Commercial Occupancy Renewal (Existing Businesses)

STEP 1:  Submit Completed Commercial Occupancy Renewal Application on the my.wooddale.com self-service portal. 

STEP 2:  Inspection - An inspection is required by the Wood Dale Fire Protection District. If you must schedule an inspection, please call the Fire District at (630) 766-1147. 

STEP 3:  Payment of Fees - The invoice for Commercial Occupancy renewal and any related business activities will be emailed to the billing contact listed on the application.  Fees can be paid online or by check and mailed or hand delivered to the Community Development Department.  Cash and credit card payments are also accepted at City Hall.

STEP 4:  Commercial Occupancy Certificate Issued - Upon approval of the application, a passing inspection and payment of fees, the Commercial Occupancy Certificate (COC) will be issued.

 

New Commercial Occupancy (New Businesses, Expanding Businesses or Moving to New Space)

STEP 1:  Submit Completed New Commercial Occupancy Application on the my.wooddale.com self-service portal. 

STEP 2: Zoning Review - Your application will be reviewed by our Zoning Division. 

STEP 3:  Inspection - An inspection is required by one or more City departments and the Wood Dale Fire Protection District. Inspections may be scheduled by calling the Community Development Department at (630) 766-5133 and the Fire Protection District at (630) 766-1147. 

STEP 4:  Payment of Fees - The invoice for Commercial Occupancy and any related business activities will be emailed to the billing contact identified on the application.  Fees can be paid online or by check and mailed or hand delivered to the Community Development Department.  Cash and credit card payments are also accepted at City Hall.

STEP 5:  Commercial Occupancy Certificate Issued - Upon passing the inspection, approval of the application and payment of fees, the Commercial Occupancy Certificate will be issued.  Occupancy of the space prior to issuance of the COC is not allowed, unless specifically granted by Community Development.

Commercial Occupancy Certificate – Modification to Inspections
Beginning March 1, 2023, the Fire District will be taking over the Commercial Occupancy Certificate (COC) inspections.  For any new businesses, an inspection will be completed by both Community Development and the Fire District. From a life/safety perspective, it is extremely important for the Fire District to have general knowledge and layout of the building; having the Fire District conduct the COC inspections ensures that they are prepared in case of an emergency.

Re-inspections will be conducted by the Community Development Department. Re-inspections can be scheduled by calling  (630) 766-5133. 

The City of Wood Dale requires all residential rental units to be registered with the City and pass an annual life safety inspection. As of 2018, there are approximately 950 rental units within the City limits including apartments, townhomes, and single-family residences.

Per City ordinance, residential rental properties, including single family homes and individual condominium rental units, must be registered annually.  

The registration process includes the following steps:

1. Complete Rental Registration Application

   Complete the Rental Property Registration application on at my.wooddale.com self-service portal. 

    Property owners will need to create a login by using your email address, to  complete the application using My Wood Dale. Click here to view a user guide, with instructions on how to create an account and submit the Rental Housing Application.
   
   Short-term rentals, such as AirBnB's and VRBO must also be registered. 

2. Submit Application Fee

   Submit application fee as calculated. Application fees may be paid online or by visiting City Hall during normal business hours. 

3. Schedule Inspection & Submit Tenant Consent Form Rental inspections are completed based on location. Prior to your inspection window, you will be notified to schedule your inspection. Click here to view our rental pre-Inspection guide.
   
   
4. Issuance of Annual License
   Following a satisfactory inspection, a Rental License Certificate will be available via your My Wood Dale portal. 

For more information on regulation and ordinances regarding a Residential Rental  Property, please refer to the City of Wood Dale Municipal Code Chapter 6 Article XVI.

If you need further assistance or have additional questions, please contact the Community Development Department at (630) 766-5133. 

New registrations that have allowed a tenant to occupy a rental unit without having passed an inspection will incur a $250.00 penalty fee in accordance with the Master Fee Schedule.

Questions about the Rental Registration process can be directed to Community Development at (630) 766-5133 or permits@wooddale.com.

The City of Wood Dale requires all contractors, including general contractors, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, water and sewer, concrete/asphalt, irrigation, alarm, fire sprinkler, sign, demolition and other building trades performing work within the City of Wood Dale to be registered with the City.

The following documents need to be provided to the Community Development Department at the time of registration:

1. Contractor Registration Application. Applications may be submitted through the City's self service portal, my.wooddale.com
   
   
2. Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Wood Dale as the certificate holder
   (coverage limits as specified in the Master Fee Schedule)
   
   
3. Payment of the applicable fee(s) and bond amount, as specified in the Master Fee Schedule

If these items are not provided at the time of registration, the application will not be accepted.

Homeowners may perform most work on their own property and do not need to register as a contractor. 

 

This application must be completed, fees must be paid and the Transporter License issued prior to conducting the activities of a transporter. 

A Transporter License is issued annually in conjunction with the Commercial Occupancy Certificate (COC). The Transporter License requirements are outlined in City Code Section 4.310 (Transporters).  In order to obtain the license, the following must be submitted with the Transporter License Application:

1. Transporter License Affidavit

2. List of relevant contact persons/vehicle information, as applicable to your business activities.

3. Site-Plan (if vehicles are stored and/or parked on-site)

Persons who are engaged in the business of scavenger, operate a scavenger service, collect or dispose of building debris must first register with the City prior to engaging in such activity. 

REQUIRED ITEMS

1. Surety Bond: The registrant shall furnish the City a surety bond in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), conditioned upon the registrant continuing to operate the business of scavenger in accordance with law and this Code. The City shall be named as the beneficiary.

2. Certificate of Insurance: Each applicant shall submit a physical copy of a Certificate Insurance naming the City of Wood Dale as an Additional Insured providing coverage in the following minimum amounts:  for personal injury, five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) each person and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for each occurrence; property damage, five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) on account of any one occurrence.

3. Fees: Payment of Scavenger Fee of $750.

All required items can be sent to the City at:
City of Wood Dale
Attn:Community Development
404 N. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL 60191

What is Commercial Occupancy?
How is Commercial Occupancy different than a Business License?
What commercial activities require a Business License?
What commercial activities require Registration?
When do I need to renew my COC, License or Registration?
How often is an inspection required?
How can I prepare for my annual inspection?
What happens if a deficiency is found during my annual inspection?
What happens if I am not able to correct my deficiencies within the given time period?
How will a COC affect my ability to secure financing?

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What is Commercial Occupancy?
Commercial Occupancy is granting approval of the use of a particular non-residential space within the City.

How is Commercial Occupancy different than a Business License?
Commercial Occupancy is focused on public health, safety and welfare whereas a Business License is more focused on business and professional conduct.  All non-residential structures will be required to obtain a Commercial Occupancy Certificate (COC) on an annual basis.  Only certain commercial activities will require a Business License.  However, the Commercial Occupancy and Business License will be completed and approved concurrently.

What commercial activities require a Business License?
The following activities/uses require a concurrent Business License:

• Video Gaming
• Amusement Devices
• Vending Machines
• Cigarette and Tobacco Dealers
• Money Services (activities related to transmitting or converting money by non-bank financial institutions)
• Adult Entertainment Establishments
• Massage Establishments
• Transporters (engaged in the business of transporting goods, wares or merchandise
• Commercial Land Leasing (rental of land for use by vehicles and/or trailers that are not permanent)
• Electrician (only renewals - no new licenses)

What commercial activities require Registration?
The following activities require an approved Registration before commencing the activity:

• Scavengers (business of collecting refuse and hauling outside of the City)
• Mobile Food Vendors
•  Solicitors & Canvassers (Obtain through the City Clerk's Office)
• Contractors
• Auctioneers
•  Raffles (Obtain through the City Clerk's Office)
•  Home-Based Businesses
• Residential Short-Term Sales (Garage, Estate, Yard Sales)

When do I need to renew my COC, License or Registration?
If the activity is conducted on private property, then the renewal cycle will follow the Renewal Zones.  If not, then it will be an annual (calendar year) renewal. 

How often is an inspection required?
Annually, each non-residential property will be inspected for fire and life safety compliance.  There will typically be two inspectors (one from the Wood Dale Fire Protection District and one from the City of Wood Dale).  A passing inspection is required prior to issuance of a new or renewal COC.

How can I prepare for my annual inspection?
Reviewing the Inspection Checklist in advance of your renewal period will ensure that your facility will pass inspection on the first inspection.

What happens if a deficiency is found during my annual inspection?
A letter from the City will be sent out via email within 2 business days of the inspection that identifies the deficiencies found and the date by which the items will need to be corrected.  The length of time given to correct the deficiency depends on the deficiency.  Most deficiencies will require a subsequent inspection.

What happens if I am not able to correct my deficiencies within the given time period?
If, at the time the deficiency is noted, you are unable to meet the time frame required, contact the Code Enforcement Officer noted on the letter.  The City will work with you to gain compliance in a reasonable manner.  If more than one re-inspection is required, a re-inspection fee will be assessed for each subsequent inspection.

How will a COC affect my ability to secure financing?
A Commercial Occupancy Certificate (COC) is issued annually to indicate general compliance with City requirements. However, this process is different than a Certificate of Occupancy that is typically issued upon completion of a building permit. The City can provide a letter explaining the Commercial Occupancy Program, a copy of the COC and any Certificates of Occupancy, if available, when requested by a lender. Additionally, the annual requirement to obtain a COC ensures a greater level of compliance than a Certificate of Occupancy issued only upon completion of a building permit. Therefore, the Commercial Occupancy Program should not impact the process to secure financing.

On November 17, 2022 the City Council approved the following changes to the Rental Residential Program:

• Change all references to “Rental Residential” in the text to “Residential Rental.”
• Clarify that the burden of enforcement and fines is on the property owner.
• Change annual application, fee and inspection cycle from calendar year to geographic zones with corresponding application timeframes.

   

  Along with code amendments, the following changes have been implemented, effective immediately:

• Rental applications and payment will be due at the beginning of the two-month inspection timeframe for your area/zone of the City. The City is divided into six separate geographic zones. Community Development has been using “zone-based” inspection scheduling for the last six years. Please note your previously assigned zone and timeframe for inspections is not changing. The only change is the timing of submitting the renewal application, tenant consent form and payment.
• Starting now, your payment will be due immediately prior to the inspection timeframe for your zone.  For example, Zone #1 is January 1^st  – February 28^th. Each of the five subsequent zones are also two months each. Renewal notices will be sent to those in each zone just before your two-month inspection zone. Moving forward you will receive a renewal reminder approximately 90 days before registration expiration. For example, registrations expiring April 30^th, will receive a reminder notice February 1^st  for the March 1^st  – April 30^th renewal zone. 
• All applications/renewals  must be submitted electronically, through the City’s self-service portal, my.wooddale.com.
• All fees will remain the same, including late fees, and any fines related to Administrative Adjudication.