Highway Permits FAQs

Anyone proposing construction within, upon, along, under or over and/or hold an event within a DuPage County Division of Transportation designated County Highway Routes (Alphabetical) (including the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail) whether they are a private homeowner, a developer, a contractor, governmental agency and/or a not-for-profit organization is/are required to make application for and obtain a highway permit for such activities. This requirement is governed and regulated under the First Amendment to the DuPage County Highway Right-of-Way Permit and Fee Ordinance #ODT-0001A-06.

Yes. Under Ordinance #ODT-0001A-06, Sec. 19-35 "FEES":

• Par. A  Application Fee: "Every person, company or entity that applies for a highway permit shall pay, at the time of application, a non-refundable application fee in the amount as set forth in section 19-44: Fee Schedule." Under the Fee Schedule, the fee is $100.00 due at the time of submittal. Only one application fee is due per submittal.
• Par. B  Permit Fee(s): "Every person, company or entity who shall locate, place, construct, repair, replace or remove any facility or perform any activity in, over, upon, across, through, under or along any County highway and/or trail rights-of-way shall pay permit fees for the use of such County highway and/or trail rights-of-way according to the terms and conditions of this Ordinance and as set forth in section 19-44: Fee Schedule." These fees vary based upon the type of construction proposed to be performed within the County's right-of-way. Fees are accumulated, totaled and must be paid prior to issuance of the permit to perform the work.

• Par. A: "There are no exemptions to the application fee required as set forth in section 19-35: FEES, paragraph A of this Ordinance when the County is the underlying owner of the highway or trail rights-of-way."
• Par. B: "A permit applicant may be exempted from the permit fees set forth in section 19-35:  FEES, paragraph B of this Ordinance:"
• Sub-Par. 1: "by submitting proof that it has previously been granted a permanent right to use or occupy the County highway and/or trail rights-of-way or that the County otherwise has insufficient interest in the County highway and/or trail rights-of-way.  A decision to grant an exemption shall be made by the County Engineer or the duly authorized designee. In the event the County Engineer fails to grant an exemption, the decision may be appealed within fourteen (14) calendar days upon written notice to the County c/o the Division of Transportation, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187-2553.  The Transportation Committee shall hear the appeal at its first regularly scheduled meeting following receipt of notice, subject to the provisions of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, and its decision shall be the final action of the County with respect to the exemption; or"
• Sub-Par. 2: "when a local government agency performs emergency repairs of existing utilities or facilities, the waiver of the permit fees will be at the discretion of the County Engineer or the duly authorized designee and will be documented thus. However, a permit is required and the application fee will remain in effect for said emergency construction or activity; or" 
• Sub-Par. 3: "when a utility performs relocation, adjustment or removal of existing utilities or facilities due to a government agency project. The waiver of the permit fees will be at the discretion of the County Engineer or the duly authorized designee and will be documented thus. However, a permit is required and the application fee will remain in effect for said work." 

Under the Ordinance, permits are issued for:

Roadway Widening / Signal Improvement

Public Utility Relocation

Special Road & Trail Events

The developer/property owner can schedule a pre-application meeting with representatives from the DuPage County Department of Economic Development & Planning to discuss the permit requirements for the proposed development. Representatives of all applicable County departments will be invited to attend to answer your questions/concerns. A summary of required data items that the developer should bring to the pre-application meeting is available from the DuPage County Department of Economic Development & Planning (630/407-6700 M-F 8 am to 4:30 pm, excluding holidays).

A separate meeting can be scheduled with the Division of Transportation Highway Permitting Department with regards to roadway access/improvements by sending a written request to the department's general e-mail address at: hwypermits@dupagecounty.gov. Conceptual/geometric plan review comments can be provided verbally at the meeting. However, written comments will not be provided without the provision of an official application for Highway Permit and the required Application Fee.

1. Application completed (signed by Owner)
2. Application fee provided ($100.00)
3. Plat of survey, lot, ALTA or topographic survey (including legal description)
4. Two- (2) sets of preliminary/conceptual site plans

1. Two (2) sets of complete, signed (licensed Illinois professional engr.) and sealed engineering plans
2. One (1) copy of preliminary Plat of Subdivision/Re-subdivision or Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.)
3. One (1) copy of the Stormwater Management Report (with cfs release rates to County DOT storm sewer system)
4. Two (2) copies of contract documents/specifications
5. Two (2) copies of traffic signal special provisions
6. Traffic impact analysis/site trip generation study/IDS

1. Certificate of Insurance (naming 'County of DuPage c/o Division of Transportation' as additional insured and certificate holder) including liability endorsements and cancellation rider
2. Highway Permit Bond (per County Ordinance requirements)
3. Engineer's Probable Cost Estimate or contractor's contract documents for all applicable work in County right-of-way (to verify aggregate bond amount required)
4. Permit fees (per fee calculation worksheet provided under review by County)
5. Copy of DuPage County Roadway Impact Fee receipt for any development improvements (not applicable for sole utility work)

1. Special event route map (limits on County system) 
2. Event flyer with waiver (including 'County of DuPage c/o Division of Transportation, its employ and assigns')
3. Rugaard Gazebo use permit copy (from Villa Park Parks and Recreation Dept.), if applicable

• Traffic control (proper placement of advance warning signage and type, changeable message board language, arrow board, barricades/cones, etc.)
• Entrance/roadway aggregate subbase course (materials, depth, compaction, etc.)
• Entrance/roadway curb/gutter (aggregate base depth/compaction, location/grade, material, type/size, framing, structures, etc.)
• Entrance/roadway pavement (materials, course depths, edge preparation, fabric placement, primer, etc.)
• Striping (materials, placement, reflective marker installation, etc.)
• Striping (materials, placement, reflective marker installation, etc.)
• Storm sewer (bedding/haunching and backfill materials, pipe material, joints/rings, frame/lid type, etc.)
• Traffic Signals (mast arm/post base location, framing, control box/detector loop placement, etc.)
• Sidewalk/path (framing, grading, aggregate base depth/compaction, expansion board placement/spacing, etc.)
• Landscaping (type of material, placement/spacing, protection, anchors, mulching, etc.)