Water and Sewer Connection Permit in Aurora, Illinois (2026)
Without a Water and Sewer Connection Permit, the City of Aurora's Department of Public Works will not allow your restaurant's plumbing to be inspected or connected, halting your opening and risking failed final inspections. This requirement, also referred to as a water/sewer tap permit, is administered by Aurora’s Water & Sewer Division. 21 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 17 of them based on your project data. The city does not publish a standard filing fee for this permit application; you must contact the Water & Sewer Division for a cost estimate based on your specific connection size, location, and any required street restoration. Processing timelines vary significantly based on workload and project complexity; you should consult the city’s published Review Timeframes PDF for guidance. Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 17 of 21 fields.
Analyzed from Water and Sewer Connection Permit
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Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Water and Sewer Connection Permit
Your new restaurant cannot receive water service or discharge wastewater to the city sewer system without the Water and Sewer Connection Permit from the City of Aurora Public Works Department. Aurora's regulations are found in the City Code, including Chapter 32 (Sewers) and Chapter 38 (Water), which mandate that all new service connections for non-residential properties must be inspected and approved by the city. These ordinances enforce critical compliance with local infrastructure standards, such as road/sidewalk cut requirements, approved pipe materials, and specific grease interceptor specifications based on your establishment's projected discharge. Without this permit, your contractor cannot legally tap into the public mains, freezing all plumbing and kitchen fixture installation.
Operating without a proper connection permit can trigger severe consequences that risk your opening and long-term operations. Based on enforcement actions in Aurora, typical penalties include:
- Service disconnection: The city can physically cap your connection, halting all water flow and wastewater removal, which is an immediate shutdown order for any food service business.
- Substantial fines: Violations typically incur daily penalties as stipulated in local ordinances until compliance is achieved, in addition to the costs for any required remediation work.
- Mandatory remediation & permit revocation: You may be required to excavate and replace non-compliant connections at your own expense, and future permit applications can be denied, complicating financing or lease agreements with lenders and landlords who require proof of legal utility service.
Legal code: Local sewer use regulations, water connection requirements, road/sidewalk ordinances, grease discharge limits
Recent update: As of 2026, Aurora Public Works has implemented a revised pre-application checklist for grease interceptor sizing calculations to better align with updated FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) discharge limits.
Who Needs a Water and Sewer Connection Permit?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required for any business connecting to Aurora's municipal water and sewer mains for food prep, cleaning, and restrooms. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required due to significant water usage for bar sinks, restrooms, and cleaning, per Aurora Municipal Code Chapter 36. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Typically not required as food trucks operate from mobile commissaries with existing connections; they may need a different 'Water Service Application for Special Events'. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required for espresso machines, dishwashers, and restroom facilities connecting to city infrastructure. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (21 Fields)
17 of 21 auto-filledLegal Business Name
textEnter the exact legal name of your restaurant business as it is registered with the Illinois Secretary of State and appears on your Articles of Incorporation or Organization, including any LLC or Inc. designation.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a DBA ("Doing Business As") name, omitting the entity suffix (LLC, Inc.), or using the owner's personal name, which will cause the application to be rejected for mismatched legal identity.
Business License Number
textEnter the 6-8 digit numeric Aurora City Business License number issued to your legal business entity after registering with the Aurora City Clerk's office.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this field blank because you haven't yet obtained the Aurora Business License (a prerequisite), or entering a state-level license number instead, which will cause the application to be placed on hold.
Restaurant Operating License Number
textEnter the 7-character alphanumeric license number (e.g., RST-XXXX) issued by the Kane County Health Department after your initial food service establishment inspection.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the license number from a different county or leaving it blank because the license is pending—this is another required precursor that will cause the utility application to be rejected.
Property Address
textEnter the full, correct street address of the restaurant property, including the suite or unit number if applicable, exactly as it appears on your lease or property deed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a P.O. Box, an incorrect directional (N vs. S), or omitting the ZIP+4 code, which can delay processing because Aurora Public Works uses this for its service territory verification.
Property Ownership Type
textEnter either "Owner-Occupied," "Tenant," or "Property Manager," based on your legal relationship to the restaurant premises as defined in your property documentation.
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly selecting "Owner-Occupied" when you are a tenant, which will trigger a request for missing landlord documentation and delay approval by 2-3 weeks.
Landlord Authorization Obtained
checkboxCheck this box only if you are a tenant and have a signed Landlord Authorization Letter on file with Aurora Public Works, granting permission for the utility connection work.
COMMON MISTAKE: Tenants checking this box without having the signed letter physically submitted, which is a common cause for immediate application rejection and restart of the review clock.
Property Deed or Lease Agreement
textEnter the official document identifier: for a deed, use the Recorder's Office Book/Page number (e.g., 2024-12345); for a lease, use the full legal name of the leasing company/landlord.
COMMON MISTAKE: Writing "See attached" or entering a vague description like "Standard Lease," which does not provide the verifiable legal proof Aurora requires and will cause a document request.
Estimated Daily Water Usage (gallons)
textEnter a numeric estimate in gallons per day (GPD) based on your fixture count and seating capacity; Aurora Public Works provides a calculator, and typical full-service restaurants use 1,200–3,000 GPD.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a monthly or weekly total, using an unrealistically low number (under 500 GPD) that triggers a manual review, or omitting the "GPD" unit, which causes clarification requests.
Number of Sewer Connection Points
textEnter the total number of physical sewer laterals connecting your building to the city's main, typically 1-2 for most restaurants; consult your plumbing contractor or site plans.
COMMON MISTAKE: Confusing this with the number of interior drain fixtures or leaving it blank, which will prevent Aurora from calculating the correct sewer capacity fee and delay permit issuance.
Wastewater Discharge Description
textBriefly describe the primary source, such as "Sanitary wastewater from kitchen, restrooms, and floor drains"—do not list specific FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease) or chemical waste unless you have a pretreatment system.
COMMON MISTAKE: Writing "Normal restaurant waste" (too vague) or listing industrial/commercial processes like grease interceptor waste, which triggers a separate, more complex Industrial Waste Permit review.
ApronPrep auto-fills 17 of 21 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Water and Sewer Connection Permit Mistakes
1. Providing Inaccurate Pipe & Fixture Counts
Underestimating the number of water fixtures (toilets, sinks, dishwashers) or misreporting pipe diameters causes the city's engineering review to fail, triggering a correction notice. For example, listing a 4-inch sewer lateral when the restaurant's grease interceptor requires a 6-inch line leads to automatic rejection of the plumbing plans. Based on ApronPrep's analysis of applications in Aurora, this mistake adds 2-3 weeks for plan resubmission and re-review.
2. Submitting Site Plans Without Required Stamps
Failing to include a Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Registered Land Surveyor (R.L.S.) seal on the site plan showing the connection point to the city main is a top rejection reason. The Aurora Public Works Department requires this stamp to verify the accuracy of utility locations and depths. Using an architect's stamp or an unstamped drawing will result in the application being returned unprocessed, delaying your permit by 10-15 business days.
3. Incorrectly Calculating Estimated Water Usage
Using generic estimates instead of calculating projected water demand based on your specific seating capacity, menu, and equipment (like ice machines or pre-rinse spray valves) leads to an undersized meter assignment. If you list '5,000 gallons/day' for a 150-seat full-service restaurant without a calculation, the city may require a costly meter upgrade later. This error often surfaces during final inspection, causing a last-minute delay in obtaining your Certificate of Occupancy.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Water and Sewer Connection Permit
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Water and Sewer Connection Permit by City in Illinois
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | Contact authority for current fees; fees typically vary based on water/sewer line length, connection type, and any road/sidewalk restoration required | Review timeframes vary; consult Review Timeframes PDF for specific processing windows. Typical process: 2-4 weeks for initial review, plus scheduling for inspections |
| Chicago | ||
| Rockford |
Government Filing Fees
- Contact authority for current fees
- fees typically vary based on water/sewer line length, connection type, and any road/sidewalk restoration required
Timeline: Varies
Step 1: Review the Pre-Permit Checklist to ensure all documentation is prepared and your restaurant location meets zoning requirements
Download the checklist from the Aurora Development Services website to verify you have the required documents ready, including the property deed or lease, state business registration, and Aurora business license receipt. This step identifies if you need special approvals for your site, which can add 2–4 weeks if missed. Duration: 1–2 hours.
Step 2: Complete the New Water Service permit application form with detailed information about your restaurant facility, water usage requirements, and sewer connection points
Fill out the 35-field city application form, providing exact fixture counts (sinks, toilets, dishwashers) and peak flow estimates in gallons per minute based on your menu and seating capacity. ApronPrep auto-fills your business name, address, and contact info. Incorrect fixture counts are a common cause for plan review rejection, requiring resubmission. Duration: 2–3 hours.
Step 3: Prepare site plans showing water/sewer line connections, grease trap installation (required for food service), and any road/sidewalk work needed
Have a licensed engineer or architect draft a site plan showing all proposed underground piping, the grease interceptor's location and capacity (per city code), and the point of connection to the municipal main. The city requires two stamped copies; digital PDFs are accepted for initial submission but hard copies may be required for final approval. Duration: 1–3 weeks (depending on designer availability).
Where to Apply
Applications are handled by your local department of public works (dpw) in each city. Select your city below for authority details, fees, and processing timeline.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Illinois.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Alcohol Server Training Certification (BASSET)
state
Annual Report Filing
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsProcessing timelines vary, as noted in the city's application materials. Typically, the Aurora Water and Sewer Department reviews permits in the order received, with common projects taking 4-6 weeks. The timeline is heavily dependent on project complexity and required plan review, so contact the Public Works Department directly to confirm current wait times for your specific project scope.
Official government filing fees for the permit are listed as $0–$0. However, significant fees are assessed based on your project's connection size, calculated per the Aurora Municipal Code and the city's fee schedule for actual water and sewer infrastructure work. These engineering and connection fees are distinct from the permit filing itself. Not legal advice — verify final costs with the Aurora Water and Sewer Department.
No, a water and sewer connection permit is specific to the approved property and project scope. Permits are tied to the parcel and construction plans, including the approved Building Permit. If you change locations, you must submit a new application, including new site plans and fees for the new property, as per the Aurora Public Works Department's requirements.
This is not a renewable permit; it is a one-time approval for a specific construction project. Once the connection is inspected and accepted, the permit is closed. However, the infrastructure must remain in compliance. This includes ensuring any associated Backflow Prevention Device Certification is maintained and renewed annually, as required by the Aurora Water Department to protect the public water supply.
A city inspector from the Water and Sewer Department verifies that the installation matches the approved plans and meets all code requirements. They check pipe materials, joint integrity, proper slopes, depth, and connections to the main lines. The inspection is mandatory and must be scheduled through the city's inspection line; passing it is required before backfilling the trench and is a prerequisite for obtaining a final Certificate of Occupancy.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Illinois specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Aurora, Chicago, Rockford), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 21 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- Local sewer use regulations, water connection requirements, road/sidewalk ordinances, grease discharge limits
- Aurora — Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Chicago — Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Rockford — Department of Public Works (DPW)
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