County Building Permits
Calhoun County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Calhoun County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated community. Managed entirely by Calhoun County Building Department.
- Department
- Calhoun County Building Department
- Address
- 301 S. County Rd., Hardin, IL 62047 (Marvin Richter Government Building)
- Phone
- 618-576-9700 Ext. 4
Online Permit Portal
Platform: In-person / Mail • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Consult with the Building Inspector (Chris Behrens) to verify if a permit is required for the specific project and location.
- Complete the Building Permit Application form (available at the Marvin Richter Government Building).
- Submit site plans, blueprints, and project specifications.
- For properties in floodplain areas, submit a Floodplain Development Permit application.
- Pay the applicable fees based on the project valuation.
- Wait for plan review and permit issuance.
Typical processing time: Varies; typically 1-2 weeks depending on project complexity and inspection schedule.
General Requirements
All construction. Note: Mozier is in a heavy floodplain area; strict floodplain management applies.
Required Documents
- Elevation certificates
- Site plans
- Construction drawings
- Permit validity
- 1 year from date of issuance.
- Building code
- IBC 2021, IRC 2021, IEBC 2021, NEC 2023 (State Mandate PA 103-0510)
- Owner-builder
- State and County rules apply.
- Contractor requirements
- State license required for trades (plumbing, roofing, electrical).
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $100.00
- Plan check fee
- 10% of permit fee for Residential (min $100); 35% for Commercial
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based: $100 + $5 per $1,000 for the first $100k; rates decrease for higher brackets.
- Trade permit fee
- Included in valuation-based formula
- Reinspection fee
- $100 per reinspection
- Penalty (no permit)
- Double fee penalty for starting work without a permit
- Payment note
- Checks made payable to Calhoun County Treasurer.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Minor maintenance
Important: Floodplain properties require strict compliance. Verify all requirements with County Building Inspector before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 618-576-9700 Ext. 4 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- By appointment
Typical inspection sequence: Standard inspection sequence applied.
Additional Resources
- Building code: IBC 2021, IRC 2021, IEBC 2021, NEC 2023 (State Mandate PA 103-0510)
- Verify contractor license: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- County Board Agendas and Minutes
- 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 Calhoun County Building Department before applying.
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