Village information
Three projects the Village will help pay for.
River Forest runs resident assistance programs that reimburse part of the cost of sewer lateral repair, basement flood control and lead water service replacement. Most homeowners find out after the invoice. Apply first.
Summarized from Village of River Forest permit sheets and the current program packets (sewer lateral revised March 2024, lead service revised June 2024, basement dated September 22, 2025). Rules, fees and amounts change. Confirm with Building & Zoning at (708) 714-3552 or Public Works at (708) 714-3551 before you sign anything. The Village Hall main line is (708) 366-8500.
Sewer lateral repair
Sewer Lateral Repair Reimbursement Program
Sewer laterals serving residential structures, with structural damage to the lateral located within the roadway.
50% of eligible costs, up to $7,500 per property
- Only for damage under the street itself. Damage on your lot or in the parkway is your cost.
- Your contractor locates the damage with a camera; Village staff verify before approval.
- Eligible: locating, excavation, pipe and connection, pavement and curb restoration, permit fees.
- Work must meet the Village sewer service connection detail: 6-inch PVC, cored tap, CA-7 backfill, three inspections.
- At least three estimates are required.
- Not for new construction.
Revised March 2024.
Pair this with the sewer buying guide: the camera video that justifies the method is the same video the Village wants.
Protect Your Basement
Resident Assistance Program: Protect Your Basement
Property owners installing flood control against sewer backups. Reimbursement rate depends on which of three mapped zones your house is in.
50% up to $4,000 standard; 80% up to $6,000 High Risk; 80% up to $7,500 High Risk Low Access
- Three eligible projects, in order of protection: overhead sewer conversion, modified overhead sewer, exterior backflow valve.
- Condition of payment: every sump pump, downspout and yard drain disconnected from the sewer, verified by the Village.
- Specs: three-year warranty on labor and materials, ejector pit at least 18 by 30 inches, half-horsepower pump on a dedicated circuit, alarm panel inside.
- Eligible: locating, excavation, pit and pump, floor removal and replacement, battery backup, permit fees. Not eligible: finishes, new electrical panels, landscaping.
- At least three estimates are required; the Village can give you the licensed-contractor list but will not recommend one.
Program dates to 1995. Zone map is Exhibit 5 of the packet. Packet dated September 22, 2025.
See the basement waterproofing guide for why the cheap fixes come first, and the gutters guide for the downspout disconnection the program requires.
Get the Lead Out
Resident Assistance Program: Get the Lead Out
Properties with a lead water service. The Village owns the line from the main to the buffalo box; you own it from the buffalo box to the meter.
Village portion: 100% up to $5,000. Owner portion: 50% up to $2,500
- At least three estimates are required for each portion; the Village reimburses based on the lowest, whichever contractor you hire.
- New service is 1.5-inch Type K copper or another IEPA-approved material, with a new curb stop and buffalo box.
- Eligible: excavation at main and buffalo box (32 square feet max each), disconnection, new service and fittings, restoration, basement floor, permit fees.
- Plumbers digging need the Village excavation license, a $25,000 bond and insurance.
- Cutting a lead pipe during any other repair can spike lead levels; run cold water after any service work.
Revised June 2024. Village lead information at vrf.us/leadinformation.
Permit and program checker
Pick a project, answer a few questions, and see what the Village wants and what it will pay.
Summarized from the Village permit sheet and the current program packets. Rules and amounts change; confirm with Building & Zoning at (708) 714-3552 or Public Works at (708) 714-3551 before you sign anything.
Pick a project to see your checklist.
How to apply
The sequence is the same for all three. Get at least three estimates from Village-licensed contractors. Fill out the program application and have the contractor complete the permit forms. Submit the packet: application, permit forms and fees, the estimate, a site plan, and the signed property owner agreement. Wait for written approval and the maximum reimbursement amount. Only then does the work start. After the final inspection, submit the request for reimbursement signed by you and the contractor. Reimbursement typically takes two to four weeks.
Read the buying guide before you take an estimate.
Twelve guides, one per project, written for River Forest houses. What the work involves, what it costs here, and what to check on the page.
Browse the buying guides