County Building Permits
St. Clair County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated St. Clair County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All unincorporated areas of St. Clair County.
- Department
- Building & Zoning Department
- Address
- 10 Public Square, 5th Floor, Belleville, IL 62220
- Phone
- (618) 825-2528
- Not specified
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Downloadable forms • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Obtain assigned address from 9-1-1 Office (618-277-7316).
- Download/Collect application forms.
- Submit application, zoning compliance ($30), and scaled plans.
- Review for building and stormwater compliance.
- Pay fees and receive permit.
Typical processing time: Not specified
Source: Building & Zoning Department
General Requirements
New construction, additions, structures > 120 sq ft, fences > 7ft, retaining walls > 4ft.
Required Documents
- Application
- Scaled plans (sealed for commercial)
- 9-1-1 address
- Permit validity
- Not specified
- Building code
- 2012 IBC, 2012 IRC, Current Illinois Plumbing & Energy Codes
- Owner-builder
- Not specified
- Contractor requirements
- Trade licenses (elec/plumb) through state.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not specified
- Plan check fee
- $75 residential / $100 commercial
- Permit fee formula
- Square foot based for new construction
- Trade permit fee
- Not specified
- Reinspection fee
- $75 per failed inspection; Stormwater/Erosion 34% of permit fee
- Penalty (no permit)
- Not specified
- Payment note
- Paid at County office
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Not specified).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Sheds/Playhouses under 120 sq ft
- Fences up to 7 feet
- Retaining walls up to 4 feet
- Finish work (painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets)
- Prefab pools < 24 inches deep and <= 5,000 gallons
Important: Confirm all exempt work with the County Building & Zoning Department before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (618) 277-6600 Ext. 2644 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- 24 hours notice
- Inspection hours
- Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30
- Time windows
- Not specified
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Footing, Framing, Rough, Final.
Not specified
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2012 IBC, 2012 IRC, Current Illinois Plumbing & Energy Codes
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- ResCheck/ComCheck Energy Code
- 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 Building & Zoning Department before applying.
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