Engineering Permit Inspections

The Engineering Inspections Webpage is intended to provide guidance and direction for Wilmette property owners, developers, and contractors seeking to request to schedule an Engineering inspection as part of their permitted development or construction project.  Inspections are required to ensure that the work being performed meets applicable codes and Village Engineering Standards.  It is the permit holder’s responsibility to call and schedule all required inspections.  All Engineering Inspections shall be scheduled a minimum of 24-hours in advance, and are subject to availability.  To schedule an Engineering inspection please call the Engineering Division at (847) 853-7660, and be ready to provide the following information:

  • Project Number and property address
  • Type of inspection being requested
  • Desired date and time range for inspection
  • Name and telephone number of person requesting the inspection

If your call is not answered, please leave a voicemail message; a clerk will return your call as soon as possible.  Requests for inspection must be confirmed over the phone; please do not assume that an inspection has been scheduled just by leaving a voicemail message.  Inspections will be scheduled Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. 

 

Inspection Types and Requirements

Please see below for a list of common inspection types, along with information and requirements pertaining to each of the inspections. Not all inspection types listed below may apply to all projects.  Please review your permit conditions for a listing of required inspections, and call the Engineering Division if you should have any questions.

 

Grading Inspections

  • Top of Foundation Inspection – An inspection of the top of foundation (T/F) shall require the contractor to be present on site, with an instrument set up and ready for use by the inspector to verify the proposed T/F.
  • Stormwater Management Inspection – An inspection of the measures used to manage stormwater runoff on the site, as may be required by your permit. This may involve an inspection to verify the installation of a post-construction stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP).  Refer to your Engineering permit conditions for more information on when this inspection may need to be scheduled.
  • Pre-Sod Grading Inspection – An inspection of the finely-graded site prior to placement of sod or landscaping. The site must be properly graded per the approved Engineering plan.  All grading requirements must be approved before sod will be permitted to be placed.  Placing sod and landscaping without an inspection may result in removing the sod and landscaping and properly regrading site to match the approved Engineering plan.
  • Final Grading Inspection – An inspection typically scheduled at the end of a project following completion of all grading and landscaping work. An as-built drawing may need to be submitted prior to this inspection, as may be specified in your Engineering permit conditions. It is at this point that a Tree-Canopy Compliance Review may also be conducted as may be required under your Engineering permit conditions.

 

 Right-of-Way Pavement Inspections

All pavement in the Public Right-of-Way must be constructed in accordance with the specifications set forth in the Village of Wilmette Department of Engineering and Public Works Standards.  All pavement shall be saw cut to full depth before removal.  For openings in brick streets, pavers are to be carefully removed and saved for re-placement.

  • Street Pavement Base Inspection – An inspection of the street base prior to the placement of pavement. Village streets shall be restored immediately after the successful completion of any required work and associated inspections.  All street openings and patches shall be a minimum of 3-foot by 3-foot in size, squared, parallel, and perpendicular to the curb.  When excavation for utility work is required within a roadway, the proper aggregate shall be used for pipe bedding and be placed and compacted to 1’ above utility pipes.  The remainder of the trench is to be backfilled with Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM), IDOT Mix I as specified in section 1019 of the IDOT Standard Specifications.  The inspection should be scheduled for once the CLSM has been poured and the required pavement overcuts made.  The contractor/subcontractor must be present at the site with the material tickets from CLSM supplier in hand and the ticket must include mix description, quantity, time, date, and location of delivery.
  • Sidewalk Base Inspection – An inspection of the public sidewalk base and forming prior to placement of concrete. Base material shall be a minimum of 4 inches thick and be compacted before concrete is placed.  All sidewalks must extend through driveways and those must be a minimum of 6 inches thick.  All other public sidewalk shall be a minimum of 5 inches thick.  Expansion joints must be located between all new and existing concrete.  There shall be no wire mesh, dowels, or rebar located within sidewalks in the Public Right-of-Way.
  • Curb & Gutter Base Inspection – An inspection of the curb & gutter base and forming prior to placement of concrete. Base material shall be a minimum of 4 inches thick and be compacted before concrete is placed.  The gutter flag shall have a minimum depth of 10 inches.  Expansion joints must be located between new and existing concrete and at every 60-foot interval.  Contraction joints shall be made every 15 feet.  In cases where a curb cut is needed, shaving off the top of curb is not allowed and full-depth depressed curb is required.  Epoxy-coated dowels are required to tie new curbs into existing curbs.
  • Driveway Apron Base Inspection – An inspection of the driveway apron base and forming prior to placement of pavement. Base material shall be a minimum of 4 inches thick and be compacted before pavement is placed.  Concrete aprons within the Public Right-of-Way shall be a minimum of 6 inches thick and expansion joints must be located between new and existing concrete.  Asphalt aprons within the Public Right-of-Way shall be a minimum of 3 inches thick compacted.  There shall be no wire mesh, dowels, or rebar located within driveways in the Public Right-of-Way.
  • Right-of-Way Final Inspections – Inspections to verify proper restoration of the Public Right-of-Way. The Public Right-of-Way shall be fully restored to pre-existing conditions or better within 10 working days of construction project completion.  This may include completion of any pavement installation or repair, removal of any forming and construction debris, and restoration of the parkway, as may be required, with topsoil and sod.  Any excavation of within the parkway shall be backfilled with clean excavated material or torpedo sand.  Topsoil shall be a minimum of 4 inches thick with new sod placed in disturbed areas. Owner shall be responsible for watering the new sod.

 

Other Inspection Types

  • Inspection of Water & Sewer Repairs, Connections, and Disconnections – Required inspections conducted by the Village Plumbing Inspector to verify plumbing utility work is executed in compliance with IEPA requirements, Illinois Plumbing Code, and Village Code. These inspections may also be scheduled by calling the Community Development Department at (847) 853-7550.  The permit holder shall be prepared to restore any required pavement openings immediately upon the successful completion of the required plumbing inspections.
  • Forestry Pre-Construction Inspection – An inspection by the Wilmette Forestry Division to verify that the proper tree protection measures are in place prior to the start of construction, as may be required under your permit conditions. Trees shall be protected as required by Village Code of Ordinances and in accordance with the specifications set forth in the approved permit and the Village of Wilmette Department of Engineering and Public Works Standards.  This inspection shall be scheduled by calling the Forestry Division at (847) 853-7600.
  • Right-of-Way Sprinkler Final Inspection – An inspection to verify that sprinkler systems, including sprinkler heads and piping are installed a minimum of 12 inches away from all public sidewalks, driveway aprons, and curbs, and 12 inches under the base of all public sidewalks and driveway aprons.

 

Responsibility for Damage & Refund of Deposits

Deposits, as may be required under certain permitted activities, shall be refunded only after any and all required inspections by the Village have been approved.  It is the sole responsibility of the permit holder to schedule all required inspections, including final inspections, in order to have their deposit refunded to them.  Deposits may be forfeited if:

  • Any of the required inspections were not completed and approved prior to completion of the work;
  • The Public Right-of-Way is not restored within 10 working days of completion of the work;
  • Damage to the Public Right-of-Way has not been satisfactorily repaired; or
  • There remains an unpaid balance on the permit.

Upon completion and approval of all required inspections by the Village, the deposit will be refunded to the deposit payor specified on the permit.

Wilmette