Urgent Information

Building Permits

Engineer

James E. Crane

  • Fax:217-253-3429
  • Address:200 S. Prairie
    Tuscola IL, 61953
Building Permit Fees

A list of the current fees for building permits in Douglas County.

  1. Verify if property is a floodplain. This may be done at the Highway Department. If property is in a floodplain, additional permits may be required. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers may have jurisdiction over your area. Construction in a floodplain may require a Flood Elevation Certificate by a registered professional engineer or architect.  Additional information is available in this office.
  1. Complete the entire application. Incomplete applications will delay issuing the building permit. A sketch of the proposed construction site must be included. The sketch should include the dimensions of the proposed construction and the location of any road and the setback from the center of the road to the face of the proposed building.  A page is provided for this. Also, sketch the placement of the building on the aerial photo, which can be provided by contacting the Douglas County Highway Department.
  2. Verify setback requirements:
    • State Highway: 100′
    • County Highway: 85′
    • Township: 70′
  3. Anyone requesting a building permit on a new site that will have wastewater output that does not have access to sanitary sewers, must have a soil evaluation. The soil evaluation must be submitted to the Douglas County Health Department and be approved before a building permit may be issued by the Douglas County Engineer.
  4. Anyone with building additions that have added bedrooms must be notified of seepage change requirements. Information is provided and a referral to the health department will be made upon receipt of the application.
  5. For more information concerning Septic or Well inspections, please call Amanda Minor at the Douglas County Health Department, 253-4137. The Health Department is located at 1250E US Hwy 36, Tuscola, IL.
  6. Call the Douglas County Highway Department to verify any fees that may be applicable.
  7. Return applications to:
    Douglas County Highway Department
    200 S. Prairie
    Tuscola, IL 61953
  8. After the application has been approved, and fees collected, the permit can be mailed, or you may pick the permit up at the Highway Department. Make all checks payable to Douglas County.

NO CONSTRUCTION MAY BEGIN UNTIL THE APPLICATION IS APPROVED AND FEES COLLECTED.