County Building Permits
Marshall County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Marshall County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas of Marshall County not within any incorporated city or village limits.
- Department
- Marshall County Zoning Administrator / Planning and Zoning Department
- Address
- 114 N. Prairie Street, Lacon, IL 61540
- Phone
- 309-246-6336
- Website
- https://marshallcountyil.org/
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Static website • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Contact Marshall County Zoning Administrator or Planning Department.
- Obtain zoning permit application form.
- Submit completed application with site plan and project details.
- County reviews for compliance with zoning ordinance and state building codes.
- Zoning permit issued upon approval; building permits may require additional step.
- Pay applicable fees.
Typical processing time: 7-14 days.
Source: Marshall County Zoning Administrator / Planning and Zoning Department
General Requirements
New construction, substantial additions, and structural alterations in unincorporated Marshall County.
Required Documents
- Zoning permit application
- Site plan
- Legal description of property
- Contractor information
- Permit validity
- 6 months to start work.
- Building code
- 2021 IBC/IRC (State Mandate).
- Owner-builder
- Standard Illinois owner-builder exemptions apply.
- Contractor requirements
- State-licensed roofing, plumbing, and electrical work required.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50.00
- Plan check fee
- Included in permit fee.
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based; typically $0.10 per square foot for residential.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Penalties apply for construction without permit.
- Payment note
- Check or cash at County offices.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- General maintenance and minor repairs
- Interior cosmetic work
- Minor fence repairs
- Deck and patio work under certain setback conditions
Important: Zoning setback and use restrictions always apply even for exempt work; confirm with Zoning Administrator.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Call Marshall County Zoning Administrator at 309-246-6336 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Zoning verification, Foundation, Rough-in, Final.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 IBC/IRC (State Mandate).
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- 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 Marshall County Zoning Administrator / Planning and Zoning Department before applying.
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