Bolthole Index

Cook County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Hazel Crest, Illinois

The Village of Hazel Crest, Illinois requires a building permit from its own Inspectional Services department for new residences, garages, sheds, fences, driveways and many home improvements1. The village also runs its own zoning code2. Septic permits are not a village matter: Cook County Department of Public Health approves private sewage systems throughout Cook County, including Hazel Crest3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required, issued by the village1
Zoning
Village zoning code (Appendix C)2
Septic
Cook County Department of Public Health approval3
Owner-builder
Homeowner may do own work but still needs the permit4
Minimum home size
2,400 sq ft in R-O; 950 sq ft for one story in R-256
Permit processing
Allow 7 to 10 days1

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Hazel Crest Department of Inspectional Services

Building permits, inspections and zoning compliance inside Hazel Crest village limits

(708) 335-9600

3601 W. 183rd Street, Hazel Crest, IL 60429

Septic permits

Cook County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health

Review and approval of private sewage disposal systems and well/septic evaluations in Cook County

708-836-8600

7556 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park, IL 60130

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Hazel Crest means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Hazel Crest, Illinois?

Yes. Hazel Crest requires a building permit for new residences, garages and sheds, siding, decks, roofs, additions, fences, porches, patios and driveways1. The village states that a permit is needed whether a homeowner or a contractor does the work1.

Allow 7 to 10 days for processing1. Failing to get a permit may bring a fine, and contractors must be registered with the village1. The village inspects permitted work for safety, zoning compliance, sound construction and building code compliance7.

Hazel Crest's published fee schedule is dated May 1, 2007: a $50 base fee for projects under $1,000, then $10 per $1,000 of project value8. Confirm current fees with the village before budgeting.

Who issues building permits in Hazel Crest, and how do you reach them?

The Village of Hazel Crest Department of Inspectional Services issues building permits inside village limits, at 3601 W. 183rd Street, Hazel Crest, IL 60429, phone (708) 335-96009. The village's zoning administrator can be reached at the same number, extension 1109.

Applicants bring a copy of the plat of survey (normally obtained at closing) and any drawings, blueprints or sketches, and mark the proposed work on the survey10.

Cook County's Department of Building and Zoning does not handle Hazel Crest addresses: it oversees building and zoning in unincorporated areas, and properties in incorporated municipalities go to the local authority11.

Does Hazel Crest have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and home size?

Yes. Hazel Crest's Appendix C zoning code sets the village's own districts, including R-O, R-1 and R-2 residential districts212. The version we reviewed is current through amendments up to January 18, 2008, so ask the zoning administrator about later changes2.

District rules differ. In R-O, a lot needs at least 10,875 square feet and 75 feet of width, and a home needs at least 2,400 square feet of usable floor area135. R-O requires a front yard of at least 35 feet and a rear yard of at least 40 feet, with height capped at 2.5 stories or 35 feet1415.

In R-2, a lot needs at least 5,000 square feet and 40 feet of width, a one-story home needs at least 950 square feet, and height is capped at 2.5 stories or 30 feet16617.

We could not confirm Hazel Crest's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes or accessory dwellings; ask the zoning administrator at (708) 335-9600 before planning any of them9.

How do septic permits work in Hazel Crest?

Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) reviews and approves private sewage disposal systems throughout Cook County, and Hazel Crest is not among the four municipalities (Barrington Hills, Inverness, Palos Park and South Barrington) with their own septic ordinances318. CCDPH approval is required before home construction projects involving wells and septic move forward19.

We could not confirm whether a particular Hazel Crest lot is served by public sewer and water; ask the village Inspectional Services department at (708) 335-96009. For a septic question, call CCDPH Environmental Health at 708-836-860018.

Can you do your own work without a contractor in Hazel Crest?

Hazel Crest lets a homeowner make changes to their own property, but the homeowner still must obtain the building permit4. The exception is electrical service changes, which must be done by an electrical contractor registered with the village4. Any contractor you hire must also be registered with the village4.

Illinois law separately exempts owner-occupants of single-family residences from plumbing licensing for their own plumbing work, but that exemption does not remove the need for a building permit20.

Building a home in Hazel Crest: the steps, in order

  1. Call the zoning administrator at (708) 335-9600 ext. 110 to confirm your lot's district and its lot, setback and home-size rules912.
  2. Gather your plat of survey and drawings, and mark the proposed work on the survey10.
  3. Apply at the Department of Inspectional Services and allow 7 to 10 days1.
  4. Use only contractors registered with the village1.
  5. Schedule inspections as work proceeds; the permit holder receives an inspection card7.
  6. If the home will use a septic system, get CCDPH approval19.

What stays with Cook County, and what to check before you buy in Hazel Crest

Septic and well approvals stay with Cook County Department of Public Health19. The county's own building and zoning rules cover only unincorporated Cook County, not Hazel Crest21; for land outside village limits, see the Cook County page.

Before you buy, ask the village for the lot's zoning district and any outstanding permits or violations. Property taxes run high: Cook County's effective property tax rate is about 2%22, with a median bill of $6,053 per year23. These figures are county-level.

Watch-outs

  • The zoning text we reviewed is current only through amendments up to January 18, 2008, and the permit fee schedule is dated May 1, 2007, so confirm current rules and fees with the Department of Inspectional Services at (708) 335-9600289.
  • We could not confirm which building code edition Hazel Crest has adopted, or its rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or short-term rentals; ask the village before you buy9.
  • Cook County's RV, zoning and building-permit rules apply only to unincorporated areas, so do not assume county rules govern a Hazel Crest lot11.

Sources

  1. Inspectional Services - Village of Hazel Crest (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  2. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic, quoted and re-checked
  4. Residential Building Permit - Village of Hazel Crest (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  5. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  6. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  7. Inspectional Services - Village of Hazel Crest (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  8. Residential Building Permit - Village of Hazel Crest (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Hazel Crest Department of Inspectional Services (villageofhazelcrest.org)
  10. Residential Building Permit - Village of Hazel Crest (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  12. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  13. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  14. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  15. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  16. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  17. Hazel Crest Code of Ordinances, Appendix C - Zoning (Municode) (Village of Hazel Crest), quoted and re-checked
  18. Cook County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health (cookcountypublichealth.org)
  19. Septic, quoted and re-checked
  20. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (2026 county census)
  21. Zoning Ordinance Administration, quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Hazel Crest

Village of Hazel Crest’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Home improvements and new construction inside Hazel Crest village

    • Permits needed for new residences, garages and sheds, siding, fireplaces, decks, central air conditioning, roofs, concrete work, electrical service changes, permanent pools, additions, fences, porches, patios, driveways.
    • Contractors must be registered with the village.
    • Allow 7 to 10 days for processing.
    • Failure to obtain a permit may result in a fine.
    “a permit is needed on certain types of home improvements, whether performed by the homeowner or a contractor.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Homeowners doing work on their own property inside Hazel Crest village

    • Homeowner still must obtain the building permit.
    • Electrical service changes must be done by a village-registered electrical contractor.
    • Any contractor used must be registered with the village.
    “the homeowner is permitted to make any changes his own property, except for changing the electrical service which must be done by a village registered electrical contractor.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted work inside Hazel Crest village

    • Inspections occur at intervals during the project; permit holder receives an inspection card.
    “so that inspectional services may inspect the job for safety, zoning compliance, sound construction, and building code compliance.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hazel Crest village limits

    • Appendix C text is current through amendments up to January 18, 2008; later amendments are marked by history notes.
    “printed in this appendix are the village's zoning rules and regulations, as adopted january 29, 1997, with amendments up to january 18, 2008.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Hazel Crest village (R-O, R-1, R-2 and others in Appendix C)

    • Only R-O, R-1 and R-2 residential districts were reviewed.
    “7.4 - r-2 single-family residence district. a. permitted uses. uses permitted in the r-1 district.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-2 single-family residence district inside Hazel Crest village

    • Minimums vary by building type; one-and-a-half story, two story and other minimums also listed in source.

    minimum area, one story: >= 950 sq ft

    “g. building height minimum required area one (1) story not less than nine hundred fifty (950) square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-2 single-family residence district inside Hazel Crest village

    • Lot width at least 40 ft at building setback line.

    minimum lot area: >= 5000 sq ft

    “c. lot area. not less than five thousand (5,000) square feet. d. lot width. not less than forty (40) feet at the building setback line.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — R-O single-family residential district inside Hazel Crest village
      “c. lot area. not less than ten thousand eight hundred seventy-five (10,875) square feet. d. lot width. not less than seventy-five (75) feet at the building setback line.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family residential district immediately preceding Section 7.3 in Appendix C (R-O) inside Hazel Crest village

    • Two side yards combined at least 20 ft, neither under 10 ft; side yard abutting a street at least 35 ft.

    front yard: >= 35 ft · rear yard: >= 40 ft

    “k. rear yard. not less than forty (40) feet in depth.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-2 single-family residence district inside Hazel Crest village (single-family dwelling uses)

    • Whichever is lower of 2.5 stories or 30 ft.

    maximum height: <= 30 ft (or 2.5 stories, whichever is lower)

    “f. building heights—single-family dwelling uses. not to exceed two and one-half (2½) stories, or thirty (30) feet, whichever is lower.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway construction inside Hazel Crest village

    • Listed among work requiring a building permit; no separate access standards read.
    “swimming pools (permanent installation) additions fences, porches, patios, and driveways.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Hazel Crest village

    • Schedule is dated May 1, 2007; current fees should be confirmed with the village.
    • Miscellaneous permits (alarm, signs, decks, air conditioners/furnaces, demolition) have separate fees.

    base fee, project under $1,000: 50 USD · fee, $1,000 to $3,000,000: per 10 USD (per $1,000 of project)

    “construction fee schedule may 1, 2007 building permit base fee (project under $1,000) $50 project from $1,000 to $3,000,000 $10 / $1,000 project $3,000,000 plus $5 / $1,000”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit applications inside Hazel Crest village

    • Allow 7 to 10 days to process.
    • Applicant locates proposed improvements and dimensions on the plat of survey and fills out an application.
    • Zoning variance requests go in writing to the zoning administrator with survey copies.
    “when applying for a permit at the department of inspectional services, homeowners must present a copy of the plat of survey (normally obtained at your closing), and any pertinent drawings, blueprints, or sketches.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Hazel Crest or Cook County directly.

  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Hazel Crest village
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Hazel Crest village
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Hazel Crest village
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Hazel Crest village
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Hazel Crest village
12 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Hazel Crest publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cook County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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