Codes, Records and Planning

BLOOMINGTON (www.cityblm.org)

Kenneth Emmons, City Planner
Planning & Enforcement Department
City Hall Annex
109 East Olive Street
309/ 434-2341
Responsible for the rehabilitation grant programs for the city of Bloomington.

James Hepperly, Director
Planning and Code Enforcement
City Hall Annex
109 East Olive Street
309/ 434-2226
Code requirements must be addressed in work on older structures. Here is the source for building permits for rehabilitation projects. The department is also responsible for enforcing the city building codes.

Historic Preservation Commission
Board of volunteers appointed by the mayor and approved by the Bloomington city council to act as overseers of its historic preservation program. Concerned with maintaining an inventory of historic sites in the community; with education; and with providing advice and leadership to the community about preservation issues. Administers the Eugene D. Funk, Jr. and the Harriet Fuller Rust Facade Grant programs. Members are appointed to four year terms. Meets 3rd Thursday of each month at 4:00 PM at Bloomington City Hall.

Bloomington Township Assessor
607 S. Gridley
309/ 828-6016
This agency has current tax records for all property within the Bloomington township boundaries. You may be able to find detailed information here you will not find elsewhere. However, historical information on the record cards varies according to the property. You will almost always find the year the structure was built and the legal description of the property. In addition, you may find historical details such as a physical description of the property, condition, materials, porch and/or garage descriptions, number of rooms, and other building components. However, the card system did not start until 1950. The files of the assessor's office are incomplete and have been periodically updated obliterating much historical information. To determine if there is historical information on your property you need to actually go to the assessor's office and search the card files. Take the address.

NORMAL (www.normal.org)

Bayo Adanri, Town Planner
100 E. Phoenix, Normal
309/ 454-9590
badrani@normal.org

Mercy Davison, Town Attorney
100 E. Phoenix, Normal
309/ 434-9623
mdavison@normal.org
The contact for information on preservation issues including grants, historic districts, landmark structures, and applications for the Dr. Robert G. Bone grant.

Historic Preservation Commission
Oversight of historic preservation program for the Town of Normal.

Gregory Troemel, Director
Inspection Department
Normal City Hall
100 E. Phoenix, Normal
309/ 454-9581
Code requirements must be addressed in work on older structures. The applications for electrical, plumbing, building, and HVAC permits can be downloaded. Go to the Municipal Code page on the Town of Normal website.

Normal Township Assessor
304 E. Mulberry Street, Normal
309/ 452-1951
This agency has current tax records for all property within the Normal township boundaries and has functions and limitations parallel to those of the Bloomington assessor's office (See the list under Bloomington Township Assessor).

McLEAN COUNTY (www.mclean.gov)

McLean County Assessor's Office
104 W. Front, #705, Bloomington
309/ 888-5130
Theoretically, this office holds a second copy of the same records as the Bloomington and Normal assessor's office. So, if you do not find what you want in the municipal assessor's office it may be worth a visit to this office.

Phil Dick, Director of Building and Zoning
McLean County Building and Zoning
Law & Justice Center, Room 707, Bloomington
309/ 888-5160
Department that issues permits for building, plumbing, & electrical work in unincorporated areas of McLean County.

McLean County Recorder of Deeds
Law & Justice Center, Bloomington
309/ 888-5170
Deeds establish a record of who had title to (i.e. owned) the land. You can develop such a record because a revised title was written each time your property changed hands; both seller and buyer are identified. You will need a legal description of your property and can get this in a McLean County plat book available at the public library. This can be a time consuming process. Abstract companies have made a business by accumulating the changes of ownership over time but access is usually restricted. The information about transfers of property is important because new construction is often begun with transfer of title, especially within city limits.

McLean County Regional Planning Commission (www.mcplan.org)
Illinois House, Suite 201
207 W. Jefferson, Bloomington
309/ 828-4331
Includes historic preservation as part of the most recent regional plan (2000) for urban revitalization. Cites contributions of local agencies and organizations; objectives; and rationale for plans and priorities. Publishes an annual progress report available on-line in the newsletter section.

Page last updated: Sunday, September 11, 2005