Demolition Permits and Guidelines

Please take the following steps when conducting demolition in the City of Urbana.

1. Apply for a demolition permit online.
2. Do not proceed until you have a demolition permit including the demolition affidavit.
3. Arrange for the disconnection of all utilities.
4. Plug all storm and sanitary sewer connections to the satisfaction of the Building Safety Division before demolition. Call for inspection before covering.
5. Remove all foundation walls, footings, and basement floors/slabs. Call for inspection before any backfilling. The excavation or any other depressions existing after the demolition must be filled with proper material, which must be adequately compacted in conformance with standard industry practice. 
6. Seed and grade the lot in such a way so that water will not pond and the lot can easily be mowed.

7. Drive access is that portion of a drive from the street right-of-way line to the public sidewalk or private property line. All abandoned drive accesses to the property must be removed and/or effectively closed to prevent illegal parking on the City right-of-way and/or the vacant lot. (Right-of-way permit applications are available here.)
   

   1. Example 1: Abandoned drives from streets with curb and gutters - drive must be removed then curb and gutter installed.
   2. Example 2: Abandoned drives from the street without curbs and gutters - drive must be removed then an appropriate barrier be installed and grass re-established in the former drive access area.

The City Engineer may waive the removal of a drive to a vacant lot when the drive is planned for future use. In these cases, concrete wheel stops or other suitable barriers must be installed across the drive.

Example 1: On a street with a curb and gutter, the barrier must be in line with the face of the curb.
Example 2: On a street without a curb and gutter, the installed barrier must be in line with the edge of the shoulder or travel way.

Please note the following:

Call the Building Safety Division to schedule required inspections.

The schedule of demolition fees is here.

A separate Erosion Control Permit may be required from the City of Urbana’s Engineering Division at 706 South Glover Street before a demolition permit can be issued. Contact the Public Works Department at 217-384-2342 for additional information.