Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Bethalto, Illinois

Village of Bethalto’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New residential construction and alterations inside Bethalto village limits, issued by the village zoning administrator/building office.

  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • Permits expire 18 months after issuance.
  • A plot plan showing property dimensions and existing and proposed structures is required, and the owner must verify property lines and setbacks.
  • Applicants must demonstrate compliance with the village storm water and erosion control ordinance.
  • Electrical, plumbing and roofing work carry separate inspection and licensing rules (see building inspection and septic claims).

  permit validity: 18 months (from issuance date)

  “building permits in the village of bethalto expire 18 months after they are issued.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Bethalto village limits, inspected by the village inspector.

  • The inspector signs off each inspection on the permit inspector checklist.
  • All electrical in residential and commercial construction must be inspected by the village electrical inspector.
  • Plumbing in residential and commercial construction must be inspected by the village plumbing inspector (village web page statement, not opened here).

  “during each inspection, the inspector will sign off on the inspection. all inspections must be completed prior to the final building inspection.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Bethalto village limits: the village adopts and administers its own zoning code (Chapter 40) and zoning map.

  • Chapter 40 zoning code print stamp is January 2026; that stamp is not treated as an effective date.
  • The zoning administrator administers and enforces the zoning code (Chapter 1, section 1-3-76).

  “the purpose of the "rs-8", single-family residential district, is to provide areas for single-family residential uses of an urban character.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Bethalto village limits, including RS-8, RS-5, RS-20, RT, RM, RMH, PS, PO and GS districts.

  • Chapter 1 requires the zoning administrator to prepare and publish a zoning map by March 31 of each year.

  “the purpose of the "rs-8", single-family residential district, is to provide areas for single-family residential uses of an urban character.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the RS-20 single-family residential district (largest-lot single-family district) inside Bethalto village limits.

  • Reads from the printed dimensional table; matched by label order (verify against the official code).

  minimum dwelling unit size: >= 1000 square feet

  “40-5-23 reserved. 20,000 square feet 100 feet 150 feet 30 feet 15 feet 25 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet two dwelling units per gross acre 10 acres”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the RS-8 single-family residential district inside Bethalto village limits.

    “40-5-28 dimensional regulations. (a) minimum lot size. (b) minimum lot width. (c) minimum lot depth. (d) minimum front yard. (e) minimum side yard. (f) minimum rear yard. (g) maximum building height. (h) minimum dwelling unit size. (i) maximum density. (j) minimum district size. (ord. no. 2014-12; 07-07-14) 40-5-29 8,000 square feet 80 feet 100 feet 25 feet 5 feet (amended 01/02/01) 10 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family lots in the RS-20 single-family residential district inside Bethalto village limits.

  • Minimum lot width 100 feet and minimum lot depth 150 feet in the same table.
  • Values are matched by label order from the PDF column layout (verify against the official code).

  minimum lot size: >= 20000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 100 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 150 feet

  “40-5-23 reserved. 20,000 square feet 100 feet 150 feet 30 feet 15 feet 25 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family lots in the RS-8 single-family residential district inside Bethalto village limits.

    “40-5-29 8,000 square feet 80 feet 100 feet 25 feet 5 feet (amended 01/02/01) 10 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the RS-8 single-family residential district inside Bethalto village limits.

  • Minimum front yard 25 feet, minimum side yard 5 feet, minimum rear yard 10 feet, per the printed table (verify against the official code).
  • Owner is responsible for verifying property lines to meet setbacks (permit application).

  minimum front yard: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard: >= 5 feet · minimum rear yard: >= 10 feet

  “40-5-29 8,000 square feet 80 feet 100 feet 25 feet 5 feet (amended 01/02/01) 10 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal buildings in the RS-20 single-family residential district inside Bethalto village limits.

    “40-5-23 reserved. 20,000 square feet 100 feet 150 feet 30 feet 15 feet 25 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the RS-20 single-family residential district inside Bethalto village limits.

  • Maximum building height 35 feet per the printed table (verify against the official code).

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “40-5-23 reserved. 20,000 square feet 100 feet 150 feet 30 feet 15 feet 25 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings in the RS-8 single-family residential district inside Bethalto village limits.

    “40-5-29 8,000 square feet 80 feet 100 feet 25 feet 5 feet (amended 01/02/01) 10 feet 35 feet 1,000 square feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on land inside Bethalto village limits: only in the RMH manufactured home district, in designated and approved manufactured home subdivisions.

  • The RMH district dimensional table (minimum lot or space size 4,000 square feet, 10 acres district) applies to manufactured home lots.
  • Modular homes are a different category and may be approved by special use permit in the RS-8, RS-5, RT and RM districts (ordinance 2025-18, December 8, 2025); the board minutes say each approval goes through the planning and zoning board to the village board.

  minimum lot or space size: >= 4000 square feet (RMH district)

  “manufactured homes may only be placed in designated and approved manufactured home subdivisions. manufactured homes may not be placed in any zoning district other than this rmh district.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process inside Bethalto village limits, issued through the village Building and Zoning office.

  • The application lists required information including parcel ID, owner, contractor, plumber and roofing license numbers, and utility company.
  • Office hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. per the application.
  • Permit is issued to the contractor or agent who filled out the application and must be posted on the premises with the inspector checklist.
  • Full review sequence and fees were not located, so the process is partial.

  “a plot plan must be provided indicating the precise dimensions of the property and the approximate location of existing structures and proposed structures.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Bethalto village limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new or altered buildings inside Bethalto village limits.
• Lot coverage — Lot or building coverage limits in the RS-8 and RS-20 districts inside Bethalto village limits.
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of an RV on private land inside Bethalto village limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bethalto village limits.

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.