Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Matteson, Illinois
Village of Matteson is a village in Cook County, Illinois. Village of Matteson adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Village of Matteson’s rules apply, not the county’s. 8 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 22, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Cook County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Village of Matteson
Village of Matteson’s own rules
Building permitRequired
New construction, home improvements, and demolition inside Matteson village limits
Permits must be obtained before work begins; the village says failure to obtain a building permit will result in a fine.
If work starts without a permit, an inspector will stop work and may require removal of the improvement, plus a fine equal to twice the permit fee.
Homeowners doing their own work must still obtain a building permit.
fine for work begun without permit: 2 times permit fee
“building permits are required for all new construction and home improvements, including demolition, so the appropriate reviews and inspections can be completed”
Homeowners doing their own home improvements inside Matteson village limits
The exemption covers the village contractor license, registration and bonding requirement only; a building permit is still required.
Any contractor the homeowner hires must be registered, licensed and bonded with the village.
“if a homeowner wishes to do his/her own home improvements, he/she is not required to be licensed, registered and bonded with the village.”
Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
Residential and commercial construction inside Matteson village limits
Building services page dates the code list as of December 1, 2021; the page does not show a later adoption date.
Plumbing is the 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code (state code, enforced locally), and the village notes a state plumbing letter-of-intent requirement.
Codes listed on the page: 2024 International Building Code, 2024 International Mechanical Code, 2023 National Electrical Code, 2024 International Energy Conservation Code with Illinois amendments, 2024 International Fire Code, 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code, 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2024 International Existing Building Code, all with local amendments where stated.
“the village of matteson uses the following codes: 2024 international residential code with local amendments”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land inside Matteson village limits. The village administers its own zoning code (Chapter 159, Zoning Code) for this land.
Zoning code sections 159.30 (area, bulk, density, setbacks) and 159.55 (signs) are posted by the village; other zoning sections were not opened in this research.
The quoted sentence is from the village zoning code, not a county rule.
“except as may be provided elsewhere is this code, the provisions of this section shall establish the necessary minimum and maximum requirements of area, bulk, density, and setbacks for every district established by the code.”
Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)
Low to moderate density residential zoning districts inside Matteson village limits (single-family district values not yet extracted)
The per-district minimum lot area figures are in the table in section 159.30(d) and were not read in this research, so no acreage or square-foot figure is recorded.
Existing lots of record that do not meet minimum lot area may be used for a permitted use if they meet the district bulk and setback rules (section 159.30(b)).
“the table below specifies the general minimum and maximum requirements of area, bulk, density, and setbacks for the low to moderate density zoning districts.”
SetbacksSpecified
Lots in Matteson village located adjacent to single-family property
Setback values by district (front, side, rear) are in the section 159.30(d) table and were not extracted; only the adjacency setback is recorded here.
Setback is an additional requirement on top of the district setback.
additional setback adjacent to single-family property: 100 feet
“an additional setback of 100 feet shall be required for any lot located adjacent to any single-family property.”
Driveway accessRequired
New driveways and curb cuts inside Matteson village limits
The village lists driveways and curb cuts among improvements that need a building permit; a driveway tip sheet is also published on the Building Services page (not opened).
“listed below are common types of home improvements that require a building permit. new residences residential additions -storage sheds driveways & curb cuts fences”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Residential building permit applications inside Matteson village limits
Applications go through the CitizenServe online portal (citizenserve.com/matteson); the village says incomplete submittals left more than 90 days without follow-up are discarded.
Homeowners must obtain the permit before starting work; the hired contractor must be registered, licensed and bonded.
“create an account on citizenserve portal step 4 click on ‘building services’ and ‘apply for a permit’”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Matteson or Cook County directly.
Certificate of occupancy — New construction and change of occupancy inside Matteson village limits
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Matteson village residential districts
Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Matteson village residential districts
Building height — Maximum building height in Matteson village residential districts
Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Matteson village limits
15 more unanswered
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Who permits septic
Septic permit
Septic inspection
Off-grid sanitation
Well permit
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Subdividing land
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 Village of Matteson publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cook County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Village of Matteson means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
