Bolthole Index

Cook County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Markham, Illinois

Markham, Illinois (Cook County) requires a city building permit for work inside city limits1. The City of Markham administers its own zoning code, Chapter 1562. Septic systems in Cook County, outside four named suburbs that do not include Markham, are reviewed by the Cook County Department of Public Health3; whether a Markham lot may use septic at all is unconfirmed.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the City of Markham for work inside city limits1
Zoning
City of Markham zoning code (Chapter 156)2
Building code
2015 International Building Code and 2006 International Residential Code4
Minimum house size (R-2)
1,040 sq ft single-floor; 810 sq ft story-and-a-half or split-level; 720 sq ft two-story5
Minimum lot (R-2)
8,000 sq ft and 70 feet wide6
Septic
Cook County Department of Public Health reviews systems county-wide, outside four named suburbs3

Who to call

Building permits

City of Markham (building permits and zoning)

City building permits under Chapter 150 and zoning under Chapter 156 for land inside Markham city limits

Septic permits

Cook County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health

Review and approval of private sewage disposal systems and well/septic evaluations in Cook County

708-836-8600

7556 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park, IL 60130

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 Markham 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.

Does Markham, Illinois have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and house size?

Yes. The City of Markham administers its own zoning code, Chapter 156 of the city code, for land inside city limits2. Rules differ by district, so check the district of the parcel first.

In the R-2 one-family district, each lot needs at least 70 feet of width and 8,000 square feet per dwelling unit6. A single-floor home needs at least 1,040 square feet of living area, a story-and-a-half or split-level home needs 810 square feet on the first floor, and a two-story home needs 720 square feet on the first floor5. In the R-3 district the lot minimums drop to 60 feet wide and 7,200 square feet7, and a single-floor home needs 960 square feet8.

Buildings in R-1, R-2 and R-3 may not exceed 30 feet in height91011. R-2 side yards must be at least 7 feet12, and buildings with accessory buildings may cover no more than 30% of an R-2 lot13. We did not confirm front and rear yard depths, so ask the city before you design.

Do you need a building permit in Markham, and who issues it?

Yes. The City of Markham requires a permit when altering, renovating or razing any structure inside city limits1. The city has adopted the 2015 International Building Code and the 2006 International Residential Code4.

Homeowners can pull permits themselves only after meeting city conditions: owning and planning to live in the property for at least six months, with a current water bill, paid city fines and liens, and proof of insurance, residency and ownership14. The code does not state that homeowner work is exempt from permits14.

The Cook County Department of Building and Zoning does not handle properties inside municipalities; its page directs those inquiries to the local building and zoning authority15. Permit fees, inspection stages and certificates of occupancy in Markham are unconfirmed; ask the City of Markham building office.

How do septic permits work inside Markham?

Septic permits for Cook County are issued by the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH), which reviews private sewage systems throughout the county except in Barrington Hills, Inverness, Palos Park and South Barrington3. Markham is not one of those four.

CCDPH approval comes before construction on projects involving septic16. Applications need a completed application, seven sets of plans, a soil report and payment by check or money order3.

Whether a new home in Markham must connect to public sewer or water, or may use septic or a well, is unconfirmed. Ask the City of Markham before you buy, then CCDPH at17.

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

We could not confirm Markham's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings, so ask the city's zoning staff before buying.

Do not rely on Cook County's RV rule here. That ordinance bars living in a parked RV on residential lots in unincorporated Cook County18, and it does not govern land inside a municipality that has its own zoning19.

Building a home in Markham: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district with the City of Markham, since lot size, house size and yards differ by district2.
  2. Ask the city whether the lot connects to public water and sewer; if septic is proposed, contact CCDPH at1716.
  3. Check the lot against the district minimums, for example 8,000 square feet in R-26.
  4. Apply for a city building permit; homeowners must meet the city's ownership, residency and paid-account conditions first14.
  5. Build to the city's adopted codes4, and ask the city about inspections and certificate of occupancy.

What stays with Cook County, and what to check before you buy in Markham

Septic and well approvals stay with CCDPH16. Land outside city limits is a different case: unincorporated Cook County has its own permit and zoning rules, covered on the Cook County page.

Cook County's median property tax bill is $6,053 a year, an effective rate of 2%2021. Conventional septic is rare in this soil: only 0.9% of Cook County soils rate as not limited for a standard drain field22. Markham's flood hazard rules were not confirmed, and its subdivision regulations exist but we did not review them, so ask the city if you plan to divide or build near water23.

Watch-outs

  • The Markham code text we reviewed notes that it may not reflect the most current legislation, so confirm current zoning and permit rules with the City of Markham before relying on them2.
  • Only the R-1, R-2 and R-3 standards were reviewed; other Markham districts and the zoning map were not, so confirm your parcel's district24.
  • Cook County's unincorporated permit and zoning rules do not apply inside Markham15.

Sources

  1. Markham Code § 150.086 Building and residential codes adopted (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  2. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic, quoted and re-checked
  4. Markham Code § 150.086 Building and residential codes adopted (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  5. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  6. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  7. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-3 section) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  8. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  9. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  10. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  11. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-3 section) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  12. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  13. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  14. Markham Code § 150.086 Building and residential codes adopted (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  15. Building and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  16. Septic, quoted and re-checked
  17. Cook County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health (cookcountypublichealth.org)
  18. 25-0036 Full Text PDF, quoted and re-checked
  19. Amendment to Cook County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. 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
  23. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked
  24. Markham Code Chapter 156 Zoning Code (R-1, R-2 sections) (Markham), quoted and re-checked

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 Markham

Markham’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building permits issued by the City of Markham for work inside city limits.

    • Homeowner permits are issued only after ownership, residence and proof requirements are met (see owner-builder claim).
    • Landlord and property-investor permits have a separate eligibility list in §150.086(c).
    • Some work types are listed as homeowner-allowed permits; the listed items are not exempt from permits.
    • Fee schedule and exemptions beyond §150.086 were not opened.
    “a permit is required by the city when deconstructing, destroying, razing, tearing down or altering or renovating any structure.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-occupant homeowners building or renovating inside Markham city limits (homeowner permit path under §150.086(b)).

    • Must own and plan to reside within the property for at least six months.
    • Water bill must be current and all city fines and liens paid.
    • Must provide proof of valid homeowner insurance, proof of residency and proof of ownership.
    • This is an owner-occupant permit eligibility path; the code text does not state a permit exemption, and the homeowner-allowed list is limited to listed work types.
    “(a) must own and plan to reside within the property for at least six months;”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction inside Markham city limits under the city's Chapter 150 building regulations.

    • Adopts the International Building Code 2015 and the International Residential Code 2006 (editions as stated in the code text).
    • Mechanical, plumbing and electrical codes are adopted in §§ 150.087 to 150.089 (titles only seen in the table of contents; not opened).
    • Source states the code may not reflect the most current legislation.
    “(a) adoption. the city adopts the international building code 2015 and the international residential code 2006.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Markham city limits: the city administers its own Chapter 156 Zoning Code under Title XV Land Usage.

    • Zoning districts and dimensional limits differ by district; see the district-specific claims.
    • Chapter 156 also incorporates Chapter 157 flood hazard regulations and Chapter 154 subdivision regulations by separate chapter.
    • Source is the American Legal Publishing copy, which carries an amlegal disclaimer that it may not reflect the most current legislation; the official printed code should be consulted.
    “chapter 156: zoning code general provisions district boundaries zoning map; standards r-1 one-family residential districts r-2 one-family residential districts”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Markham city limits: the city's zoning district list and standards are published in Chapter 156.

    • Only the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-2/R-3 standards sections were opened; the full district list (R-3A, R-3B, R-4, R-5A, C-1, C-2, L-1, L-2, L-3) and the district boundary zoning map were not opened.
    “r-3 one-family residential districts § 156.090 application of provisions. § 156.091 permitted uses. § 156.092 lot area. § 156.093 yard specifications. § 156.094 corner lot. § 156.095 building height limitation. r-3a one-family residential district r-3b one-family town home residential district r-4 one-family residential district r-5a group houses and garden apartment districts c-1 neighborhood shopping districts”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-2 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.071 permitted uses)

    • Minimum living floor area on the first floor depends on dwelling design: 1,040 sq ft single-floor; 810 sq ft story-and-a-half or split-level; 720 sq ft two-story.
    • Applies to the single-family dwelling permitted use; the R-2 section also permits all uses permitted in R-1.

    minimum first-floor living area, single-floor design: >= 1040 square feet of living floor area · minimum first-floor living area, story-and-a-half or split-level design: >= 810 square feet of living floor area · minimum first-floor living area, two-story design: >= 720 square feet of living floor area

    “a minimum of 1,040 square feet of living floor area if such dwelling is of the single-floor design; or 810 square feet of living floor area on the first floor if the dwelling is of the story and one-half or split-level design; or 720 square feet of living floor area on the first floor if the dwelling is of the two-story design”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-3 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.091 permitted uses)
      “a minimum of 960 square feet of living floor area if such dwelling is of the single-floor design; or 720 square feet of living floor area on the first floor if the dwelling is of the story and one-half, split-level or two-story design”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-2 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.072 lot area)

    • Each R-2 lot must be at least 70 feet wide.
    • Minimum lot area is 8,000 sq ft per dwelling unit.
    • Lot-coverage limit in the same section is separate (see lot coverage claim).

    minimum lot width: >= 70 feet · minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 8000 square feet

    “(a) each lot shall have a minimum lot width of 70 feet. (b) the minimum lot area per dwelling unit shall be 8,000 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-3 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.092 lot area)
      “each lot shall have a minimum lot width of 60 feet. the minimum area per dwelling unit shall be 7,200 square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 one-family residential district in Markham city, side yards (§156.054)

    • Side yards: two side yards required on each lot; combined width not less than 25% of the lot width, minimum 8 feet for either side yard.
    • Corner lots (§156.055): front yard requirements apply along both streets; side-street yard depth need not exceed 20 feet.
    • Front and rear yard depths for R-1 were not retrieved (search_notes).

    minimum side yard width (either side): >= 8 feet (combined side yards not less than 25% of lot width)

    “the combined width of the two side yards shall be not less than 25% of the lot width, with a minimum width of eight feet for either side yard.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.073 yard specifications)
      “(b) the combined width of the two side yards shall be not less than 25% of the lot width, with a minimum width of seven feet for either side yard.”
    • Specified — R-3 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.093 yard specifications)
      “(b) the combined width of the two side yards shall be not less than 25% of the lot width, with a minimum width of six feet for either side yard.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-2 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.072(c))

    • Building with accessory buildings may not occupy more than 30% of an interior lot or more than 30% of a corner lot.

    maximum building and accessory building coverage: <= 30 percent of lot area (same 30% limit for interior and corner lots)

    “(c) no building with its accessory buildings shall occupy in excess of 30% of the area of an interior lot, nor in excess of 30% of the area of a corner lot.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 one-family residential district in Markham city (§156.056)

    maximum building height: <= 30 feet

    “§ 156.056 building height limitation. no building shall be erected or altered to exceed 30 feet in height.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions inside Markham city limits

    • Chapter 154 Subdivision Regulations exists in the code; its plat and approval requirements were not opened.
    • Chapter 155 Mobile Home Parks is a separate chapter.
    “chapter 154: subdivision regulations chapter 155: mobile home parks chapter 156: zoning code general provisions”

Still unanswered

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

  • Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Markham city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Markham city limits
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of an RV on private land inside Markham city limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Markham city limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Markham city limits
13 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Markham publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cook County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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