Bolthole Index

Madison County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Edwardsville, Illinois

Edwardsville, Illinois generally requires a city building permit for new construction and remodeling.1 Edwardsville administers its own zoning, while Madison County Health Department handles water-well permits.23 City sewer-connection rules and restrictions on private sewage facilities must be resolved before choosing septic for an Edwardsville property in Madison County.45 RV dwelling use is prohibited, subject to the permitted travel-trailer-park exception.6

At a glance

Building permit
City building permit generally required for new buildings and remodeling1
Zoning
City Planning & Zoning administers the zoning ordinance2
RV living
Dwelling use prohibited, with a permitted travel-trailer-park exception6
Small homes
R-2 single-family dwellings need at least 750 square feet; accessory dwellings prohibited in R-1 and R-EL789
Sewer and septic
City requires qualifying sewer connections; private sewage facilities restricted, subject to sewer-article exceptions45
Water wells
County Health Department permit required before constructing or deepening a well3
Occupancy
Certificate of Occupancy required before occupancy or sale of a permitted project10

Who to call

Building permits

Edwardsville Building Inspections & Code Enforcement

City building permit packets, construction inspections and code enforcement

618-692-7535

200 East Park Street

Zoning

Edwardsville Planning & Zoning

City zoning review, land development, variances and rezoning

618-692-7535

[email protected]

200 E Park Street Edwardsville , IL 62025

Roads & driveways

Edwardsville Engineering Division

City water and sewer infrastructure questions; ask about driveway and drainage requirements

618-692-7535

[email protected]

200 E Park Street Edwardsville , IL 62025

Septic permits

Madison County Planning & Development — Private Sewage Permits & Inspections

County private sewage permitting program; confirm applicability and city approval for an Edwardsville parcel

(618)296-4663

[email protected]

157 N. Main Street, Suite 254 Edwardsville, IL 62025

Well permits

Madison County Health Department — Potable Water

Water-well permit applications and potable-water questions

(618) 692-8954

[email protected]

101 East Edwardsville Road Wood River, IL 62095

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 Edwardsville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Edwardsville, IL?

Edwardsville generally requires a building permit for remodeling existing residential or commercial buildings and for constructing new buildings; construction cannot begin before the permit is issued.1 Edwardsville has adopted building codes, so permit approval involves more than checking the proposed use of the land.11 The permit holder must schedule construction inspections, and required inspections must pass before the permit is finaled.1210 Edwardsville prohibits occupancy or sale of the permitted property before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.10

Who issues building permits and reviews zoning in Edwardsville?

Start an Edwardsville construction project with the city’s Building Inspections & Code Enforcement office; building permit packets are available at the Public Works Department at 200 East Park Street.13 Edwardsville Planning & Zoning reviews building permit applications for compliance with zoning regulations.14 Ask the city building office which application packet fits the proposed work, and ask Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel’s district before preparing a site plan.1314 Exterior work on a property in the City Historic District or on a landmark property requires approval, so ask the building office about historic review before submitting the project.13

Does Edwardsville have zoning, minimum lot sizes and small-home limits?

Edwardsville maintains a city zoning ordinance and Land Development Code through Planning & Zoning.2 Edwardsville’s dimensional requirements depend on the district: residential lots in R-EL must contain at least 21,780 square feet, while single-family and two-family lots in R-2 require at least 7,500 square feet.1516 In R-2, buildings and structures, including accessory buildings, may cover no more than 40 percent of the lot.17 Single-family structures in R-2 need at least 750 square feet of total floor area.7 Use those district-specific limits when discussing a proposed small home with Planning & Zoning, and request the applicable setbacks for the parcel.714

How do sewer connections and septic permits work inside Edwardsville?

Edwardsville requires an owner-paid public sewer connection within 90 days after official notice when qualifying property abuts a street, alley or right-of-way containing a city sanitary or combined sewer within 200 feet of the property line, subject to the sewer article’s exceptions.4 Edwardsville prohibits privies, septic tanks, cesspools and other sewage-disposal facilities except as provided in that article.5 Madison County Planning & Development permits and inspects private sewage systems, and permits private sewage only where public sewer is unavailable and cannot be extended to the property line and acceptable soils are present.18 We could not confirm the complete septic approval procedure inside Edwardsville; ask city Engineering about sewer availability and the county private sewage office about parcel-specific jurisdiction before budgeting for septic.1918

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

Edwardsville prohibits using an RV or other covered trailer as a dwelling when parked in the city, with an exception for a permitted travel-trailer park meeting mobile-home-park requirements.6 Do not plan on an RV as construction-period housing without discussing the proposed arrangement with city Planning & Zoning.614 Edwardsville prohibits accessory-structure space used as sleeping quarters or an accessory dwelling in R-1 and R-EL.89 We could not confirm a separate tiny-home occupancy category; ask Planning & Zoning to classify the proposed home and identify its district requirements.14 Manufactured housing is an allowable use subject to the city’s zoning and other stated requirements, including residential compatibility.20

What are the steps to build a home in Edwardsville?

  1. Ask Edwardsville Planning & Zoning to review the proposed use and site layout for the parcel’s district.14
  2. Resolve sewer service with city Engineering and any private sewage proposal with the county private sewage office; Edwardsville’s sewer restrictions still apply.19185
  3. Obtain the city building permit before beginning construction, and discuss the city’s Right-of-Way Excavation/Driveway Permit form for proposed access work.121
  4. Schedule required inspections with the city building office.12
  5. Obtain the Certificate of Occupancy before occupying or selling the permitted property.10

What stays with Madison County, and what should Edwardsville buyers check?

Water wells inside Edwardsville require a Madison County Health Department permit before construction or deepening; the stated water-well permit fee is $100 and non-refundable.3 Ask the Health Department’s potable-water program about the proposed well before hiring a driller.22 For land outside Edwardsville city limits, use the Madison County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building requirements.23 We could not confirm Edwardsville’s operative floodplain development requirements or a general agricultural building exemption; ask city Planning & Zoning and Engineering before committing to a flood-prone parcel or farm-building plan.1419 Illinois’s qualifying owner-occupant plumbing exemption does not establish a general exemption from local building permits or inspections.2425

Watch-outs

  • Edwardsville RV dwelling restrictions apply even when the goal is temporary housing while building; the stated exception concerns a permitted travel-trailer park.6
  • A sewer connection may be required after official notice even if the Edwardsville property owner prefers septic.4
  • We could not confirm a general Edwardsville owner-builder exemption from building permits or inspections; ask the city building office before planning to build without them.13

Sources

  1. Building Permit Applications and Adopted Codes (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning & Zoning (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Madison County Potable Water Supply Ordinance (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Use of public sewers required (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Use of public sewers required (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Recreational vehicles and trailers (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Multiple-family residential district R-2 (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Single-family residence district R-1 (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  9. Single-family residence estate lot district R-EL (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Permit Approval Process (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permit Applications and Adopted Codes (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building Permit Approval Process (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  13. Edwardsville Building Inspections & Code Enforcement (cityofedwardsville.com)
  14. Edwardsville Planning & Zoning (cityofedwardsville.com)
  15. Single-family residence estate lot district R-EL (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  16. Multiple-family residential district R-2 (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  17. Multiple-family residential district R-2 (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  18. Madison County Planning & Development — Private Sewage Permits & Inspections (madisoncountyil.gov)
  19. Edwardsville Engineering Division (cityofedwardsville.com)
  20. Manufactured housing (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  21. Forms, Applications, & Handouts (Edwardsville), quoted and re-checked
  22. Madison County Health Department — Potable Water (madisoncountyil.gov)
  23. Building Permits & Inspections (2026 county census)
  24. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. 225 ILCS 320/18 — Local regulation; Department standards (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Edwardsville

Edwardsville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction and remodeling inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • The city states permits are generally needed for remodeling and constructing new buildings; construction cannot begin before issuance.
    “Generally, you need a building permit anytime you are remodeling existing buildings (commercial or residential) and/or constructing new buildings.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • The city page states updated International Codes took effect January 1, 2023; the 2021 IECC as amended applies to permits submitted after June 1, 2024.
    “On July 7, 2022, City Council approved updating the following building codes. The updated International Codes will be in effect starting January 1, 2023.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • The permit holder must schedule inspections; same-day inspections are available when scheduled before 9:30 a.m.
    “It is your responsibility to call the Building Inspection Department to schedule inspections.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New structures and permitted projects inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • All required inspections must pass and the permit must be finaled before occupancy; occupancy or sale is prohibited before certificate issuance.
    “You may not occupy or sell the property until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Edwardsville city limits.

    “The Planning and Zoning Division is responsible for developing, managing, and maintaining the City’s Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance, and Land Development Code.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use of recreational vehicles, travel trailers, utility trailers, accessory trailers, and watercraft as dwellings inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • The section does not apply to subject items parked in a permitted travel-trailer park conforming to mobile-home-park requirements or, for subsections (a), (c), and (d), in a permitted recreational-vehicle sales lot.
    “No subject item shall be used as a dwelling when parked in the city.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping or overnight stays in Edwardsville city parks.

    • Prior written permission from both the board and the director is required.
    “No camping or overnight stay shall be permitted in any park without prior written permission from the board and the director.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured housing inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • Units must meet all zoning-title regulations and Chapter 1224.
    • State-approved units must comply with the BOCA Building Code, Illinois State Plumbing Code, National Electrical Code, and ASHRAE Energy Standard.
    • Factory units without installed utilities are subject to local site-built-home regulations and require full building plans before installation.
    • In residential districts, the facility must be compatible with the residential character.
    “Manufactured housing is an allowable use and must meet all regulations of this title as well as chapter 1224 of this [zoning code].”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Privies, septic tanks, cesspools, and other sewage-disposal facilities inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • The prohibition is subject to the code's exception for facilities otherwise provided for in the sewer article.
    “Except as provided in this article, no person shall construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or another purpose inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • Connection is required after official notice when the property abuts a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a city public sanitary or combined sewer.
    • The sewer must be within 200 feet (60.96 meters) of the property line.
    • Connection must occur within 90 days after official notice.
    • The owner pays the expense.
    • The code contains an exception: 'Except as provided in this article.'

    public sewer distance from property line: <= 200 feet (60.96 meters) · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days

    “within 90 days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that such public sewer is within 200 feet (60.96 meters) of the property line.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • The city Plan Commission considers and reports on subdivision plats under Chapter 1224 of the Codified Ordinances.
    “To consider and report to City Council its views in regard to subdivision plats pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1224 of the Codified Ordinances”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways associated with construction sites and work in the public right-of-way inside Edwardsville city limits.

    • The city publishes a Right-of-Way Excavation/Driveway Permit form.
    • For single-family construction sites, the driveway shown on the building-permit site plan must be rocked to a minimum depth of six inches and used for deliveries.

    construction-site driveway rock depth: >= 6 inches

    “Right-of-Way Excavation/Driveway Permit (PDF)”

Rules another office applies inside Edwardsville

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-2 multiple-family residential district.

    • The R-2 section also specifies 600 square feet per two-family dwelling unit and 700 square feet per multiple-family dwelling unit.

    single-family total floor area: >= 750 square feet

    “Any single-family structure shall have a total floor area of not less than 750 square feet”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Detached and two-family dwellings in the R-2 multiple-family residential district.

    • R-2 also requires 4,000 square feet per multifamily dwelling unit.

    single-family minimum lot area: >= 7500 square feet · two-family minimum lot area: >= 7500 square feet · multifamily minimum area per dwelling unit: >= 4000 square feet

    “Single-family dwelling 7,500 square feet Two-family dwellings 7,500 square feet Multifamily (per dwelling unit) 4,000 square feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in the R-2 multiple-family residential district.

    • Coverage includes buildings and structures, including accessory buildings.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent

    “Lot coverage: Not more than 40 percent of the area of a lot may be covered by buildings and structures including accessory buildings.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    All residential and nonresidential structures in the R-EL single-family residence estate lot district.

    • Church spires may extend to 100 feet after approval of a special use permit.
    • Certain nonresidential structures exceeding 50 feet require additional setback of one foot for every foot above 50 feet.

    maximum building height: <= 50 feet (church spires and specified nonresidential structures subject to stated conditions)

    “The maximum building height shall be 50 feet for all structures: residential and nonresidential.”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Accessory dwelling use in the R-1 single-family district.

    • The cited R-1 rule prohibits use of accessory-structure space as an accessory dwelling unit and separately prohibits use of an accessory structure as a dwelling.
    “The use of accessory structure space as sleeping quarters, an accessory dwelling unit, or for commercial or home occupation activity is prohibited.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Prohibited — Accessory dwelling use in the R-EL single-family residence estate lot district.
      “The use of accessory structure space as sleeping quarters, an accessory dwelling unit, or for commercial or home occupation activity is prohibited.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Water wells constructed or deepened inside Edwardsville city limits under the Madison County potable-water ordinance.

    • A permit must be obtained from the Health Department before construction or deepening.
    • The county ordinance also regulates closed-loop wells and non-community water systems; the cited ordinance states the Health Department permits and inspects wells in Madison County and discusses municipal areas.

    water-well permit fee: 100 USD (non-refundable) · closed-loop well fee: 100 USD (up to 5 boreholes; $20 per borehole thereafter)

    “No water well shall be constructed or deepened except in accordance with this Ordinance, and it shall be unlawful to proceed with such work unless a permit has first been obtained from the Health Department.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from Edwardsville construction-permit or inspection requirements.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Edwardsville city limits.
  • Who permits septic — Septic regulation inside Edwardsville city limits.
  • Septic permit — Septic-system permits inside Edwardsville city limits.
  • Septic inspection — Septic-system inspections inside Edwardsville city limits.
3 more unanswered
  • 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 Edwardsville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Madison County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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