Elk Grove building division earns rare accreditation

Elk Grove Village's Building Division is the first in Illinois to receive a Certificate of Accreditation from the International Accreditation Service, village officials announced.

That puts the division in an elite group of just 23 other building departments throughout the U.S. to earn that status, officials said.

The building division is responsible for the review and approval of design drawings and enforcement of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, accessibility and energy codes associated with private construction. It also ensures compliance with the zoning ordinance and property maintenance code.

"Our community development department and building divisions are always trying to find better ways to serve the public, streamline operations and reduce the red tape residents and businesses face when seeking permits and other services," Mayor Craig Johnson said in the announcement. "This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to constant improvement so that we can serve the public in the most effective and efficient way we can."

Achieving accreditation requires that an organization establish long-term quality management systems and service goals focused on continual improvement. As part of the process, the International Accreditation Service performed a rigorous four-day assessment where it evaluated the division based on more than a dozen categories.