June 20, 2021 Tornado Updates
On June 20, 2021, an EF-3 tornado touched down south of 75th Street near Ranchview Drive. Below are a variety of resources to assist those impacted as they continue recovery as well as an update on efforts one year after this event.
One-Year update
As the community reflects on the one-year anniversary of the tornado, we continue to see recovery in the most impacted areas.
- As of June 2, seven certificates of occupancy have been issued for the 29 properties deemed uninhabitable by City inspectors or Lisle Township as part of the tax relief process. The remaining 22 properties are in various levels of repair and in the permitting and inspection process. City staff continues to monitor these properties and ensure inspections and permits are processed to keep rehabilitation work moving along.
- The City would like to thank the community for its support in the days, weeks, and months after the tornado. A special thank you to our partners at Loaves & Fishes Community Services and St. Vincent de Paul who have partnered with the City on the long-term recovery team as well as Lisle Township, who offered 2021 property tax relief to homeowners for the time their home was vacant.
Information on City Services
Help with Permits
The City of Naperville is available to answer your questions as you move through the long-term recovery. We’re here to help as you repair and rebuild your properties, providing permits and inspections that will ensure your projects are built safely and built to last, in compliance with all applicable codes. If you need information on building permits or other services, please visit www.naperville.il.us/buildingpermits. This page includes a guide to residential building permits, a step-by-step overview of the permitting process and links to all types of permit applications.
What Requires a Permit?
Most common repairs or renovations you may be making require building permits from the City. If you are unsure whether a project you’re planning needs a permit, we encourage you to call the Building Permits team at (630) 420-6100, Option 2, so we can learn about your plans and direct you appropriately. You may also call the same number, or email buildingpermits@naperville.il.us, to check on the status of a permit application – whether you filed it yourself or it was filed by a contractor. The most common projects that require a permit following a serious storm event include:
- Demolition, reconstruction or remodeling of a house
- New or reconstructed accessory structures, such as gazebos, carports or garages
- Structural repairs or modifications, including foundation repairs (Note: Most structural modifications will require a design prepared by an Illinois-licensed design professional.)
- Replacing roof or wall sheathing (No permit is required to just replace vinyl or aluminum siding or asphalt shingles.)
- Window/door replacement that alters the size or style; or installation of a window/door in a new location (No permit is required for replacement of a window/door of the same size and style.)
- Electrical work (No permit is required for minor repairs, such as replacement of light fixtures.)
- Plumbing work including the installation or replacement of any trap, drain pipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe; and the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures
- Building or replacing all or a portion of a fence
- Building or replacing all or a portion of a deck
- Building or replacing a storage shed or playhouse with a floor area exceeding 150 sf
Bulk Garbage Pickups
Pickup of two bulk items each week is included in Naperville residential garbage service at no additional cost. Bulk items include barrels, crates, furniture and similar items that can be lifted by one person but do not fit into a typical garbage container. Exceptions include oversized/overweight items and anything that is banned from landfills, such as appliances, tires, car batteries, TVs and electronics. Please contact Groot, the City’s waste hauler, at (630) 892-9294 to notify the company about any bulk items that will be placed out for collection on your normal garbage day. For details, visit www.naperville.il.us/garbage.
Parkway Tree Replacement
The City’s Department of Public Works is in the process of replacing all parkway trees lost due to the June 20 tornado, at no cost to affected residents. We plan to replace all trees lost due to the tornado by fall 2022. For details, call the Public Works Service Center at (630) 420-6095.
Morton Arboretum Tree Replacement
Tree recipients have been selected on a first-come, first-served basis and were notified of their selection at the end of October 2021. Trees will be delivered to communities for pick-up by landowners this spring. Landowners are responsible for planting and caring for the trees. Please call the Morton Arboretum with questions or for more details about the program at (630) 968-0074.
In all, the Arboretum will distribute 300 trees, including 100 to Naperville, 100 to Woodridge and another 100 divided between unincorporated Downers Grove and Darien.
Planting a Tree?
If you’re planting a tree in your yard yourself, remember to call JULIE first. Dial 811 at least two days before you plan to dig so JULIE can alert utilities in your area to mark their underground lines for your safety. For details, visit the JULIE website.
Press Releases and Community Updates
The City of Naperville released information to the community as crews responded to the tornado and conducted cleanup and recovery efforts in the days following. Read the communications.