Piatt County, IL — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Piatt County Zoning Office

Street address

Piatt County Courthouse, Room 105, 101 W. Washington, Monticello, IL 61856

Phone

(217) 762-3111

zoning@piattcounty.org

Coverage

All unincorporated areas of Piatt County, including but not limited to White Heath and the unincorporated fringes of all municipalities. The county zoning officer enforces the Piatt County Zoning Ordinance (adopted July 13, 2004; most recently amended effective January 10, 2024).

Online portal

Piatt County Zoning

Paper application

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Piatt County

A building permit is required for all construction in unincorporated Piatt County subject to the Piatt County Zoning Ordinance. This includes new construction, additions, and accessory buildings. Agricultural buildings on actively farmed land may be exempt under Illinois state law, but confirm with the Zoning Officer.

Scope of work

Permit?

Routine maintenance and repair of existing structures (non-structural)

Exempt

Agricultural buildings and structures on agricultural land may be partially exempt under Illinois state law, though setback requirements still apply

Exempt

Exempt Routine maintenance and repair of existing structures (non-structural)
Exempt Agricultural buildings and structures on agricultural land may be partially exempt under Illinois state law, though setback requirements still apply

Note: Illinois state law (65 ILCS 5/11-13-1) limits county authority to impose permits on buildings used for bona fide agricultural purposes, though size, location, and design restrictions may still apply. Specific exemption list not published online. Contact Zoning Officer.

Required documents

Completed Application for Building Permit
Site plan (sketch) showing dimensions, road location, and setback distances
Building plans and construction specifications
Health Department Certification of Approval (if new well or septic involved)

Building code: Piatt County has historically not adopted a comprehensive construction building code beyond manufactured homes provisions. As of January 1, 2025, Illinois PA 103-0510 mandates IBC 2021, IRC 2021, IEBC 2021, NEC 2023, Illinois Energy Conservation Code, Illinois Accessibility Code, and Illinois Plumbing Code as statewide minimum standards. Confirm current enforcement with Zoning Officer at (217) 762-3111.
Permit validity: Construction must begin within 6 months of issuance date. Permit is valid for two years from issuance date.
Owner-builder: Not specifically addressed in publicly available materials. Contact Zoning Officer.
Contractor requirements: No Illinois state general contractor license. IDFPR-licensed electricians and plumbers required for those trades.

Source: Piatt County Zoning Office ↗

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

Verify parcel location using Piatt County GIS (https://maps.piattcounty.org/public/) to confirm it is in unincorporated Piatt County.
02

Download or obtain the Application for Building Permit from the Piatt County Zoning Office.
03

Complete the entire application form. Incomplete applications delay issuance.
04

Prepare a site plan (sketch) showing dimensions and location of proposed construction, location of road, and setback distance from center of road to face of proposed building.
05

Submit completed application, site plan, building plans, and construction specifications to the Piatt County Zoning Office (Room 105, Piatt County Courthouse).
06

Pay applicable permit fees.
07

Permit issued. Construction must begin within 6 months of issue date.
08

Permit is valid for two years from issuance date.
09

Schedule required inspections as construction progresses.

Source: Piatt County Zoning Office ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Piatt County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$50

Plan check fee

Not separately identified.

Permit fee formula

New construction: $12.00 per 100 square feet of new construction. Accessory buildings up to 2,000 sq ft: flat fee of $50. Accessory buildings larger than 2,000 sq ft: maximum fee of $225.00.

Made payable to Piatt County. Contact office to confirm accepted payment methods.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

(217) 762-3111 (phone)

Inspection hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Typical sequence: Not publicly documented in detail. Contact Zoning Officer (Keri Nusbaum) for required inspection phases. For projects involving septic systems, a DeWitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department sanitarian must inspect before backfilling; 48-hour notice required.

Source: Piatt County Zoning Office ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Piatt County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Piatt County, IL? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Piatt County, IL? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Piatt County, IL are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $50. Fees are calculated as: New construction: $12.00 per 100 square feet of new construction. Accessory buildings up to 2,000 sq ft: flat fee of $50. Accessory buildings larger than 2,000 sq ft: maximum fee of $225.00.. Plan check fee: Not separately identified..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Piatt County, IL? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Piatt County, IL, follow these steps: 1. Verify parcel location using Piatt County GIS (https://maps.piattcounty.org/public/) to confirm it is in unincorporated Piatt County. 2. Download or obtain the Application for Building Permit from the Piatt County Zoning Office. 3. Complete the entire application form. Incomplete applications delay issuance. 4. Prepare a site plan (sketch) showing dimensions and location of proposed construction, location of road, and setback distance from center of road to face of proposed building. 5. Submit completed application, site plan, building plans, and construction specifications to the Piatt County Zoning Office (Room 105, Piatt County Courthouse). 6. Pay applicable permit fees. 7. Permit issued. Construction must begin within 6 months of issue date. 8. Permit is valid for two years from issuance date. 9. Schedule required inspections as construction progresses.

04 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Piatt County, IL? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Piatt County, IL. The following work is generally exempt: Routine maintenance and repair of existing structures (non-structural); Agricultural buildings and structures on agricultural land may be partially exempt under Illinois state law, though setback requirements still apply. Note: Illinois state law (65 ILCS 5/11-13-1) limits county authority to impose permits on buildings used for bona fide agricultural purposes, though size, location, and design restrictions may still apply. Specific exemption list not published online. Contact Zoning Officer. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Piatt County, IL? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Piatt County, IL via: (217) 762-3111.

last verified April 2026 source Piatt County Zoning Office ↗ entry id permits/illinois/piatt/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Piatt County Zoning Office before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Piatt County