Bolthole Index

Madison County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Collinsville, Illinois

Collinsville, Illinois requires city building permits, with mandatory inspections for certain work.1 Collinsville’s Planning and Zoning Division administers city zoning; use the city office for land-development questions in this Madison County community.2 Madison County permits and inspects private sewage installations, and Collinsville expressly requires county approval for private sewage in manufactured-home parks.34

At a glance

Building permits
Required within Collinsville; apply through city Community Development1
Zoning
City Planning and Zoning Division administers the zoning ordinance2
Septic
County installation permits; city manufactured-home parks need county-approved private sewage or city sewer34
Residential lot coverage
R-2: all structures combined may cover at most 30% of the lot5
Manufactured-home park utilities
Public water required; central sanitary sewer serves each space6
Owner-builder
Conditional Illinois plumbing exemption; local plumbing permits can still apply78
Private wells
State or approved local health department permit required before well work9

Who to call

Building permits

Collinsville Community Development — Building Permits and Inspections

City building permit applications and inspection scheduling

618-346-5200 ext. 1143

125 South Center Street, Collinsville, IL

Zoning

Collinsville Planning and Zoning Division

City zoning, land-development applications and site-plan questions

618-346-5200

cddirector@collinsvilleil.org

Septic permits

Madison County Planning & Development — Private Sewage Permits & Inspections

Private sewage installation permits, inspections and installer licensing

(618)296-4663

tlhawkins@co.madison.il.us

Roads & driveways

Collinsville Department of Public Works

City right-of-way excavation permits, including driveway work in the right-of-way

618-346-5200 ext. 1124

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Collinsville, IL?

Collinsville requires building permits within city limits and mandatory inspections for certain types of work.1 New residential construction, additions, garages, decks and substantial residential remodeling fall under the city’s residential “R” building permit rather than its limited “U” building permit.1 Collinsville adopted the 2021 ICC Codes effective January 1, 2025.1

For a home project, ask the city Building Department which drawings and inspections the scope requires: the city says building plans may be required for residential “R” building permits.1 The residential building permit fee depends on total work cost, and the permit is valid for 6 months.1

Who issues building permits in Collinsville, and where do you apply?

Submit Collinsville building permit applications to the Community Development Front Desk at City Hall or through the application email shown on the city’s building-permit page.1 The city identifies the application counter as 125 South Center Street, Collinsville, IL.1 Use the linked city page for the residential building permit application and ask the front desk to confirm the required submittal for your project.1

For Collinsville construction inspections, call 618-346-5200 ext. 1143.1 Illinois does not issue building permits for privately funded construction; the applicable local government handles any building permit requirement.10 A state permit inquiry therefore does not replace the Collinsville application.110

Does Collinsville have zoning, lot coverage limits and setbacks?

Collinsville’s Planning and Zoning Division implements the city’s Zoning Ordinance and processes land-development applications.2 Collinsville special-use permits require Planning Commission approval, and the city directs applicants to Planning and Zoning to confirm whether a development needs a site plan.2

In Collinsville’s R-2 One- and Two-Family Residential District, all structures combined may cover no more than 30% of the lot, and maximum structure height is 30 feet.511 In the R-4 Manufactured Home District, maximum lot coverage is 35% and maximum structure height is 15 feet.1213 R-4 front and rear yards are each 25 feet; combined side yards must total at least 15 feet, with minimum sides of 5 and 10 feet.14 Ask Planning and Zoning for the parcel’s district before drawing a house footprint.

How do septic permits work inside Collinsville?

Madison County Planning & Development permits and inspects private sewage system installation.3 The county permits private sewage only where public sewer is unavailable and cannot be extended to the property line, and where acceptable site soil conditions exist.3 Illinois requires plan approval from the state or applicable local authority before construction of a new private sewage disposal system.15

Collinsville’s manufactured-home park rule requires connection to city sanitary sewer or a Madison County-approved private sewage system; every park space must connect to the park’s central sanitary sewer system, and public water must supply the park.46 Those park requirements do not establish the utility answer for every Collinsville house lot.4 For an individual parcel, ask the city about sewer availability and the county private-sewage office about installation approval. Madison County licenses private sewer installers.3

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Collinsville?

We could not confirm a Collinsville rule authorizing residential RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, accessory dwellings or a minimum dwelling size. Ask Collinsville Planning and Zoning about the proposed dwelling type and district, then ask the Building Department what building permit and inspection requirements apply. Collinsville administers city zoning and requires city building permits; the proposed dwelling still needs a city-specific answer.21

A manufactured-home park utility rule is not permission to place an RV or tiny home on an ordinary residential lot: the verified city rule addresses manufactured-home parks.6 Illinois allows specified human-waste disposal options, including compost toilets, but other domestic wastes still require a conventional private sewage disposal system; a compost toilet does not remove that wastewater requirement.16

Building a home in Collinsville: what should you do first?

Start with Collinsville Planning and Zoning: request the parcel’s zoning district, describe the proposed use, and ask whether site-plan review or a special-use application is needed. The city processes land-development applications, requires Planning Commission approval for special uses and tells applicants to confirm site-plan requirements with the division.2

Next, establish the wastewater route with the city and county private-sewage office; county septic eligibility depends on sewer availability and acceptable soils.3 Submit the residential building permit application to city Community Development, confirm required plans, and arrange city construction inspections.1 Ask Public Works about driveway work in the city right-of-way: such work requires a right-of-way excavation permit reviewed and issued by Public Works.17

For land outside city limits, use the Madison County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building permit requirements.18

What should you check before buying land in Collinsville?

Ask Collinsville Planning and Zoning to assess the intended use against the parcel’s district and ask the Building Department to identify the building permit scope before committing to a design. The city administers zoning and requires building permits.21 We could not confirm city-specific minimum lot sizes, residential RV permission or private-well administration; request those answers for the actual parcel.

If a private well is proposed, Illinois requires a permit from IDPH or an approved local health department before constructing, modifying or sealing a well.9 For owner-built plumbing, Illinois provides a conditional single-family owner-occupant exemption, but local plumbing permits and inspections can still apply.78 Treat self-built plumbing and a city building permit as separate questions when discussing the project with Collinsville’s Building Department.81

Watch-outs

  • Collinsville’s R-2 and R-4 dimensional limits belong to their named districts; confirm the parcel’s district with Planning and Zoning.514
  • Private sewage eligibility depends on public sewer availability and acceptable soils, so ask Madison County’s private-sewage office before planning a septic system.3
  • We could not confirm permission to live in an RV or tiny home on a Collinsville lot; ask the city Planning and Zoning Division before buying for that purpose.2

Sources

  1. Collinsville Community Development — Building Permits and Inspections (collinsvilleil.org)
  2. Collinsville Planning and Zoning Division (collinsvilleil.org)
  3. Madison County Planning & Development — Private Sewage Permits & Inspections (madisoncountyil.gov)
  4. Sec. 17.040.090. - "R-4" Manufactured Home District (Collinsville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 17.040.070—R-2 One- and Two-Family Residential District (Collinsville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 17.040.090. - "R-4" Manufactured Home District (Collinsville), quoted and re-checked
  7. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. 225 ILCS 320/18 — Local regulation; Department standards (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 17.040.070—R-2 One- and Two-Family Residential District (Collinsville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Sec. 17.040.090. - "R-4" Manufactured Home District (Collinsville), quoted and re-checked
  13. Sec. 17.040.090. - "R-4" Manufactured Home District (Collinsville), quoted and re-checked
  14. Sec. 17.040.090. - "R-4" Manufactured Home District (Collinsville), quoted and re-checked
  15. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.130 Human Waste Disposal (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Collinsville Department of Public Works (collinsvilleil.org)
  18. Building Permits & Inspections (2026 county census)

Written October 11, 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 Collinsville

Collinsville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building work inside Collinsville city limits.

    • Applicants uncertain whether work needs a permit are directed to call the Building Department.
    • Exterior work valued above $500 is identified as generally eligible for a Limited/U permit, subject to exceptions.
    “Building Permits are required within the City of Collinsville, and inspections are mandatory for certain types of work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building work inside Collinsville city limits.

    • The City page states the adoption date as January 1, 2025.

    adopted code edition: 2021 ICC Codes

    “As of January 1, 2025, the City of Collinsville adopted the 2021 ICC Codes.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Permitted work inside Collinsville city limits.

    • The City page limits the statement to certain types of work.
    “Building Permits are required within the City of Collinsville, and inspections are mandatory for certain types of work.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Collinsville city limits.

    • Title 17 establishes and regulates City zoning districts.
    “The "R-2" District is established herein to provide opportunities for planned residential development and planned mixed-use developments consisting of a variety of housing types, densities and styles.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-4 Manufactured Home District.

    • The combined side-yard width must be at least 15 feet, with one side at least five feet and the other at least ten feet.

    front yard: 25 feet · rear yard: 25 feet · combined side yards: >= 15 feet (One side must be at least five feet and the other at least ten feet.)

    “1. Front yard: twenty-five (25) feet. 2. Rear yard: twenty-five (25) feet. 3. Side yard: the combined width for both side yards shall be not less than fifteen (15) feet with a minimum of five (5) feet for one side yard and a minimum of ten (10) feet for the other side yard.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-4 Manufactured Home District.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

    “7. Maximum lot coverage: thirty-five (35) percent.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-4 Manufactured Home District.

    maximum structure height: <= 15 feet

    “Maximum structure height. Fifteen (15) feet.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private sewage systems serving manufactured-home parks inside Collinsville city limits.

    • A manufactured-home park must connect to City sanitary sewer or use a private sewage system approved by Madison County.
    • Each manufactured-home space must connect to the central sanitary sewer system serving its park.
    “Each manufactured home park shall be connected to the City sanitary sewer system or to a private sewage system as approved by Madison County.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County (with conditions) — Private sewage systems in manufactured-home parks inside Collinsville city limits.
      “Each manufactured home park shall be connected to the City sanitary sewer system or to a private sewage system as approved by Madison County.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Water and sewage connections for manufactured-home parks inside Collinsville city limits.

    • Water must be supplied by a public water system.
    • Each manufactured-home park must connect to the City sanitary sewer system or a private sewage system approved by Madison County.
    • Each manufactured-home space must connect to and be served by the park's central sanitary sewer system.
    “Water shall be supplied to the park by a public water system. [...] Each manufactured home park shall be connected to the City sanitary sewer system or to a private sewage system as approved by Madison County. Each manufactured home space within a manufactured home park shall be connected to and served by the central sanitary sewer system serving the manufactured home park.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land subdivisions within Collinsville's jurisdiction, including land inside City limits.

    • Statutory exemptions listed in Sec. 16.12.160 apply.
    • Civil plans require City approval and a performance guarantee or bond before improvements are constructed.
    “Every person who proposes to subdivide any land within the City's jurisdiction shall comply with the procedural and substantive provisions of the subsections below; except, that said requirements shall not be applicable to land that is specifically exempted from such requirements under subsections (b)l, (b)2, (b)3, (b)4, (b)5, (b)6, (b)7, (b)8, and (b)9 of "An Act to Revise the Law in Relation to Plats" contained in Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 109, Section 1, and as the said subsections may be amended.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Buildings located in the floodplain inside Collinsville city limits.

    • State permit and Chapter 18.06 damage-prevention requirements apply.
    • Building protection is required for the enumerated construction, alteration, substantial-improvement, repair, manufactured-home, travel-trailer/RV, and repetitive-loss situations.
    “In addition to the state permit and damage prevention requirements of this chapter, all buildings located in the floodplain shall be protected from flood damage below the flood protection elevation.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Subdivision public-improvement reviews and inspections inside Collinsville city limits.

    • The developer pays connected inspection, test, plan-review, and specification-review fees.
    • The rate is determined by the Community Development Director and approved by City Council.
    • Applicant pays costs of City-selected outside special inspectors.
    “All fees and costs connected with such inspections and tests, and in reviewing the plans and specifications for such improvements shall be paid by the developer at a rate to be determined by the Community Development Director and as approved by the City Council.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Collinsville city limits.

    • The City instructs applicants to submit applications by email or to the Community Development Front Desk at City Hall.
    • Individual permit types and exceptions may have additional requirements.
    “Please submit all applications to commdevfd@collinsvilleil.org or to the Community Development Front Desk at City Hall, 125 South Center Street, Collinsville, IL.”

Rules another office applies inside Collinsville

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family homes in the R-2 One- and Two-Family Residential District inside Collinsville city limits.

    • The section also sets a 12,000-square-foot minimum for two-family attached duplexes.

    minimum lot area, single-family home: >= 10000 square feet

    “Minimum lot area single-family home: ten thousand (10,000) square feet.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Collinsville city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new or altered buildings inside Collinsville city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Collinsville city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Collinsville city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Collinsville city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Collinsville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Madison County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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