Village of Riverwoods, Illinois

The Building Department's mission is to ensure all residence homes are built and or remodeled according to the minimum safety standards set by the National Building Code Organizations. We review permit applications and issue permits for new homes, remodeling, additions, sheds, fences, decks, patios, sunrooms, roofing, siding, new windows, driveways, sidewalks, sewer and water (new or repairs) just to name a few of the areas we monitor for the health and safety of the village residents.

If you are in doubt regarding the need for a permit, please call and ask, we'll be more than glad to help. You will also need a permit to remove any trees from your property, as well as grading or filling-in of your property.

We also use Lake County Building Department to monitor and do inspections on most of our Commercial Development.

Our Department has numerous people to help you with your application process, set-up inspections, and answer your questions.

Our job is to help you build a safe home for your families, and protect you and your neighbors' property values by making sure everyone in the village adheres to the Building Codes and Zoning Ordinances.

Potpourri from the Building Department

By Russell Kraly, Director, Community Services

As I sit down to write this article it's supposed to hit 90 today with high humidity. Remember, although it may be uncomfortable, at least we don't have to shovel it! We'd be glad to have this weather in January.

The Village Board is still discussing the new Fence Ordinance, specifically the "Deer Fence Section". It's taking some time, over a year since the process started, but I am confident we will have one of the best "Fence Ordinances" in Lake County when the proposed legislation is completed.

The Village Board also approved the upgrading of our "water meter reading system". The present system is old and parts are not available anymore. The new system will eliminate the need for someone to come and take meter readings at your house. The new heads and sending units we will be installing will automatically send your meter information to the Village Hall, so Joyce, our Village Water Billing Administrator, will have up-to-date readings on your meter at her fingertips. The people from "Swanson's Water Treatment" (this is the company that maintains our water system and installs and services the water meters) will be getting in touch with each resident to upgrade your meter. The upgrade will only take 15 to 20 minutes, but a representative from Swanson will need to get inside your home to replace the meter head and the electronics that go with it. I, and the personnel from Swanson's, thank everyone in advance for your cooperation.

The 2010 Census is almost complete. Everyone should have received the form to fill-out and mail back in. If you have not done this, please do it. As of right now, 83% of the residence have filled out and returned their form. It's mandated by the U.S. Constitution. The Census Bureau enumerators are now visiting households who have not returned their Census questioners. Some reasons you might receive a knock on the door are: you never mailed in your form, they received your form too late, there was missing or conflicting information, they can't match the address you provided with the master address list. The Census data is used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to state and local governments. We thank everyone who has participated, and we hope everyone else does their part to be counted.

Enjoy the warm weather and these summer months.