O-46-26 Amending the Lemont, Illinois Municipal Code, Title 15, the Building Code of the Village of Lemont3 p }' u 418 Main Street j Lemont, IL 60439
TO: Village Board Meeting
FROM: Jason Berry, Community Development
THROUGH: George Schafer, Village Administrator
SUBJECT: An Ordinance Amending the Lemont, Illinois Municipal Code, Title 15, the
Building Code of the Village of Lemont
DATE: October 26, 2026
SUMMARY/BACKGROUND
In December 2023, the Village adopted the 2021 International Codes (I -Codes) and the 2020
National Electrical Code (NEC), effective January 2024. Since then, the Building Division has
continued to review provisions that may warrant local amendments based on plan reviews,
inspections, and construction practices. The Committee of the Whole previously discussed
several amendments that have not yet been adopted.
The proposed ordinance includes the following amendments:
• Kitchen islands and peninsulas. Receptacles become optional, consistent with the 2023
NEC, provided accommodations are made for future installation.
• Outdoor kitchens. Sets minimum receptacle requirements for outdoor kitchen
countertops.
• Flexible metal conduit. Applies the existing 6-foot limit for metal -clad cable to flexible
metal conduit.
• Frost protection. Aligns commercial and multifamily accessory structures with the
existing residential standard of 200 square feet.
• Retaining walls. Reduces the engineering design threshold from 48 to 36 inches of
unbalanced fill, consistent with the Unified Development Ordinance.
• Fireplace enclosures. Allows listed manufacturer installation instructions in lieu of the
gypsum board requirement at the face of the unit.
• Future gas unit heaters. Requires provisions for venting when gas piping is installed for
a future unit heater.
• Swimming pools. Eliminates the barrier exception for swimming pools equipped with
powered safety covers.
• Housekeeping. Corrects an outdated code edition reference in the Fuel Gas Code
amendments.
ANALYSIS
The amendments clarify construction requirements, provide an alternative method of
compliance for factory -built fireplaces, and address practical issues identified through the
Village's permitting and inspection process. For building permit applications submitted before
the effective date, the ordinance allows compliance with either the existing requirements or the
amended kitchen island and peninsula provisions.
Consistency with Village Policy
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Approval of the proposed ordinance.
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED
Motion to adopt.
ATTACHMENTS
An Ordinance Amending the Lemont, Illinois Municipal Code, Title 15, the Building Code of the
Village of Lemont (2026 Building Code Amendments)
VILLAGE OF LEMONT
ORDINANCE
NUMBER 0-_4jo -26
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LEMONT, ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL CODE,
TITLE 15, THE BUILDING CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF LEMONT
(2026 Building Code Amendments)
JOHN EGOFSKE, Village President
CHARLENE M. SMOLLEN, Clerk
SAMUEL J. FORZLEY
JANELLE KITTRIDGE
KEN MCCLAFFERTY
KEVIN SHA UGHNESSY
RICK SNIEGOWSKI
RON STAPLETON
Trustees
Published in pamphlet form by authority of the Village President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Lemont on 10 - ;� & -202_0
ORDINANCE NO. O- 4 -26
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LEMONT, ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL CODE,
TITLE 15, THE BUILDING CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF LEMONT
(2026 Building Code Amendments)
WHEREAS, the Village of Lemont, Counties of Cook, Will and DuPage, Illinois, ("the
Village") is a municipality in the state of Illinois with full powers to enact ordinances and adopt
resolutions for the benefit of the residents of the Village; and
WHEREAS, the Village adopted the 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National
Electrical Code (NEC) in December 2023 via Ordinance No. 0-64-23, with local amendments;
and
WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Lemont (the
"Corporate Authorities") may from time to time amend the text of the Village Code when it is
determined to be in the best interests of the residents of the Village; and
WHEREAS, the Corporate Authorities find that it is in the best interest of the Village to
amend the Village Code as provided in this ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the President and Board of Trustees of
the Village of Lemont, Counties of Cook, Will and DuPage, Illinois, as follows:
SECTION 1: That the above recitals are found to be true and correct and are hereby
incorporated herein and made a part hereof, as if fully set forth in its entirety.
SECTION 2: The Village Code, as amended, is further amended in Title 15, Buildings
and Construction, with additions shown in underlined text and deletions shown in str4 kethr^ugh to
Chapter 15.04. Industrial, Commercial and Multifamily Building Code of the Village Code as
follows:
15.04.020. — Amendments.
1809.5 Frost protection. Exception: Free-standing buildings meeting all of the following
conditions shall not be required to be protected:
1. Assigned to Risk Category 1.
Iq��7:=_-- � - _- iaa:9��G���w��iii��:i���a:��:i� - nie:..ne�:.ia:i i.r.��.�as•u��zti
(3 7 fH2) r less othe-'a ��^�*-. s*Muctio n. Area of 200 square feet 19 m2)
or less.
3. Eave height of 10 feet (3048 mm) or less.
SECTION 3: The Village Code, as amended, is further amended in Title 15, Buildings
and Construction, with additions shown in underlined text and deletions shown in str-i�lh to
Chapter 15.06. Single -Family Building Code of the Village Code as follows:
15.06.020. — Amendments.
R404.4 Retaining walls. Retaining walls that are not laterally supported at the top and that
retain in excess of 48 inches (12 9 """' 36 inches (914 mm) of unbalanced fill, or retaining walls
exceeding 24 inches (610 mm) in height that resist lateral loads in addition to soil, shall be
designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice to ensure stability against overturning,
sliding, excessive foundation pressure and water uplift. Retaining walls shall be designed for a
safety factor of 1.5 against lateral sliding and overturning. This section shall not apply to
foundation walls supporting buildings.
R1005.9 Fireplace and chimney enclosures. All exposed exterior chimney sections shall
be enclosed in a chimney chase, which provides for proper clearances per manufacturers
requirements and is constructed of masonry or approved materials consistent with the
construction of the existing structure. The interior walls of the fireplace enclosure and chimney
shall be insulated with materials consistent with that required for exterior walls and shall be fully
sheathed with minimum 11/2 inch gypsum board at all points below the roof line.
Exception: Listed manufacturer's installation instructions that provide clear direction and
clearance requirements to wood or combustible materials in the firebox chase may be utilized in
lieu of the gypsum board sheathing_ required by this section, specifically for the gypsum board and
wood framing support at the face of the factory -built unit.
SECTION 4: The Village Code, as amended, is further amended in Title 15, Buildings
and Construction, with additions shown in underlined text and deletions shown in strip n to
Chapter 15.10. Electrical Code of the Village Code as follows:
15.10.020. — Amendments.
Article 100 Definitions. Add the following: Outdoor Kitchen. A countertop with a
minimum area of 4 square feet located outdoors on a patio or deck or under a pergola or similar
structure for the purpose of outdoor cooking or entertaining.
Article 210.52(C)(2) Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Surfaces. Reeeptaele
outlets shall be installed in aceer-danee with 210.52(C)(2)(a) and (G)(2)(b). (a) At least one
reeeptaeleoutl first 0.84 f 2 (a 42) F • do thereof of the
, or- uuc ..,.� �, � u�
2 (18
2
end of ., peninsular- eounter-top of work sur-faee.
insialler-
of building ownef. The loea4ien of the r-eeeptaele eudets shall be in aeeefdanee
>designef,
wall. Receptacle outlets if installed to serve an island or peninsular countertop or work surface,
shall be installed in accordance with 210.52(C)(3). If a receptacle outlet is not provided to serve
an island or peninsular countertop or work surface provisions shall be provided at the island or
peninsula for future addition of a receptacle outlet to serve the island or peninsular countertop or
work surface.
Article 210 52LE) Outdoor Outlets. Add the following: (4) Outdoor Kitchens. Outdoor
kitchen countertops and work surfaces shall have at least one receptacle outlet located within 24
inches of the end of the countertop and not more than 12 inches above the countertop surface.
Countertops of 18 square feet or more shall have one additional receptacle outlet for each 18
square feet of countertop area Where a countertop is divided by a grill sink or other permanently
installed appliance, each section shall be calculated separately.
Article 348.10 Uses Permitted. FMC shall be permitted to be used in exposed and
concealed locations. FMC shall only be permitted when the length of any section of FMC is less
than 6 feet with a dedicated equipment grounding conductor installed.
SECTION 5: The Village Code, as amended, is further amended in Title 15, Buildings
and Construction, with additions shown in underlined text and deletions shown in str-ik�g h to
Chapter 15.16. Fuel Gas Code of the Village Code as follows:
15.16.020. — Amendments.
The following additions, insertions, deletions, and changes are made to the International
Fuel Gas Code, 2-M6 2021 edition, adopted in section 15.16.010:
620.3.1 Future unit heaters. Add the following new section: Where gas piping is installed
for a future unit heater, provisions for venting the future unit heater shall also be installed.
SECTION 6: The Village Code, as amended, is further amended in Title 15, Buildings
and Construction, with additions shown in underlined text and deletions shown in stfilethr-ough. to
Chapter 15.24. Swimming Pool and Spa Code of the Village Code as follows:
15.24.020. — Amendments.
305.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to the design of barriers for
restricting entry into areas having pools and spas. Where spas or hot tubs are equipped with a
lockable safety cover complying with ASTM F1346 and swimming pools are equipped w
powered safety eover- that eemplies with AST-M F 13 4 6, the areas where those spas; or hot tubs -of
}pools are located shall not be required to comply with Sections 305.2 through 305.7.
SECTION 7: Work under a building permit applied for before the effective date of this
ordinance may comply with either the requirements in effect at the time of application or the
amendments to Article 210.52(C)(2) in Section 4 of this ordinance.
SECTION 8: Those provisions of the Village Code that have not been expressly
amended by this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 9: If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this ordinance shall be held
invalid, the invalidity thereof shall not affect any other provision of this ordinance.
SECTION 10: All ordinances, resolutions, motions or orders in conflict with this
ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
SECTION 11: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage, approval,
and publication as provided by law.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE VILLAGE OF LEMONT, COUNTIES OF COOK WILL, AND DUPAGE,
ILLINOIS, ON THIS 240 DAY OF Q(i�Qbejl _ 202�L.
PRESIDENT AND VILLAGE BOARD MEMBERS:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
Samuel J. Forzley
Janelle Kittridge
Ken McClafferty
Kevin Shaughnessy V
Rick Sniegowski
Ron Stapleton
Attest:
- '>�o
John Egofske, Village President
Charlene M. Smollen, Village Clerk
aEOF6EAL
®i/inois