County Building Permits

Massac County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Massac County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Illinois Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Unincorporated areas of Massac County (all land outside the incorporated limits of Metropolis, Brookport, and Joppa).

Department: Massac County Clerk and Recorder
Address: Massac County Courthouse, 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960
Phone: 618-524-5213
Email: hmiles@massaccountyil.gov
Website: https://www.massaccountyil.gov/

Online Permit Portal

Open Massac County Main Website

Platform: In-Person • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

Contact the Massac County Clerk at 618-524-5213 to ask whether a county building permit is required for your type of project in an unincorporated area.
If a county permit is required, obtain the application and instructions from the identified county office.
For septic systems or private water wells, separately contact Southern 7 Health Department at (618) 634-2297 ext. 973114 to obtain the required environmental health permits.
For projects involving electrical work, confirm that the licensed electrician complies with the NEC 2023 and any applicable state requirements.
For projects involving plumbing, confirm that the licensed plumber complies with the Illinois Plumbing Code.
If your property is near or within a floodplain, contact the county or FEMA for floodplain development permit requirements.
Complete and submit all required applications.
Obtain inspections as required.

Typical processing time: Not available. Contact 618-524-5213.

Source: Massac County Clerk and Recorder

General Requirements

Cannot be confirmed from public sources for county-level general building permits. A permit from Southern 7 Health Department is required before installing any new private septic system or drilling a private water well. As of January 1, 2025, any construction in unincorporated Massac County must meet the minimum standards of Public Act 103-0510 (IBC 2021, IRC 2021, IEBC 2021, NEC 2023, Illinois Energy Conservation Code, Illinois Accessibility Code, Illinois Plumbing Code).

Required Documents

Not confirmed. Contact 618-524-5213 for current requirements.

Permit validity: Not confirmed.
Building code: Public Act 103-0510 mandates enforcement of IBC 2021, IRC 2021, IEBC 2021, NEC 2023, Illinois Energy Conservation Code, Illinois Accessibility Code, and Illinois Plumbing Code as minimum standards effective January 1, 2025. Contact the County Clerk to verify the county's current code adoption status.
Owner-builder: Not confirmed.
Contractor requirements: Illinois does not have a statewide general contractor license. Electricians and plumbers must hold valid IDFPR licenses. No county-level contractor registration identified.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: Not identified.
Plan check fee: Not identified.
Permit fee formula: Not identified.
Reinspection fee: Not identified.
Payment note: Contact 618-524-5213. Septic permit fees (Southern 7 Health Department): Fees are payable via online portal at courtmoney.com. Contact Southern 7 at (618) 634-2297 ext. 973114 for current fee amounts.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Massac County Clerk and Recorder to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

618-524-5213 (phone)

Inspection hours: County Clerk typically Monday-Friday business hours (call to confirm). Southern 7 Health Department: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

Typical inspection sequence: Not confirmed for general building inspections. Septic and well inspections are scheduled through Southern 7 Health Department at (618) 634-2297 ext. 973114 per Illinois codes.

Additional Resources

Building code: Public Act 103-0510 mandates enforcement of IBC 2021, IRC 2021, IEBC 2021, NEC 2023, Illinois Energy Conservation Code, Illinois Accessibility Code, and Illinois Plumbing Code as minimum standards effective January 1, 2025. Contact the County Clerk to verify the county's current code adoption status.
Verify contractor license: Illinois IDFPR Professional License Lookup
County Main Website
County GIS/Parcel Map
Southern 7 Health Department
Illinois Capital Development Board
Massac County Clerk
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 Massac County Clerk and Recorder before applying.

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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 the permit authority listed above. 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.

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