving).

New Lenox does not maintain a published fee schedule online, which is a frustration unique to this municipality compared to, say, Naperville or Aurora (both of which post detailed fee tables on their websites). To learn your permit cost before you pull the trigger, you must call the Building Department directly or visit in person with a rough scope (kitchen size, whether walls move, whether plumbing/electrical/gas change). The city typically charges 1.5–2% of project valuation, but 'valuation' is interpreted loosely — some cities charge on square footage of the work area, others on the contractor's bid, others on a fixed rate per permit type. New Lenox's interpretation has drifted over the years, so getting a quote in writing before you design is wise. Once your permit is approved and you've paid the fee (usually due upon approval, before you pick up the permit card), you have two years to complete the work before the permit expires.

Plan submittals for New Lenox kitchens must be thorough. The city requires at least: a site plan or floor plan at 1/4-inch scale showing the kitchen footprint, existing walls, new walls or wall removals, island location, and sink/dishwasher/cooktop/range-hood placement. If a load-bearing wall is being removed, you must include a structural engineer's letter stating the wall is load-bearing and a beam sizing calculation (often from a local structural engineer or from the contractor's engineer). The electrical plan must show all outlets, switches, dedicated circuits (small-appliance, disposal, dishwasher, range, cooktop, island outlets), and labels indicating which circuits serve which loads. The plumbing plan must show supply and drain lines, trap locations, vent routing, and — if an island sink is added — the re-vent detail or air-admittance valve location. If gas lines are extended, the plan must note the flex-connector location, sediment trap, and manual shut-off valve. If a range hood is vented to the exterior, the duct routing and exterior cap detail must be shown. Omitting any of these details will result in a plan correction notice (PCN), adding 1–2 weeks to review.

Load-bearing wall removal and pre-1978 lead-paint disclosure in New Lenox kitchens

If you are removing a wall in a New Lenox kitchen, the first question is whether the wall is load-bearing. Load-bearing walls typically run perpendicular to floor joists, sit over a basement beam or are the main partition between sections of the house, and carry second-floor or roof load. A non-load-bearing wall (a 'stud wall' with no load above) can sometimes be removed with just a building permit and no structural engineer, but most kitchens have at least one load-bearing wall, and removing it requires a beam. New Lenox code (following IBC R602) mandates a structural engineer or architect's letter if a load-bearing wall is removed; the engineer must calculate the beam size (typically a steel I-beam or engineered wood beam), the support posts (usually 4x4 posts on a poured concrete pad in the basement), and the connection details (bolts, simpson strong-ties, etc.). The permit fee does not include the engineer's cost (typically $500–$1,000 for a letter and beam calc), which you'll pay separately. Once the beam is installed, the building inspector will inspect it before drywall is hung; if the beam is undersized or the connections are wrong, the inspector will flag it and you'll have to fix it, costing $1,000–$3,000 in rework.

New Lenox enforces Illinois' lead-paint disclosure rules strictly, especially for permit applications. If your home was built before 1978 and you are pulling a permit (for any work, including cosmetic kitchens), Illinois law requires you to disclose the presence of lead-based paint on the permit application itself — not just at the time of sale. New Lenox's permit form includes a lead-paint certification section; you must either confirm the home is pre-1978 and lead-paint disclosure has been provided, or confirm the home is post-1978 (and thus lead-free by federal regulation). Lying on this form can result in a $500–$1,000 civil penalty per the Illinois Department of Public Health. If you do find lead paint during a kitchen renovation (e.g., under old cabinets), you are technically required to hire a lead abatement contractor (not just a painter with a sanding machine); the contractor must use containment, HEPA filtration, and proper disposal. This can add $2,000–$5,000 to a kitchen job if extensive lead-paint disturbance is expected. Many contractors will not touch pre-1978 homes without a lead-paint survey first; budgeting $300–$600 for a lead-paint inspection upfront often saves money and headaches later.

The practical implication: if you own a pre-1978 home in New Lenox and are planning a kitchen remodel, order a lead-paint inspection early (as part of your design phase), factor abatement into your budget, and disclose findings to your contractor before work starts. New Lenox inspectors do not enforce lead-safe work practices on-site (that's an EPA/state function), but if a complaint is filed (e.g., a neighbor sees dust clouds), the city will flag your permit and refer to the state, which can impose fines and stop-work.

Common questions