License to Operate
The Fire Department requires a license to operate for any type of business where there is a public assembly, such as a church or movie theater, as well as manufacturing, dry cleaning and other businesses using chemicals or other high-hazard processes, day care, public assembly, restaurant and other businesses where cooking is involved. An annual inspection is required to renew a license to operate. For more information regarding a license to operate, please contact the Fire Department at 847.926.1075.
1707 St Johns Avenue Highland Park Illinois 60035 HOURS Please note that due to COVID-19 health concerns, City Hall is closed to the public. City services are available online and by phone. City Manager's Office: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM Finance Office: Monday, 7:30 AM - 5 PM Tuesday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5 PM Emails. City Hall: 847.432.0800. Highland Park's best FREE dating site! 100% Free Online Dating for Highland Park Singles at Mingle2.com. Our free personal ads are full of single women and men in Highland Park looking for serious relationships, a little online flirtation, or new friends to go out with. HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A historic house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright was sold last week, nearly five years after it was saved from the threat of demolition by a local couple who financed its restoration and donated the renovated property to charity. Located on an 0.66-acre lot about a.
Temporary Outdoor Dining & Accessory Use License
Restaurants that choose to offer outdoor dining on public or private property are required to have an outdoor dining license. Businesses that choose to place outdoor sales displays in front of their businesses on public or private property are required to have an outdoor display license. For more information regarding the City’s outdoor dining or display licenses, and applications, please contact the Office of Business Development at 847.926.1046.
Temporary Display License
The City Council recently approved the creation of a Temporary Display License. The purpose of this license is for the temporary display of art and/or seasonal items, which may also include temporary installation of decorative items such as planters or benches on the public right-of-way. For more information, please contact Jennifer Dotson in the City Manager's Office at 847.926.1006.
Liquor, Food and Cigarette Licenses
Licenses are required for the sale of certain items. These are: the sale of liquor, the sale of food and the sale of tobacco and can be found HERE. For more information regarding these licenses, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 847.926.1034.
Landscaper License
Landscapers working in Highland Park are required to have a license. For more information regarding landscaping licenses, please call the City Manager's Office at 847.926.1000. These licenses may be obtained at City Hall, 1707 St. Johns Avenue.
General Contractor License
General contractors doing construction in Highland Park are required to have a license. For more information regarding general contractor licenses, please contact the Building Division at 847.432.0808.
Permits
Fire Alarm Permit
The Fire Department requires annual fire alarm permits for businesses using a fire alarm system. For more information regarding fire alarm permits, please contact the Bureau of Fire Prevention at .847.926.1075.
Burglar Alarm Permit
The Police Department requires annual burglar alarm permits for businesses using a burglar alarm system. For more information regarding burglar alarm permits, please contact the Police Department alarm coordinator by calling 847.432.7730
Special Event Permit
A special event permit is required for events involving public property. For more information regarding the City’s Special Event Permit and application, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 847.926.1006.
Community Event Signs & Banners
Publicize local events using Highland Park's temporary community event posting locations. A Guide to Installing Signs and Banners outlines the specifications for posting your information and includes the required application. Contact Community Development at 847.432.0867 for further information.
Parking Permit
Prior to opening your business, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 847. 926.1006 to discuss parking regulations in your business district. For more information about parking in Highland Park, please visit the City's Parking page.
Business Sign Permit
A Sign Permit is required prior to installing a temporary or permanent sign in the window, awning, or facade of your commercial space. For permanent signs, there is currently a $75 base fee and an additional charge of $1 per square foot. For temporary signs, there is currently a flat fee of $75 ($60 if less than 12 square feet). It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with Highland Park’s sign regulations as you design your business’s sign with your sign contractor. Sign regulations are established in Chapter 20 of the Zoning Code. Once you have reviewed the City’s Sign Regulations, please contact the Building Division at 847.432.0808.
While the City Code allows a wide variety of signs, some businesses desire a sign that is bigger or taller than what is permitted by code. For sign concepts beyond what the code allows, a variation may be necessary. The Plan and Design Commission reviews sign variation requests and works on a case-by-case basis to safeguard the character and aesthetic quality of the community. Its decisions work to enhance property values, taxable values and the health, safety and welfare of the City.
To schedule an appearance at a Plan and Design Commission meeting, please submit a completed Design Review Application and the associated fee to the Department of Community Development. There is currently a $500 fee associated with variation requests. For more information, please contact the Planning Division at 847.432.0867.
Some commercial buildings in Highland Park have Sign Packages on file with the City that control what their signs can look like. Please confirm with your landlord whether or not your lease space is governed by a Sign Package and if so, what restrictions it may put on the signs that may be installed. If you need additional assistance please contact Community Development at 847. 432.0867.
For more information, please view the Permits & Licenses Fee Schedule.
ENGINEERING DIVISION
Responsibilities
The division also reviews plans for public improvements, including new subdivisions, grading and drainage plans for commercial and multi-family developments and improvements including public infrastructure, stormwater detention, floodplain, traffic and steep slope zone (ravine and bluff).
Office Visits by Appointment Only
At times residents or consultants visit Public Services Building to speak to an Engineering Division staff. While we offer such service on other areas, it is challenging or impractical to meet in person for unscheduled appointments due to Engineering Division staff being out on job sites or in meetings. If a resident or consultant wish to meet with an Engineering Division staff, please call ahead to make an appointment with the appropriate staff. The Engineering Division staff contact information is noted on this webpage. If you wish to speak on a general topic, please call Public Works at 847-432.0807 for additional details and to schedule an appointment. When contacting via phone message or email, please provide information on the requested matter so that staff can promptly address the concern. Thank you.
Various Engineering Items
Annual Facility Inspection Report
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) oversees activities to ensure waters in our streams and clean and free of pollutants. One method used to accomplish this tasks is to have local agencies such as the City of Highland Park develop a plan using Best Management Practices (BMP) to promote and implement procedures that result in clean waters in our streams. To ensure the City is implementing these BMPs an Annual Report is prepared and submitted to the IEPA confirming the BMPs are in place and working.
2015-2016 IEPA Annual Inspection Report
2016-2017 IEPA Annual Inspection Report
2017-2018 IEPA Annual Inspection Report
2018-2019 IEPA Annual Inspection Report
2019-2020 IEPA Annual Inspection Report
Benchmarks
The City has an established set of benchmarks that may be used for surveying purposes. The benchmark information is available for use by the public.
Bridges
There are a total of 18 vehicular bridges within the corporate limits of the City of Highland Park. Also there are a total of 8 pedestrian bridges. Two of the pedestrian bridges are owned by Lake County but maintained by the City. A map which provides bridge locations and bridge structure numbers is available here: BRIDGE MAP.
City Construction Projects
This page provides information for active projects such as the annual asphalt rehabilitation program, storm sewer and water main improvements, and federally funded projects such as the Clavey Road STP project.
City Special Provisions
The City has established a library of Special Provisions for use in the design and construction of Capital Projects. The Special Provisions provide detailed specifications for various items
City Engineering Standard Details
The City’s Engineering Standard Details provide details to ensure items such as meter pits, driveways, and other items are designed and constructed in accordance with City Code and to provide consistency in our infrastructure.
River Profiles-Skokie River and the North Branch Chicago River
The City has two rivers that traverse with the City corporate limits. These are the Skokie River and the North Branch of the Chicago River. The City conducted studies independent of FEMA flood studies. Through the City’s studies, the City established the City of Highland Park Floodplain along both rivers. Please note that in many locations the Highland Park floodplain provides a higher Base Flood Elevation compared to the FEMA base flood elevation. The river profiles as well as flood elevation data is available on the River Profiles webpage.
Storm Management Plan Program Plan
This Stormwater Management Program Plan (SMPP) was developed by the City of Highland. The purpose of the SMPP is to meet the minimum standards required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II program. Federal regulations through the USEPA require that all Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), partially or fully in urbanized areas based on the 2000 census, obtain stormwater permits for their discharges into receiving waters. The new version of the permit became effective on March 1, 2016. According to the new permit, MS4s have 180 days from the effective date of the permit to comply with any changes or new provisions contained in the permit. The SMPP describes the procedures and practices that can be implemented by the City of Highland Park toward the goal of reducing the discharge of pollutants within storm water runoff in order to comply with Federal standards.
Pavement Index Rating
This page provides information concerning the condition of City streets. The condition is based on a pavement survey that is conducted every three years.
Stormwater Utility Fee
In 2006, the City implemented a stormwater utility fee which was calculated utilizing the areas of building footprints derived from the Geographic Information System (GIS) data for each property. An Impervious Area Unit (IAU) equal to 2,765 square feet is used as a base for the monthly charge. The City utilizes revenues obtained from the stormwater utility fee to help fund storm sewer improvement projects. These projects address issues such as replacing undersized and old pipes with newer pipes designed to current standards to carry the 10-year stormwater rainfall event. Additional information may be found in City Code Article IV. - Stormwater Utility Fee.
Truck Permits
Please use the following link to submit a permit application: https://www.oxcartpermits.com. The City of Highland Park issues permits through Oxcart Permit Systems for oversized and/or overweight vehicles driving on City roadways. The City is allowed 24-48 hours to process the permit. The permit must be filled out entirely and legibly. Any permit application not legible or not filled out completely will not be processed. When planning the route, it is the responsibility of the applicant to determine if a roadway has a restriction. Please utilize the Designated Truck Routing map, which indicates roadway jurisdiction and bridge classification to assist with route planning. The approved permit MUST be with the vehicle described in the permit at all times while operating on the streets within the City and shall be exhibited upon demand to any enforcement officer. Load Restrictions IDOT will be installing a 'Legal Loads Only' sign on the structure carrying Deerfield Road over Old Skokie Road. The existing structure is safe. The load restriction is intended to minimize the stresses on the deteriorated structural elements until corrective measures can be taken.
Permits for Private Developments
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Engineering Reviews for Private Developments The Engineering Division’s review of private developments is limited to only the Drainage and Grading for the following items:
Commercial Developments
Multi-Family Developments
Items in the Floodplain and Floodway
Items in the Steep Slope Zone (Ravines and Bluffs)
Reviews of single family residential developments are addressed by the Building Division in the City’s Community Development Department. For more information concerning reviews for single-family properties please contact the Building Division at 847.432.0808.
Engineering Reviews for Private Developments
Permits for private developments are issued by the City’s Community Development Department through its Building Division. The Department of Public Works does not review single-family residential permits. For permits, please visit the Building Division Website.
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JULIE – CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!
JULIE stands for Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators. The mission of JULIE is to provide Illinois excavators and underground utility facility owners with a continuously improving one-call message processing and damage prevention education service for the safety and protection of underground facilities and the community. JULIE neither owns nor marks any underground utility lines. In Illinois, safe digging starts when you call JULIE at 8-1-1. Yes, it’s that easy. 8-1-1 is the nationwide 3-digit number to have your underground utility lines marked at no cost.
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Other Links
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American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC IL)
CMAP
FEMA
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Illinois Tollway Authority
Lake County Storm Water Management (SMC)
Lake County, Illinois Maps Online
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
QuestCDN (Online Bidding Vendor)
Web Soil Survey (USDA)
WDO