Bolthole Index

Montgomery County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Litchfield, Illinois

Litchfield, Illinois requires a city building permit for most construction; small residential projects are reviewed case by case.1 Litchfield has its own zoning inside city limits in Montgomery County.2 City sewer-connection rules determine whether private sewage disposal is an option, and the Montgomery County Health Department handles septic approval where a private system is allowed.345

At a glance

Building permits
City permit required for most construction; small residential projects reviewed case by case1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside Litchfield limits2
Sewer and septic
City sewer-connection conditions apply; county health approval for permitted private sewage systems345
Accessory dwellings
An accessory structure cannot be used as a dwelling unless expressly permitted in the zoning district6
Occupancy approval
City certificate required for new construction or commercial change of occupancy, after final inspection7
Private wells
New private wells require plan review, a construction permit and inspection through IDPH or local health authorities8

Who to call

Building permits

Litchfield Building & Zoning Department

City building permits, plan review and zoning compliance; ask the department about floodplain requirements and driveway approval.

217-324-8140

120 E Ryder Street

Online permits →

Septic permits

Montgomery County Health Department

Private sewage-disposal applications, installation inspections and final approval

217-532-2001

11191 IL. Rte. 185

Building permits

Montgomery County Supervisor of Assessments

Structural Improvement notifications for construction and improvements, used for county assessment purposes

(217) 532-9595

[email protected]

1 Courthouse Square Room 201

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

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Do you need a building permit in Litchfield, IL?

Most construction inside Litchfield city limits requires a city building permit, while small residential projects are considered case by case.1 Litchfield requires approved building and site plans before issuing the building permit and collects the fee when the project complies.1 The city publishes a remodeling and new-construction fee schedule; ask the Building & Zoning Department for the amount for your project.9 Litchfield has adopted the 2015 residential code with an exception for Section R105.2, so do not assume a standard model-code exemption applies locally.10

Who issues building permits and checks zoning in Litchfield?

Contact the Litchfield Building & Zoning Department at 217-324-8140 for the city building-permit and inspection process.11 A smaller Litchfield project needs a simple building plan showing construction, setbacks, the contractor and other relevant information.11 More complex projects may require detailed drawings with architect and engineer seals and signatures, and the city describes an approximately 2–3 week plan-review period depending on complexity.12 Litchfield also makes site visits to check compliance with the applicable zoning district before building-permit issuance.11 Submit the parcel description, construction location, improvement type, applicant contact details and contractor list with the application.12

Does Litchfield have zoning, and can you live in an RV or tiny home?

Litchfield has city zoning, including agricultural and residential districts; rural county zoning answers do not describe land inside Litchfield city limits.213 Litchfield prohibits using an accessory structure as a dwelling unless the particular zoning district expressly permits that use.6 A shed conversion therefore needs a district-specific answer before you plan it as a home.6 We could not confirm a general city rule allowing RV occupancy or tiny-home occupancy; ask the Litchfield Building & Zoning Department about the proposed structure, use and parcel. We also could not confirm district-specific minimum home sizes, lot sizes, setbacks, lot coverage or building heights; request those measurements before drawing a site plan.

How do sewer connections and septic permits work inside Litchfield?

Litchfield requires public-sewer connection within 90 days of certified-letter notice when the sewer is within 200 feet of the property line and the required downstream capacity is available; the City Council may waive connection for unreasonable financial hardship case by case.3 Litchfield restricts private sewage facilities except as allowed by its private-sewage subchapter, so confirm the city exception before commissioning septic plans.4 Where private sewage disposal is allowed, Montgomery County Health Department administers septic permits, inspection and final approval; the county application lists a $50 fee.514 Illinois requires plan approval before new-system construction.15 Request the county inspection two working days before installation and obtain approval before covering any part of the system.16

What are the steps for building a home in Litchfield?

  1. Ask Litchfield Building & Zoning to identify the parcel’s zoning district and review the intended use and site plan.211
  2. Establish whether city sewer connection is required; if a private system is allowed, obtain county health approval before septic construction.34515
  3. Submit the city application, building plans, site plans and contractor information, then complete review and pay the building-permit fee before issuance.121
  4. Arrange city inspections as construction progresses, including the applicable foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing and final occupancy inspections.17
  5. Obtain the Litchfield certificate of occupancy after final inspection for new construction.7

What stays with Montgomery County, and what should you check before buying in Litchfield?

Montgomery County’s Structural Improvement notification is an assessment process rather than a city building permit, and notification is required before construction or improvement work.18 File the county notification separately from the Litchfield building-permit application.181 For land outside city limits, see the Montgomery County guide: the county’s absence of rural zoning applies to unincorporated land.13 Inside Litchfield, subdivision-lot improvements cannot receive a building permit until City Council approves the final plat and public-improvement plans.19 Litchfield also imposes building-protection requirements in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas.20 For a proposed private well, arrange state or approved local-health permitting before work begins.21

Watch-outs

  • Litchfield’s floodplain building-protection rule includes travel trailers installed for more than 180 days in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas; that provision does not establish general RV occupancy permission.20
  • Illinois’s qualifying owner-occupant plumbing exemption is limited to plumbing and does not waive local building permits or inspections.2223
  • We could not confirm a Litchfield agricultural building exemption or driveway-access approval rule; ask the city Building & Zoning Department before planning a barn or entrance.11

Sources

  1. Building Permit Process (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  2. Building & Zoning (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  3. Use of public sewers required; exceptions (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  4. Private facilities restricted (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  5. Application For Sewage Disposal Permit, quoted and re-checked
  6. Specifically prohibited accessory uses (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  7. New Construction Application for Plan Examination and Building Permit (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  8. Private Water & Closed Loop Wells (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Permit Process (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  10. International Residential Building Code adopted (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  11. Litchfield Building & Zoning Department (cityoflitchfieldil.com)
  12. Building Permit Process (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  13. County Coordinator – Montgomery County, Illinois, quoted and re-checked
  14. Application For Sewage Disposal Permit, quoted and re-checked
  15. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Montgomery County Health Department (montgomerycountyil.gov)
  17. Building Safety (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  18. Montgomery County Structural Improvement Permit Assessment Office Work sheet, quoted and re-checked
  19. Building permit (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  20. Flood damage prevention definitions (Litchfield), quoted and re-checked
  21. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 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 Litchfield

Litchfield’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Most construction activity inside Litchfield city limits.

    • Small residential building projects require permits case by case.
    • The city page states that building plans and site plans must be submitted and approved.
    • A permit fee is collected before issuance when the project is compliant.
    “Most construction activity within the City limits of Litchfield must be issued a building permit. Currently, small residential building projects require building permits on a case-by-case basis.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Residential and other construction inside Litchfield city limits.

    • The 2015 International Residential Building Code is adopted for detached one- and two-family dwellings and specified multiple single-family dwellings not more than three stories.
    • Section R105.2 is excepted.
    • Electrical and plumbing construction are governed by the Illinois Plumbing Code and National Electric Code.
    • The city building-safety page states that the city is currently following the 2015 International Codes.
    “A certain document, 3 copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk of the City of Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois, being marked and designated as the International Residential Building Code, 2015 Edition, including Appendix, and all amendments thereto, as published by the International Code Council, excepting therefrom Section R105.2, be, and the same is, hereby adopted as the Residential Building Code of the City of Litchfield”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction and alterations inside Litchfield city limits.

    • The city lists foundation, framing, insulation, electrical, fire-alarm, mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler-system, and final occupancy inspections.
    “Various inspections required during construction, including:”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New construction and commercial changes of occupancy inside Litchfield city limits.

    • The city application states that a certificate is required for new construction or commercial change of occupancy.
    • The certificate is issued by the Building & Zoning Department.
    • A final inspection precedes issuance.
    “For new construction or commercial change of occupancy, there must be a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Building & Zoning Department,”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Zoning inside Litchfield city limits.

    “A-1 Agricultural R-S Rural single-family residence S-1 Single-family residence”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Use of an accessory structure as a dwelling inside Litchfield city.

    • The prohibition contains an exception if expressly permitted in a particular zoning district.
    “The following accessory uses are strictly prohibited unless expressly permitted in particular zoning district(s): Use of an accessory structure as a dwelling.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Private sewage-disposal facilities inside Litchfield city.

    • The prohibition is subject to exceptions provided elsewhere in the city's private sewage-disposal subchapter.
    • Public-sewer connection is separately required where the city code's distance and capacity conditions are met.
    “Except as provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful to 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 other purposes inside Litchfield city.

    • Connection is required within 90 days after certified-letter notice.
    • The public sewer must be within 200 feet of the property line.
    • Downstream sewer, lift-station, pumping-station, force-main, treatment-plant, and pollutant-removal capacity must be available.
    • The City Council may waive connection for unreasonable financial hardship case by case.
    • When public sewer becomes available, a private sewage system must be abandoned after connection.

    notice-to-connection period: 90 days · public sewer distance: <= 200 feet from property line

    “The owner of each house, building, or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes, situated within the city [...] is hereby required at his or her expense [...] to connect those facilities directly with the proper public sewer [...] within 90 days after date of notice by certified letter, return receipt requested, to do so; provided, that the public sewer is within 200 feet of the property line, and provided capacity is available”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and large-scale development inside Litchfield city.

    • A subdivision lot cannot receive a building permit for improvement until the final plat and public-improvement plans and specifications are approved by City Council.
    • The city Building & Zoning Department provides the Planning Commission information concerning subdividing parcels, zoning-use changes, special-use permits, and large-scale developments.
    “No building permit shall be issued providing for the improvement of any lot in a subdivision until the final plat of subdivision and the plans and specifications for the public improvements have been approved by the City Council.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development and buildings in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Litchfield city.

    • The requirements apply to new buildings valued at more than $1,000, specified structural alterations, damaged-building reconstruction or repairs, mobile homes on new or existing sites, and travel trailers installed for more than 180 days.
    • Buildings must be protected below the FPE.
    • The FPE is base-flood elevation plus one foot.
    • The code excludes returning a mobile home to the same site it lawfully occupied before removal to avoid flood damage.

    building value threshold: > 1000 USD · travel-trailer duration: > 180 days · FPE above base flood: 1 foot

    “In addition to the damage prevention requirements of § 152.07, all buildings to be located in the SFHA shall be protected from flood damage below the FPE. This building protection requirement applies to the following situations: (1) Construction or placement of a new building valued at more than $1,000;”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City building permits inside Litchfield city.

    • The city permit-process page links a Remodeling and New Construction Permit Fee Schedule 2023.
    • The current new-construction application states that the permit fee is determined by the Building Department; the amount is not reproduced in the opened application.
    “Remodeling and New Construction Permit Fee Schedule 2023”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit process inside Litchfield city.

    • Applicants must provide applicant contact information, legal property description, contractors, construction location, and type of improvement.
    • Plans must be submitted and approved.
    • Complex projects may require detailed drawings, seals, and architect/engineer signatures.
    • The stated plan-review period is about two to three weeks depending on complexity.
    • Site visits are made for zoning-district code compliance before permit issuance.

    plan review period: about 2-3 weeks (depending on complexity of construction)

    “Building and site plans must be submitted and approved. More complex projects require detailed drawings, seals, and signatures from the architect and engineer. There is about a two to three-week plan review period depending on the complexity of construction.”

Rules another office applies inside Litchfield

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

  • Well permitRequired

    New private water-well construction inside Litchfield city.

    • IDPH and local health departments review installation plans, issue permits for new well construction, and inspect wells.
    • Community water wells are excluded from the cited private-water program.
    “To ensure the safety of these water supplies, the IDPH and local health departments review water well installation plans, issue permits for new well construction, and inspect wells.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from Litchfield building requirements.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Litchfield city residential and agricultural districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in Litchfield city residential and agricultural districts.
  • Setbacks — Required setbacks in Litchfield city residential and agricultural districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Litchfield city districts.
5 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

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

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