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Public Reminders: Garbage service will be running one day behind schedule
due to President's Day Holiday.
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City of Pekin, F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
All frequently asked questions for the City of Pekin can be found here, arranged by department. If you have any
questions or comments, please direct them towards the department to which they're intended.
- Q: What is the sales tax rate in Pekin?
A: The rate for Pekin is 8.0%.
- Q: Can we burn in the City of Pekin?
A: As per City of Pekin Ordinances it is illegal to burn leaves in the city. Per the Environmental Protection Agency it is illegal to
burn construction material in the State of Illinois. Citizens can have small outside cooking or small camp fires if they comply with
the following guidelines: the fire must be at minimum fifty (50) feet from any structure, the citizen must have a charged hose line
present at all time, the fire must be kept small in size, the citizen must be present with the fire as long as the area is hot and
even if all of the above are complied with, if someone calls and complains the Fire Department is still obligated to respond and
extinguish the fire.
- Q: Can citizens have and utilize fireworks in the City of Pekin?
A: As long as the fireworks are less than .25mg content of fireworks, it can be in the possession of citizens of the City of Pekin
- Q: What services does the Pekin Fire Department offer?
A: Pekin Fire Fighters are trained in several professional areas. Pekin Fire Fighters must be trained as a minimum of the Fire
Fighter II certification, all fire fighters hired after 2000 must be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate, all
Fire Fighters are certified Hazardous Materials Operations level and we have over half of the department trained to the level of
HAZMAT Technician B-Level. Pekin Fire Fighter are extremely active in the MABAS 42 Technical Rescue Team. Fire Fighters also
perform Company Inspections each day of the week, along with performing pre-plans of the commercial, industrial and educational
facilities. These are a few of the several areas of service that the Pekin Fire Department offers to the community.
- Q: Why do I need a permit?
A: Permits are required to ensure the owner that any work performed on their property has been done correctly and up to the applicable
codes. We read about tragedies all the time where homes or businesses have been destroyed or lives have been lost due to faulty
construction or installation. To ensure that everyone in the City of Pekin has a safe residence or business, the city codes require
that all work be permitted and inspected.
- Q: What type of work requires a permit?
A: Permits are required for all electrical, plumbing, sewer, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work. Other items that require
permits include fences, sheds, new homes, home additions, decks, signs, and pools. If there is a question as to whether or not a permit is
required, please call the Inspections Department at 309.477.2315.
- Q: Can I have a fence in my front yard?
A: Yes but it must meet the requirements established for front yard fences. Chain link style fences are not permitted in any front
yard. Persons with corner lots must also adhere to the line of sight requirements when installing fences or shrubbery in front of
their homes or businesses.
- Q: Why can't I park vehicles in my front yard or on city right of way?
A: Parking of vehicles (cars, trucks, trailers, boats, etc.) in yards or in the right of way is prohibited. All vehicles must be
parked on a hard surface (concrete and asphalt are considered hard surfaces).
- Q: I need a permit for installing a new roof?
A: No, there is no permit required for having a new roof installed unless you are having more than 30% of the sheeting replaced.
There is also no permit required for the installation for siding, window and door replacement, or interior remodeling unless changes
are being made to walls that would involve structural modifications or changes to plumbing or electrical items. If there is a question
as to whether or not a permit is required, please call the Inspections Department at 309.477.2315.
- Q: Can I do the work myself?
A: Yes any homeowner can do work on his residence but a permit must still be obtained. The definition of homeowner is the person who
owns and lives at the residence. Just because you own a building does not make you the homeowner. In the case of a commercial
business, all work must be done by licensed/registered contractors. It is not permitted for anyone to do work on anyone else’s
property unless they are licensed/registered with the City of Pekin Inspections Department.
- Q: How can I get registered as a contractor?
A: There are two ways to get registered. One is to produce a license or registration from another town or to submit a request to get
licensed in Pekin. First you must have sufficient experience and then you will be required to take a test and obtain a passing score.
If you are a plumber, you must provide a copy of your current State of Illinois license. If you should have any more questions, please
do not hesitate to call us at 309.477.2315 or email us at inspectors@ci.pekin.il.us
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