Generally, any new construction requires a building permit which must be obtained prior to beginning construction. Projects that need a permit include, but are not limited to: decks, sheds (151 sq. ft. or more in area), garages, gazebos and other types of accessory structures (whether on a permanent foundation or not); dwellings; commercial and industrial buildings; additions to any building or structure.

Guidelines for Carports
Portable Buildings

Yes. Permits are good for 12 months from the issue date. If no construction is started within 12 months then you will need to renew the permit. Permit renewal is $30 for residential and $50 for commercial. If you have any questions, please call 217-728-7922.

The distance (measured in feet), a house or structure must be from the front, side and rear property lines. See the setback chart located under the Zoning Tab for specific setbacks in your district.

See the permissible uses chart under the Zoning Tab or you can call 217-728-7922 and I am happy to help you.

You can call 217-728-7922 and I am happy to help you.

No. Permits are not generally required for these improvements.

Yes. Demo permits are $10 and can obtained in the Planning and Zoning office or they can be found in the documents online and mailed with the payment or brought into the Planning & Zoning office.

You will need to contact the Planning & Zoning Office to discuss this. A Special Use or Variance hearing will likely be required, and I can explain that process and the fees associated with it to you.

Yes. Each town or village that is incorporated will have their own Ordinances. Incorporated towns and villages in Moultrie County include: Allenville, Arthur, Bethany, Dalton City, Gays, Lovington & Sullivan. If you aren’t sure if you are in city limits, please call either the town or village or you may call the Planning & Zoning office and I will be happy to help you.

The Planning & Zoning Office does not locate or mark property lines. You will need to have a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor come out for an official marking. However, you can try to locate your pins with a metal detector if you have one available. 

No. Many of the subdivisions in the county are subject to covenants and deed restrictions which regulate the use of property beyond the limitations contained in the county's ordinances. These covenants and deed restrictions are private agreements between property owners and are not enforced by the county.

Yes, if it is 151 sq. ft. or more. If you need more information as to why, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions under the Assessment Office page. 

You must request a Rezoning hearing. That can be done at the Planning & Zoning Office. Please call the Office for more information on how to do that and the fees associated with it.

This will be located on your property tax bill. You may call the Planning & Zoning Office or the County Assessment Office for help.

Have you checked with your local Planning and Zoning Director to see where in the floodplain your home is? If your answer is no, then you should call 217-728-7922 and speak with the Moultrie County Planning and Zoning Director, Kristi Hart. You can also email her at marykristine.hart@moultriecountyil.gov. She will try her best to help you. 

Now some people like to do research before contacting county officials. For floodplain information, we suggest that you check out the Federal Flood Hazard Regulations page on our website. Click here to visit that page. You may also wish to read the Moultrie County Ordinance Regulating Development in Special Flood Hazard Areas.

You may have questions, or need clarification, after visiting any of this information. We encourage you to call, email, or even come in, so that your questions can be answered. 

Yes. If you have a permit, the inspections you are required to have will have been marked on the fee schedule. It is the homeowner or contractors responsibility to call for inspections.
Please contact Jef Liddiard at 217-295-0925 for an inspection. He is available M-F from 8:30 - 4:30 to set up your inspection. Please give 48 hours notice when an inspection is needed.

While visiting the Planning and Zoning pages on the county website, you may want to see how your property is zoned. To do this, you will need to click the link for the Moultrie County GIS map. This is located on the left side of every page, in the grey Related Pages box at the end of the list. (Use picture for reference)

Once you have clicked the link, a new browser page will open to https://moultrie.il.bhamaps.com/. To the right of the Moultrie County shaped map, you will see a set of options: Layers, Map, Tools, and Help. Click on “Layers”.

You will presented with a list of layers already applied. Click the right arrow on the sixth line with “GIS Layers”.

A drop-down list will populate with Sublayer options. Click the white box next to Zoning. The box will turn blue with a white checkmark in it. This turns on the Zoning layer. You should now be able to what your property is zoned.

If you live in a town, you may see a Red color with the words “Zoning Class INC”. This means that your parcel is part of an Incorporated area. You will need to contact your local Planning and Zoning (typically the village hall) for any specific information.

YES! Some of our updates for 2024 include how we accept payments. We are now able to accept card (debit and credit) payments in office and online. If you follow the link below, you will be able to submit your payment online. This link is also available on the Printable Forms page and the Village of Gays page. If you are curious how much your permit will be, here is a useful chart specifically for that.