County Building Permits
Bureau County, IL - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Bureau County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Bureau County and incorporated municipalities without their own zoning ordinance, plus related floodplain and subdivision review.
- Department
- Bureau County Planning and Zoning Department
- Address
- 700 South Main Street, Room B-5, Princeton, Illinois 61356
- Phone
- (815) 875-1631
Application Process
- Start by contacting the Planning and Zoning office with the PIN if possible.
- Submit the county building permit application and site plan / drawing package.
- County conducts zoning compliance review and site inspections.
- County FAQ says inspections are typically stakeout, footing, and final inspection for occupancy certificate.
General Requirements
Permit required for most new construction before work starts.
Required Documents
- Owner information
- Contractor information
- Type of construction
- Parcel number
- Floodplain data
- Estimated cost
- Drawing
- Permit validity
- Work must begin within 90 days after permit issuance or the permit is void.
- Building code
- Bureau County says it has not adopted a county building code.
- Contractor requirements
- No county general contractor license was located; Illinois has no statewide general contractor license.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Re-roofing generally does not require a permit.
- Replacing or installing new windows generally does not require a permit.
- Siding replacement and similar maintenance projects generally do not require a permit.
- Residential fences do not require a county zoning permit, though fence regulations still apply.
- Agricultural uses may be exempt under state law.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County office contact / inspection coordination (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence is stakeout, footing, final zoning compliance inspection, then occupancy certificate if applicable.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Bureau County says it has not adopted a county building code.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- FAQ
- Forms and applications
- Commercial building codes
- License lookup guide: Illinois Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Illinois Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Illinois hub: Illinois Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Bureau County Planning and Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bureau County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Bureau County, IL?
- Permit required for most new construction before work starts.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Bureau County, IL?
- 1. Start by contacting the Planning and Zoning office with the PIN if possible. 2. Submit the county building permit application and site plan / drawing package. 3. County conducts zoning compliance review and site inspections. 4. County FAQ says inspections are typically stakeout, footing, and final inspection for occupancy certificate.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Bureau County, IL?
- The following work is generally exempt: Re-roofing generally does not require a permit.; Replacing or installing new windows generally does not require a permit.; Siding replacement and similar maintenance projects generally do not require a permit.; Residential fences do not require a county zoning permit, though fence regulations still apply.; Agricultural uses may be exempt under state law..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Bureau County, IL?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County office contact / inspection coordination.
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