Oak Park, IL

Oak Park and other Chicago-area communities were honored for their SolSmart achievements at a 2019 event at Argonne National Laboratory.

• Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers
• Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
• Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings)
• Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV
• Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems
• Created a streamlined process to approve certain solar permit applications over the counter

Oak Park, Illinois earned the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) EV-Ready Gold designation in 2024 for their work to increase access to EV charging infrastructure and remove barriers to EV growth. That included updates to permitting and inspection practices, safety training for staff, zoning updates, installing EV chargers on public land, comprehensive updates to city construction rules, first responder training, and much more. MMC’s EV-Ready program is a partner of Charging Smart.