Basement Finishing in Lake Summerset, IL
Updated
Lake Summerset in short
- 979
- households in Lake Summerset
- 1988
- median year built (county 1971)
- 32%
- of homes built before 1980 (county 63.4%)
- 91.6%
- own their home (county 65.9%)
The local numbers
How old the homes are in Lake Summerset
Lake Summerset has more new housing than the county as a whole. 26.1% of its 1,113 homes were built in 2000 or later, against 13.6% county-wide, for a median year built of 1988. Only 32% predate 1980 (county: 63.4%), so the permit and code rules below matter more here than the age of the foundation.
Of 979 households in Lake Summerset, 91.6% own their home. The county figure is 65.9%. Only one of the 13 Winnebago County communities has a higher owner-occupied share. 92.7% of housing units are single-family detached houses (county: 70.4%).
Permits here run through the Winnebago County Building Division, not a city or village desk. It is at 404 Elm Street, Room 403, Rockford, (815) 319-4350. Its posted schedule values a finished basement at a set rate per square foot and charges a processing fee per trade; the schedule is undated, so confirm any dollar figure with the office. The county's codes page lists the 2015 International Residential Code, so confirm the edition with the Building Division.
Radon belongs on the checklist. IEMA says to retest if renovations or additions are made, and that homes with elevated levels have been found throughout the state. In Lake Summerset, with 1,113 homes, that includes a basement you have just closed in with drywall.
Lake Summerset housing and households vs Winnebago County
| Measure | Lake Summerset | Winnebago County |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2,364 | 283,292 |
| Housing units | 1,113 | 125,002 |
| Occupied (households) | 979 | 116,014 |
| Owner-occupied households | 897 (91.6%) | 76,408 (65.9%) |
| Renter households | 82 (8.4%) | 39,606 (34.1%) |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1971 |
| Built before 1940 | 0.6% | 15.5% |
| Built before 1960 | 3.3% | 35.5% |
| Built before 1980 | 32% | 63.4% |
| Built 2000 or later | 26.1% | 13.6% |
| Single-family detached | 92.7% | 70.4% |
| Mobile homes | 0% | 1.3% |
| In buildings of 5+ units | 0.6% | 11.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), tables B01003, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035 and B25038.
Local rules
Permits, codes and egress in Lake Summerset
Wikipedia lists Lake Summerset in Stephenson and Winnebago counties; the Census figures cover the whole place, and we did not research Stephenson County's permit rules.
Lake Summerset is a census-designated place, not an incorporated city or village, so the Winnebago County Building Division's unincorporated-area rules apply to its Winnebago County part.
- Permit office
- The Winnebago County Building Division (Regional Planning and Economic Development), 404 Elm Street, Room 403, Rockford, (815) 319-4350, permits and inspects construction in unincorporated areas and also serves Cherry Valley, Durand, New Milford, Rockton, Roscoe and South Beloit. County Code Chapter 18 makes it unlawful to alter a structure without first obtaining a permit. Applications use the Commercial and Residential Building Permit Application with plans. source 1 source 2
- Permit fee
- County fee schedule (Ordinance 2016 CO 073, the one posted online): Interior Remodel and Finished Basement are valued at $60.00 per square foot, then the permit fee is read from a Structural Valuation Table. The processing fee is $40.00 per trade (structural, electrical, HVAC, plumbing), a contractor change is $40.00 and an additional or re-inspection is $40.00. An egress window permit for an existing structure is $30.00 each plus the $40.00 processing fee. The page warns fees are subject to change by County Board action, and the PDF is undated, so confirm with the Building Division before relying on a dollar figure. source
- Code edition
- The county's codes page (last modified February 20, 2025) says that as of April 1, 2016 the Building Division follows the 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Residential Code, 2014 National Electrical Code, the 2015 International Fire, Fuel Gas and Mechanical Codes and the 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code. Ordinance 2016 CO 034 adopts the 2015 IRC at Winnebago County Code Sec. 18-321 with amendments (we did not retrieve the amendment text). That listing looks old next to the statewide baseline that began January 1, 2025, so confirm the edition with the Building Division before designing. source 1 source 2
- Contractor rules
- The county application has fields for general, electrical and other contractors, but we found no county contractor registration requirement. Illinois does not license general contractors at the state level. source 1 source 2
- Also worth knowing
- The Winnebago County Health Department sells radon test kits (call 815-720-4100; the price includes return postage and certified lab analysis) and says kits are also sold at many local hardware and building stores. It also verifies that proposed additions, garages, pools and decks will not adversely affect an existing well or septic system. We found no Health Department rule specific to finishing a basement. source 1 source 2
About Lake Summerset. Lake Summerset is a census-designated place in Stephenson and Winnebago counties with 2,342 residents at the 2020 census. Wikipedia
ZIP codes. 61019. Census 2020
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Common questions
Lake Summerset basement finishing questions
Who issues basement finishing permits in Lake Summerset?
The Winnebago County Building Division (Regional Planning and Economic Development), 404 Elm Street, Room 403, Rockford, (815) 319-4350, permits and inspects construction in unincorporated areas and also serves Cherry Valley, Durand, New Milford, Rockton, Roscoe and South Beloit. County Code Chapter 18 makes it unlawful to alter a structure without first obtaining a permit.
What building code applies to a basement in Lake Summerset?
The county's codes page (last modified February 20, 2025) says that as of April 1, 2016 the Building Division follows the 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Residential Code, 2014 National Electrical Code, the 2015 International Fire, Fuel Gas and Mechanical Codes and the 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code. Ordinance 2016 CO 034 adopts the 2015 IRC at Winnebago County Code Sec. 18-321 with amendments (we did not retrieve the amendment text).
Does a basement bedroom in Lake Summerset need an egress window?
Every basement and every sleeping room needs at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening. A finished basement bedroom needs its own. Net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, or 5 square feet for a grade floor or below-grade opening, at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with the sill no more than 44 inches above the floor. These are the model 2021 IRC numbers as reproduced by a state building agency fact sheet; a city or county amendment could change them, so confirm with the permit office.
How much is the permit fee in Lake Summerset?
County fee schedule (Ordinance 2016 CO 073, the one posted online): Interior Remodel and Finished Basement are valued at $60.00 per square foot, then the permit fee is read from a Structural Valuation Table. The processing fee is $40.00 per trade (structural, electrical, HVAC, plumbing), a contractor change is $40.00 and an additional or re-inspection is $40.00. The permit fee is separate from the build cost; see the cost page for what finishing itself runs.
How old are the homes in Lake Summerset?
Per the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, the median home in Lake Summerset was built in 1988 (Winnebago County: 1971). 0.6% of its 1,113 homes were built before 1940 and 32% before 1980, against 63.4% county-wide.
What does finishing a basement cost in Lake Summerset?
No cost guide publishes a Rockford figure. HomeGuide's national guide puts a finish at $30 to $50 per sq ft, Angi's Chicago page $55 to $145 per sq ft, and Angi's national average is $32,000. The full price table shows each source and its date.
Do basement contractors have to be licensed or registered in Lake Summerset?
The county application has fields for general, electrical and other contractors, but we found no county contractor registration requirement. Illinois does not license general contractors at the state level.
Planning a basement finish in Lake Summerset?
Tell us the address, the rough basement size and what you want down there. We reply with a price before any work is scheduled.