Lee County, IL - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

unincorporated Lee County and county zoning/building matters

Department

Lee County Building and Zoning Office

Address

112 E. Second Street, 3rd Floor, Old Courthouse, Dixon, IL 61021

Phone

(815) 288-3643

Email

ahenkel@countyoflee.org

Website

https://www.leecountyil.com/525/Building-Permits

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Obtain the building permit application from the Zoning Office.
2. If required, complete LESA review first for qualifying parcels.
3. Prepare building plan, floor plan, site plan, and supporting utility/septic/well approvals.
4. Secure driveway access, 911 sign, and drainage permits when applicable.
5. Submit materials to the Zoning Office for review.
6. For commercial work, obtain required inspections and fire approvals before permit issuance.
7. Permit is issued by the Lee County Zoning Office.

Source: Lee County Building and Zoning Office

General Requirements

new buildings, additions, alterations, replacements, foundations, garages, accessory buildings, pools, fences, signs, development permits, temporary permits, commercial and industrial structures, and other regulated work

Required Documents

• building plan, platted survey, floor plan, site plan, septic/well approvals, driveway/access documents, LESA where applicable

Permit validity

void if construction has not commenced 50 percent within one year; may be reissued only once; permit also states void after one year from approval

Building code

county form says in absence of a Lee County Building Code, use current BOCA, IBC, or NEC for review; current statewide Illinois minimum codes still apply under state law

Owner-builder

application must be certified by owner or authorized agent

Contractor requirements

no countywide contractor license rule published; permit form requests contractor information

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$50

Plan check fee

not separately published

Permit fee formula

residential living area $0.20/sf; basement $0.20/sf; garages/accessory buildings $0.15/sf; commercial/industrial $0.25/sf; several special-use formulas

Reinspection fee

late fee is twice the cost of the building permit; agricultural building penalty fee $150; reissued building permit $50 plus permit cost; other unspecified fees set reasonably by zoning administrator

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Lee County Building and Zoning Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Typical inspection sequence: commercial buildings require certificate of inspection by qualified inspector and local fire department approval before permit approval

Additional Resources

• Building code: county form says in absence of a Lee County Building Code, use current BOCA, IBC, or NEC for review; current statewide Illinois minimum codes still apply under state law
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• License lookup guide: Illinois Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Illinois Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Illinois hub: Illinois Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Lee County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Lee County, IL?

new buildings, additions, alterations, replacements, foundations, garages, accessory buildings, pools, fences, signs, development permits, temporary permits, commercial and industrial structures, and other regulated work

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Lee County, IL?

The minimum permit fee is $50. Fees are calculated as: residential living area $0.20/sf; basement $0.20/sf; garages/accessory buildings $0.15/sf; commercial/industrial $0.25/sf; several special-use formulas. Plan check fee: not separately published.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Lee County, IL?

1. Obtain the building permit application from the Zoning Office. 2. If required, complete LESA review first for qualifying parcels. 3. Prepare building plan, floor plan, site plan, and supporting utility/septic/well approvals. 4. Secure driveway access, 911 sign, and drainage permits when applicable. 5. Submit materials to the Zoning Office for review. 6. For commercial work, obtain required inspections and fire approvals before permit issuance. 7. Permit is issued by the Lee County Zoning Office.