State Building Permits

Illinois Building Permit Guides

Permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements for counties and cities across Illinois. Select your county to find your local permit guide.

37 Counties 426 Jurisdictions Updated March 2026

How Illinois Permitting Works

Illinois does not have a mandatory statewide building code. Instead, municipalities and counties adopt building codes locally. Most jurisdictions adopt some version of the International Building Code (IBC) or International Residential Code (IRC), often with local amendments. Code adoption and enforcement varies widely, particularly in rural areas.

Building permits are issued at the local level — either by the city, village, or county building department, depending on where the property is located. In Cook County and the Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago's Department of Buildings maintains its own comprehensive permit system; suburban municipalities have their own departments. Many smaller communities use shared or regional inspection programs.

Select your county below, then choose your city or unincorporated area for the permit office, application links, fees, required documents, and inspection process that apply to your project.

Illinois Counties

Alexander County 4 jurisdictions → Bond County 8 jurisdictions → Boone County 5 jurisdictions → Calhoun County 4 jurisdictions → Champaign County 13 jurisdictions → Clinton County 14 jurisdictions → Cook County 31 jurisdictions → DeKalb County 9 jurisdictions → DuPage County 20 jurisdictions → Ford County 9 jurisdictions → Grundy County 9 jurisdictions → Henry County 14 jurisdictions → Jersey County 5 jurisdictions → Kane County 17 jurisdictions → Kankakee County 11 jurisdictions → Kendall County 8 jurisdictions → Lake County 22 jurisdictions → Macon County 11 jurisdictions → Macoupin County 12 jurisdictions → Madison County 19 jurisdictions → Marshall County 7 jurisdictions → Massac County 3 jurisdictions → McHenry County 16 jurisdictions → McLean County 14 jurisdictions → Menard County 6 jurisdictions → Mercer County 8 jurisdictions → Monroe County 4 jurisdictions → Peoria County 12 jurisdictions → Piatt County 10 jurisdictions → Rock Island County 13 jurisdictions → Sangamon County 16 jurisdictions → St. Clair County 16 jurisdictions → Stark County 4 jurisdictions → Tazewell County 13 jurisdictions → Will County 19 jurisdictions → Winnebago County 10 jurisdictions → Woodford County 10 jurisdictions →

Coverage currently includes major metro counties. Additional counties being added.

Related Illinois Resources

Contract Template Free Illinois homeowner-contractor agreement → License Requirements Verify your contractor's IL license →

Statewide Resources

  • Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR): Licenses contractors and construction professionals statewide.
  • Chicago Department of Buildings: Administers permits for the City of Chicago, the state's largest municipality.
  • Illinois Capital Development Board: Oversees state-funded construction projects and sets standards for public buildings.

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with your local building department before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating Illinois building permits 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.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from your local permit authority. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.