Why Local Building Codes Matter for Your Insurance Claim
Navigating a homeowner's insurance claim can be daunting, especially when filing for supplemental coverage. Many homeowners and contractors focus on damage assessments and repair estimates, but one critical factor often overlooked is local building code compliance. Understanding local ordinances and building codes is not just about following the rules—it can actually help you secure more thorough repairs covered by insurance.
Insurance companies typically only pay for "like-for-like" replacements unless current building codes require upgrades - meaning, if your local municipality has specific ordinances that mandate safer, more durable repairs, insurers must cover these costs.
Illinois Statewide Building Code: A Baseline for All
Effective January 1, 2025, Illinois implemented a statewide building code to standardize construction practices across the state. This code incorporates the International Building Code (IBC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), and International Residential Code (IRC), ensuring that all new constructions and significant renovations adhere to modern safety and efficiency standards. Municipalities are required to adopt these baseline codes or develop more stringent local codes.
However, towns like Joliet, Crystal Lake, and Hawthorn Woods have unique adaptations homeowners and contractors should know when filing claims.
Joliet’s Roofing Code: No Patchwork Fixes Allowed
Joliet follows the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) but has specific amendments for roofing that impact insurance claims:
Patching roofs is not permitted—if there is damage, a full replacement may be required, which insurers must cover.
Roofing materials must be compatible with existing structures and come with manufacturer labels.
Recovering an existing roof is not allowed if the roof is deteriorated, water-soaked, or already has two layers of material. In these cases, insurance must cover a complete tear-off and replacement instead of a basic repair.
Solid sheathing is now required. This means insurance must cover the upgrade if your home lacks it.
Ice and water barriers/ shields must be installed along all eaves and valleys, ensuring improved water resistance
Crystal Lake’s Code: Enforcing Modern Safety Standards
Crystal Lake enforces the 2018 International Building Code and International Residential Code, with amendments that require strict permit approvals before any roofing or siding work can begin. Key provisions include:
Permit Requirement for Roofing & Siding: Homeowners must obtain permits before work begins, ensuring that all repairs meet city standards.
Mandatory Use of State-Licensed Contractors: This protects homeowners from subpar workmanship and ensures insurance-funded repairs are done correctly.
Structural & Energy Efficiency Regulations: Upgrades may be required to meet modern energy codes, meaning insurers must cover additional improvements to comply with these mandates.
Hawthorn Woods’ Roofing Standards: Stronger Materials & Ice Barriers
Hawthorn Woods has strict material requirements that ensure roofs are built for longevity and extreme weather conditions. Their code requires:
Minimum 30-year architectural asphalt shingles—if your insurance only covers 20-year shingles, this ordinance forces them to pay for the higher-quality upgrade.
Ice barriers are mandatory in cold-weather conditions—insurance must cover this if not previously installed.
Maximum of two roofing layers allowed—if your roof has two layers already, insurance must cover a full tear-off and replacement.
New flashing is required at the time of re-roofing to ensure proper waterproofing.
Since insurance adjusters often favor cheaper, quick-fix repair options, understanding local codes ensures that insurance-funded repairs meet the most up-to-date safety and durability standards while maximizing claim approval for necessary upgrades. Strict building codes in municipalities like Joliet, Crystal Lake, and Hawthorn Woods prevent subpar patchwork solutions, safeguarding homeowners from cut-rate repairs and requiring insurers to cover necessary structural upgrades—not just cosmetic fixes. By enforcing higher material standards and safer roofing techniques, these codes compel insurers to fund thorough, long-lasting repairs instead of settling for lower-cost, short-term fixes. Homeowners who leverage these regulations can secure high-quality replacements that restore their homes to code-compliant conditions.
Leveraging Local Codes for Comprehensive Insurance Coverage
For homeowners and contractors in Illinois, especially in municipalities like Joliet, Crystal Lake, and Hawthorn Woods, staying informed about state and local building codes is crucial. This knowledge ensures compliance and empowers you to advocate for necessary repairs and upgrades during the insurance claims process.
Getting the Expert Help from Claim Supplement Pro
Navigating insurance claims while ensuring code-compliant repairs can be overwhelming, but Claim Supplement Pro specializes in maximizing insurance claims for homeowners and contractors.
We ensure your claim aligns with local codes, helping you secure the best available coverage for necessary repairs and upgrades. Our team negotiates directly with insurance adjusters on your behalf, working to guarantee you get the pay you deserve and prevent underpayment or claim denials due to insufficient code knowledge.
Don’t leave money on the table—contact Claim Supplement Pro today to ensure your insurance claim covers every code-required upgrade and that your client’s home is restored to full compliance and safety standards.
Final Draft
Navigating a homeowner's insurance claim can be daunting, especially when filing for supplemental coverage. Many homeowners and contractors focus on damage assessments and repair estimates, but one critical factor often overlooked is local building code compliance. Understanding local ordinances and building codes is not just about following the rules—it can actually help you secure more thorough repairs covered by insurance.
Insurance companies typically only pay for "like-for-like" replacements unless current building codes require upgrades - meaning, if your local municipality has specific ordinances that mandate safer, more durable repairs, insurers must cover these costs.
Illinois Statewide Building Code: A Baseline for All
Effective January 1, 2025, Illinois implemented a statewide building code to standardize construction practices across the state. This code incorporates the International Building Code (IBC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), and International Residential Code (IRC), ensuring that all new constructions and significant renovations adhere to modern safety and efficiency standards. Prior to this change, building codes were only adopted locally by each municipality, and some locations did not have any adopted codes. Typically they were in rural low population areas. The building codes that were already adopted by local municipalities are still in place. But now, in effect, any locations that did not have any building codes will have the state code in place so that all property owners can expect minimum requirements to be met.
While the entire state now has a baseline minimum, local ordinances in some places go further than IRC codes, and are required to be followed by contractors, under the law. Towns like Joliet, Crystal Lake, and Hawthorn Woods have unique local ordinances that have specific local adaptations that homeowners and contractors should know about when making repairs and filing insurance claims.
Joliet’s Roofing Code: No Patchwork Fixes Allowed
Joliet follows the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) but has specific amendments for roofing that impact insurance claims:
Patching roofs is not permitted—if there is damage, a full replacement may be required, which insurers must cover.
Roofing materials must be compatible with existing structures and come with manufacturer labels.
Recovering an existing roof is not allowed if the roof is deteriorated, water-soaked, or already has two layers of material. In these cases, insurance must cover a complete tear-off and replacement instead of a basic repair.
Solid sheathing is required. This means insurance must cover the upgrade if your home lacks it.
Ice and water barriers/ shields must be installed along all eaves and valleys, ensuring improved water resistance.
Crystal Lake’s Code: Enforcing Modern Safety Standards
Crystal Lake enforces the 2018 International Building Code and International Residential Code, with amendments that require strict permit approvals before any roofing or siding work can begin. Unique requirements for Crystal Lake include:
For roof or siding repairs that exceed 400 square feet, the entire roof or siding must be replaced.
Dissimilar-size roof sheathing is not permitted, it must be consistent in thickness and meet the manufacturer’s instructions.
Besides more extensive work, permits are also required for repairs to the roof or siding, defined as up to an aggregate of 200 square feet. For these smaller areas, replacement roof and siding materials must match the existing ones in color, materials, and appearance.
Structural & Energy Efficiency Regulations: Upgrades may be required to meet modern energy codes, meaning insurers must cover additional improvements to comply with these mandates.
Hawthorn Woods’ Roofing Standards: Stronger Materials & Ice Barriers
Hawthorn Woods has strict material requirements that ensure roofs are built for longevity and extreme weather conditions. Their code requires:
Minimum 30-year architectural asphalt shingles — if your insurance estimate is for up to 20-year shingles, this ordinance requires the upgrade to higher-quality 30 year shingles.
Ice barriers are mandatory in cold-weather conditions – this village exceeds the IRC code, requiring ice and water shield underlayment to extend to at least 36 inches from the interior wall line.
There cannot be more than two layers of asphalt or fiberglass shingles on the roof. A complete tear-off of all existing roof coverings is required if two layers presently exist.
New flashing is required at the time of re-roofing to ensure proper waterproofing.
Since insurance adjusters will only write for repairs to minimum requirements, understanding local codes ensures that insurance-funded repairs meet the most up-to-date safety and durability standards while maximizing claim approval for necessary upgrades. Stricter local building code ordinances in municipalities like Joliet, Crystal Lake, and Hawthorn Woods do help to prevent subpar patchwork solutions, safeguarding homeowners from cut-rate repairs and requiring necessary structural upgrades. By enforcing updated higher material standards and safer roofing techniques, these codes compel insurers to fund thorough, long-lasting repairs instead of settling for lower-cost, short-term fixes. Complying with code regulations is not only legally required by contractors, but of course ensures high-quality replacements that restore their homes with materials that meet or exceed necessary standards.
Leveraging Local Codes for Comprehensive Insurance Coverage
For homeowners and contractors in Illinois, especially in municipalities like Joliet, Crystal Lake, and Hawthorn Woods, staying informed about state and local building codes is crucial. This knowledge ensures compliance and empowers you to advocate for necessary repairs and upgrades during the insurance claims process.
Getting the Expert Help from Claim Supplement Pro
Navigating insurance claims while ensuring code-compliant repairs can be overwhelming, but Claim Supplement Pro specializes in maximizing insurance claims for homeowners and contractors.
We ensure your claim aligns with local codes, helping you secure the best available coverage for necessary repairs and upgrades. Our team negotiates directly with insurance adjusters on your behalf, working to guarantee you get the pay you deserve and prevent underpayment or claim denials due to insufficient code knowledge.
Don’t leave money on the table—contact Claim Supplement Pro today to ensure your insurance claim covers every code-required upgrade and that your client’s home is restored to full compliance and safety standards.