County Building Permits
Whiteside County, IL - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Whiteside County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
unincorporated areas of Whiteside County only
- Department
- Address
- 18819 Lincoln Road, Morrison, IL 61270
- Phone
- 815-772-5175
Application Process
General Requirements
Required Documents
- building permit application, site plan showing dimensions and setbacks, legal description or deed copy, contractor or builder information, owner information, flood/water/sewer details as applicable
- Building code
- 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IFC, 2021 IPSC, 2021 IECC, 2021 IEBC, 2020 NEC, 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code, 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code; effective January 1, 2025 per county code sheet
- Owner-builder
- owner or owner's representative signs the application; the form does not show a blanket owner-builder prohibition
Fees
- Reinspection fee
- temporary building permit instructions indicate a penalty fee of $50.00 plus one half the cost of the permit fee if work is started without compliance; see https://www.whitesidecountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/170/Temporary-Building-Permit-PDF
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Typical inspection sequence: temporary permit may allow excavation/footings/corner poles, final permit card must be posted before construction, site plan changes require approval, and the county inspects before or during construction as needed
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IFC, 2021 IPSC, 2021 IECC, 2021 IEBC, 2020 NEC, 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code, 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code; effective January 1, 2025 per county code sheet
- Zoning forms
- Comprehensive plan
- Flood information
- GIS
- 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 before applying.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Whiteside County Unincorporated Area can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector works