County Building Permits
Clinton County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Clinton County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated areas of Clinton County and municipalities that do not have their own building departments (e.g., Bartelso, Posey, Shattuc).
- Department
- Clinton County Zoning Department
- Address
- 850 Fairfax Street, Room 124, Carlyle, IL 62231
- Phone
- (618) 594-6655
Online Permit Portal
Platform: In-person / Mail-in only • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Verify zoning district and setback requirements with the Zoning Office.
- Obtain a Sewage Disposal Permit from the Clinton County Health Department (618-594-2723) if applicable.
- Apply for a 911 Address through the Addressing Office (618-594-6631) for new construction.
- Submit Zoning Certificate application with a site plan showing structure location and property lines.
- Pay fees at the Zoning Office.
- Upon approval, the Zoning Certificate (Permit) is issued.
Typical processing time: 1-5 business days for standard certificates.
Source: Clinton County Zoning Department
General Requirements
New homes, mobile homes, additions, decks, sheds (portable or permanent), pools, garages, carports, and farm structures.
Required Documents
- Completed application
- Site plan (drawing of lot and structure locations)
- Floor plan (for dwellings)
- Sewage permit
- Permit validity
- Typically 1 year.
- Building code
- Enforces Zoning Certificates; commercial projects must comply with IBC (2006 or later). Effective 1/1/2025, statewide mandate for IRC/IBC 2021 applies.
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders are allowed for residential construction.
- Contractor requirements
- No county-wide general contractor license required. Roofing and plumbing must be state-licensed.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50.00
- Plan check fee
- Included in permit fee.
- Permit fee formula
- Square footage based for living areas; flat fees for accessory structures.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Double fee penalty if work begins before permit issuance.
- Payment note
- Checks or cash at office.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Re-roofing (without structural change)
- Siding replacement
- Window replacement (same size)
- Routine maintenance and minor repairs
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (618) 594-6655 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Setback verification (stake-out), foundation/footing (if required), and final inspection.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Enforces Zoning Certificates; commercial projects must comply with IBC (2006 or later). Effective 1/1/2025, statewide mandate for IRC/IBC 2021 applies.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Clinton County Health Department
- 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 Clinton County Zoning Department before applying.
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