City Building Permits
Village of Chatham, ILLINOIS Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Village of Chatham, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Within Chatham village limits.
- Department
- Village of Chatham Building Department
- Address
- 116 E. Mulberry St., Chatham, IL 62629
- Phone
- (217) 697-5509
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Custom • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Submit Building Permit application with 2 sets of plans.
- Provide a plat of survey or scaled site plan showing setbacks.
- Review period for zoning and code compliance.
- Issuance of permit and placard.
Typical processing time: 5-7 business days.
General Requirements
New structures, additions, remodels, fences, pools, and decks.
Required Documents
- Plat of survey or scaled site plan
- Construction plans
- Contractor registration
- Building code
- 2021 IRC/IBC (Updated per 2025 mandate)
- Owner-builder
- Homeowners may perform work but must demonstrate code knowledge.
- Contractor requirements
- Must be registered with the Village.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50
- Permit fee formula
- Square footage based for new residential ($0.20 per sq ft); flat fees for small projects
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2025).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Retaining walls under 4 feet
- Fences (require a no-fee or low-fee zoning permit, but verify first)
- Painting/flooring
Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Department before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (217) 697-5509 (at least 48 hours in advance; 4 hours for footings) (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Call at least 48 hours in advance (4 hours for footings).
- Inspection hours
- Standard business hours
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 IRC/IBC (Updated per 2025 mandate)
- Verify contractor license: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
- 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 Village of Chatham Building Department before applying.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Village of Chatham 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 worksOther cities in Sangamon County