County Building Permits
Peoria County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Peoria County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Rome is an unincorporated community in Peoria County. All permits, inspections, and fees are handled by the Peoria County Planning & Zoning Department.
- Department
- Peoria County Planning & Zoning Department
- Address
- 324 Main Street, Room 301, Peoria, IL 61602
- Phone
- (309) 672-6915
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Manual/Email-based • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Email application and plans to buildingpermits@peoriacounty.org.
- Staff reviews submittal for zoning compliance and code adherence.
- Applicant receives invoice for fees.
- Pay fees online or via phone (309-672-6915).
- Permit issued and emailed to applicant.
Typical processing time: Residential: 2-3 business days; Commercial: 14 business days.
General Requirements
New buildings, additions, alterations, decks > 25 sq. ft., sheds > 200 sq. ft., pools, fences, and demolitions.
Required Documents
- Application
- Site Plan (must show setbacks)
- Construction Plans
- Illinois Energy Conservation Code compliance
- Permit validity
- 6 months to start; 1 year to complete.
- Building code
- 2018 IRC, 2018 IBC (transitioning to 2021 per state mandate), 2017 NEC, 2021 IL Energy Conservation Code.
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders are allowed for primary residence.
- Contractor requirements
- State license required for Plumbers and Roofers. Septic contractors must be registered with the Health Dept.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $750 (New Construction), $250 (Additions/Alterations)
- Plan check fee
- Included in permit fee.
- Permit fee formula
- $0.50 per sq. ft. for residential new/additions; $0.20 per sq. ft. for accessory structures.
- Reinspection fee
- $75 Reinspection fee
- Payment note
- 3% service charge for credit cards. $45 Technology Fee added to all permits.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- One-story detached accessory structures < 200 sq. ft. (Building permit exempt, but zoning setbacks apply)
- Fences under 7 feet (Building permit exempt, but zoning certificate may be required)
- Retaining walls under 4 feet
- Decks under 25 sq. ft.
Important: Building permit exempt does not mean exempt from zoning requirements. Confirm edge cases with Peoria County Planning & Zoning before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (309) 672-6915 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Footing, Foundation, Under-slab, Rough-in, Framing, Insulation, Final.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2018 IRC, 2018 IBC (transitioning to 2021 per state mandate), 2017 NEC, 2021 IL Energy Conservation Code.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- GIS Map
- 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 Peoria County Planning & Zoning Department before applying.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Rome (Unincorporated) 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.
Learn how Jaspector works