Bolthole Index

Edgar County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Paris, Illinois

The City of Paris, Illinois requires a building permit for new buildings and structural alterations inside city limits1, and it administers its own zoning ordinance2. Living in an RV or camper is prohibited inside the Paris zoning map3. Septic and well rules come from the Illinois and Edgar County health departments4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Paris for new buildings and structural alterations; fences excepted1
Who issues it
City of Paris code compliance officer5
Zoning
Paris runs its own zoning ordinance2
RV living
Prohibited inside the Paris zoning map3
Septic and wells
Illinois and Edgar County health departments, where not on city sewer and water4
Septic permit fee
$125 from the Edgar County Public Health Department6
Driveways and culverts
City superintendent of streets and alleys approves the design first7
Property tax
Edgar County effective rate of 1.5%8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Paris — Building Permits and Code Enforcement

Building permit applications, staking and field review, and zoning setback checks inside Paris city limits

(217) 465-7601

206 S. Central Avenue

Septic permits

Edgar County Public Health Department — Environmental Health

Private sewage disposal permits and inspections, and permits for new and modified water wells

217-465-2212

502 Shaw Avenue Paris, IL 61944

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Paris means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Paris, Illinois?

Yes. Paris requires a building permit when a new building or structure, other than a fence, is built inside city limits1. Structural alterations need one too. A building affidavit may be allowed instead when the work is expected to cost less than $25001.

The owner is responsible for getting the permit before any work starts, and may do it through an agent such as a contractor9. Paris has adopted the current International Building Code and International Residential Code, so construction must meet those editions10.

We could not confirm whether Paris offers an owner-builder exemption; ask the City of Paris permit office11.

Who issues building permits in Paris, and how do you reach them?

The City of Paris issues building permits through its code compliance officer, not Edgar County. The city's permit office is at 206 S. Central Avenue and the phone is (217) 465-760111.

Fees are based on the estimated cost of the work and are due when you apply11. We could not find a published fee schedule, so ask the permit office for the amount before you apply12.

The code compliance officer can inspect construction and issue work stoppage orders5. Penalties for breaking the building and zoning ordinances start at $50 and can reach 25% of the project's estimated cost12.

Does Paris have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and setbacks?

Yes. The City of Paris administers its own zoning ordinance, Appendix A of the city code2. Its districts include R-1 and R-2 single-family residence districts, a two-family district and an R-4 multiple dwelling district13.

Inside the Paris zoning map, no non-permanent structure may be used as a residence, temporarily or permanently3. That rules out living in an RV, camper or trailer on a city lot while you build14. The only exceptions are campers at the West Lake campground by the Laker stadium, under the campground's rules3.

We could not confirm minimum lot sizes, setback distances or whether a tiny home on a foundation is allowed. The city's code enforcement officer checks zoning setbacks during staking and field review before a permit is approved5, so call the permit office with your parcel address.

How do septic permits work inside Paris?

A lot connected to the City of Paris or Clark-Edgar County water and sewer systems does not need a well or septic system. New construction that is not connected must follow the well and septic rules of the State of Illinois and the Edgar County health department15.

Septic permits for every address in Edgar County, inside Paris or not, come from the Edgar County Public Health Department16. The department lists a septic permit at $125.00 and plan review for new construction at $150.0017. Its Environmental Health page offers a downloadable septic application18.

Illinois requires plan approval from the state or the local health authority before any new private sewage system is built19. We could not confirm a published septic inspection process for lots inside Paris; call the health department at20.

Do you need a well permit in Paris?

Illinois requires a permit to build a new water well, modify an existing one or seal an abandoned one, issued by the state or an approved local health department21. In Edgar County, the Public Health Department issues water well permits for new and modified wells20, and its fee schedule lists the permit at $125.0022.

If your Paris lot can connect to city water, the well question may not arise. The city's building permit form has a checkbox for whether a water well is required15.

Building a home in Paris: the steps, in order

  1. Call the City of Paris permit office to confirm your lot's zoning district and whether city water and sewer reach it11.
  2. If the lot is not on city sewer or water, apply to the Edgar County Public Health Department for septic and well permits16.
  3. Prepare plans with at least a site plan showing the lot size, existing structures and the work relative to the property lines and streets9.
  4. Have the superintendent of streets and alleys approve any new driveway or culvert design7.
  5. Stake the layout for the code enforcement officer's field review before the permit is approved5.
  6. Request a J.U.L.I.E. utility check before any digging5.
  7. Start excavation within 6 months and finish the permitted work within the 1-year permit window9.

What stays with Edgar County, and what should you check before buying?

Paris sets building permits and zoning inside city limits, but septic and well rules come from the Edgar County health department4. Driveways next to a county highway or township road also need contact with the Edgar County Highway Department about setbacks7. Land outside Paris is a different question; see the Edgar County page.

For budgeting, Edgar County's effective property tax rate is 1.5%8. The median property tax bill is about $1,478 a year23. USDA rates only 4.1% of the county's soils as not limited for a conventional septic drain field24, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system on lots without city sewer.

Watch-outs

  • Paris inspectors verify zoning setbacks at field review before the permit is approved, so stake the lot before you commit to a house plan5.
  • Starting work before the city council approves a permit is at the owner's risk, even if the code compliance officer allows work to begin9.
  • We could not confirm Paris's rules on manufactured homes, accessory dwellings, minimum home size, lot size or flood hazard areas; ask the City of Paris permit office11.
  • Septic and well permits are separate from the city building permit and come from the Edgar County Public Health Department20.

Sources

  1. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  2. Paris, IL Code of Ordinances, Appendix A: Zoning (article list, sections 4 and 7, definitions) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  3. Paris, IL Code of Ordinances, Appendix A: Zoning (article list, sections 4 and 7, definitions) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  6. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  8. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  9. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Paris — Building Permits and Code Enforcement (parisillinois.org)
  12. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  13. Paris, IL Code of Ordinances, Appendix A: Zoning (article list, sections 4 and 7, definitions) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  14. Paris, IL Code of Ordinances, Appendix A: Zoning (article list, sections 4 and 7, definitions) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Paris, IL Application for Building Permit and Building Permit Fact Sheet (2026 form, dated 07/09/2026) (Paris), quoted and re-checked
  16. Environmental Health Services - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  17. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  18. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  19. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Edgar County Public Health Department — Environmental Health (ecphd.org)
  21. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Paris

Paris’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New buildings or structures (except fences) and structural alterations inside Paris city limits

    • A building affidavit may be allowed instead when the cost is expected to be less than $2500 (fact sheet item 2).
    • The owner is responsible for obtaining the permit before starting work and may act through an agent such as a contractor (fact sheet item 3).
    • The permit requirement also reaches the 1 ½ mile zoning limit, which lies outside city limits and is not covered here.

    affidavit threshold: < 2500 USD (cost of construction or alteration expected to be less than this amount may be allowed by affidavit)

    “a building permit is required when, within the city limits, or inside the 1 ½ mile zoning limit: a) a new building or structure (except fences) is to be constructed”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    New construction and alteration inside Paris city limits

    • The fact sheet names the International Building Code and International Residential Code; it also lists national electrical code, Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing code, International Fire Code and the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code.
    • The fact sheet says the codes are available for review at the Paris Public Library.

    code edition: current editions

    “the current editions of the international building code and the international residential code are the regulation/standard to which all construction work shall be performed.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Paris city limits

    • Staking and a field review by the code enforcement officer must occur before the permit is approved (fact sheet item 6).
    • The code compliance officer has right of entry and inspection and authority to issue work stoppage orders (fact sheet item 12).
    • Excavation requires a J.U.L.I.E. site inspection before digging (fact sheet item 7).
    “(s)he has the right of entry and inspection to assure standards of construction and compliance with city ordinances and zoning requirements are maintained, and (s)he also has the authority to issue work stoppage orders.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Paris city limits: the City of Paris administers its own zoning ordinance (Appendix A: Zoning of the city code)

    • The zoning ordinance articles (districts, height and area table, use rules) are listed in the appendix table of contents but their text was not opened in this research pass.
    • The 1 ½ mile zoning limit named on the building permit fact sheet is outside Paris city limits and is not covered by this claim.
    “(c) violation of this section is subject to penalties as set forth in article xxiii of this city of paris zoning ordinance.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts of Paris city, Illinois

    • The district list comes from the Appendix A table of contents; the district rules (R-1, R-2, R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, M-2 and others) were not opened.
    • The district map is referenced in Appendix A section 2 but was not opened.
    “article v: r-1 and r-2 single-family residence districts article va: reserved article vi: two-family residence district article vii: r-4 multiple dwelling district”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Residential use of an RV, camper or trailer coach (a non-permanent structure) inside the limits of the Paris zoning map, on a temporary or permanent basis

    • Exception (1): trailer, coach or campers are permissible at the Laker stadium in West Lake campground, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the campground.
    • Exception (2): tents may be used in Black Hawk Park by a non-profit organization or city residents after applying for and receiving permission from the supervisor of streets and alleys (tent use only, not RVs).
    • The zoning map boundary was not opened, so whether it covers all land inside city limits is unverified.
    “(a) no non-permanent structure may be used for a residence on a temporary or permanent basis within the limits of the city of paris zoning map.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Camping as a residence in tents, campers or trailer coaches on a temporary basis inside the Paris zoning map

    • Exception (1): trailer, coach or campers are permissible at the Laker stadium in West Lake campground, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the campground.
    • Exception (2): tents may be used in Black Hawk Park by a non-profit organization or city residents after applying for and receiving permission from the supervisor of streets and alleys.
    “(a) no non-permanent structure may be used for a residence on a temporary or permanent basis within the limits of the city of paris zoning map.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    New construction inside Paris city limits that is not connected to city or county sewer

    • Allowed only if the owner complies with the well and septic regulations of the State of Illinois and the Edgar County health departments.
    • No separate privy or off-grid sanitation rule was located.
    “must comply with the regulations for wells and septic systems, issued by the state of illinois and edgar county departments of public health (217.465.2212).”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New construction inside Paris city limits that requires water or sewer service

    • Connection to the City of Paris or Clark-Edgar County systems is an alternative to well and septic.
    • No mandatory-connection rule or distance threshold was found in the code; the city utilities chapter has not been opened.
    “new construction requiring water or sewage service, and not connected to the city of paris or the clarkedgar county systems, must comply with the regulations for wells and septic systems”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land inside Paris city limits

    • Chapter 159 Subdivision Control text was not opened; platting, plat approval and lot-split rules are unverified.
    “chapter 158: signs chapter 159: subdivision control appendix a: zoning”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New entrances (driveways) and culverts for work inside Paris city limits

    • Design approval by the superintendent of streets and alleys is required before construction.
    • Construction adjacent to a county highway or township road also requires contact with the Edgar County highway department for setback requirements (fact sheet item 6).
    “the superintendent of streets and alleys shall be contacted to in order to review and approve the design of any proposed entrances and culverts prior to their construction.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Paris city limits

    • No published fee amount schedule was found; the form has blank fee lines for building, electrical, plumbing, sidewalk removal, sign, water tap and sewer tap.
    • Penalties for noncompliance with the building and zoning ordinances range from a minimum of $50, up to 25% of the estimated cost of the project (fact sheet item 14).

    penalty minimum: >= 50 USD (up to 25% of the estimated cost of the project)

    “fees for building permits will be assessed in accordance with the estimated cost of the work to be done. they must be paid at the time of application for the permit.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit application inside Paris city limits

    • Plans are required; a site plan is the minimum and multi-family, commercial and industrial work needs sealed plans (fact sheet item 4).
    • Staking and field review are required before approval (item 6).
    • A permit has a 1-year time limit, with excavation started within 6 months of issuance (item 10).
    • The code compliance officer may allow work to start before council approval, but council has ultimate approval and work before it is at the owner's risk (item 11).
    “the owner of the property on which work is to be done has the responsibility of obtaining a building permit prior to starting any work, which may be done through an agent, such as a contractor.”

Rules another office applies inside Paris

Paris does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    New construction inside Paris city limits that is not connected to the City of Paris or Clark-Edgar County sewer and water systems. Scope is recorded as countywide because the Edgar County health department rules apply countywide, including inside Paris city.

    • The fact sheet attributes the wells and septic rules to both the State of Illinois and the Edgar County departments of public health.
    • The Edgar County health department contact number on the fact sheet is 217.465.2212.
    • The specific septic permit and inspection process was not found.
    “must comply with the regulations for wells and septic systems, issued by the state of illinois and edgar county departments of public health (217.465.2212).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Paris or Edgar County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed construction inside Paris city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Paris city limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwelling inside Paris city limits
  • Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district R-1, inside Paris city limits
  • Setbacks — Main single-family residential district R-1, inside Paris city limits
11 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Paris publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Edgar County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Edgar County: county rules, score and offices