Bolthole Index

St. Clair County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in Village of Fairmont City, Illinois

Village of Fairmont City, Illinois requires building permits for demolition, erection, moving, alteration and use of buildings and premises.1 Fairmont City administers its own zoning; septic permits for parcels in the St. Clair County portion of the village come from the St. Clair County Health Department when public sewer does not serve the property.23

At a glance

Building permits
Required through the village for covered building and demolition work1
Zoning
Village zoning applies inside Fairmont City limits2
Septic permits
St. Clair County portion: Health Department permit; $300 application fee4
Residential lot size
SR-3: 7,000 square feet; SR-4: 6,000 square feet56
Private wells
St. Clair County portion: $200 permit and licensed well driller7
Owner-builder plumbing
Illinois allows qualifying owner-occupants to do plumbing, subject to code and inspection requirements8

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Fairmont City – Building Permit Applications

Village building and demolition permit applications at the City Hall Annex

(618) 274-6306

[email protected]

2568 N 41st St, Ste C Fairmont City, Illinois 62201

Zoning

Village of Fairmont City – Zoning Board Administrator

Questions about village zoning districts and proposed land uses

(618) 274-6306

[email protected]

2568 N 41st St, Ste C Fairmont City, Illinois 62201

Septic permits

St. Clair County Health Department – Water & Private Sewage

Private sewage disposal and private well permits for Fairmont City parcels in St. Clair County

618-233-7769

[email protected]

19 Public Square, Suite 150 Belleville, IL 62220-1624

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 Village of Fairmont City means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Village of Fairmont City, IL?

Fairmont City requires a building/demolition permit for demolition, erection, moving, alteration and use of buildings and premises under the village’s building and zoning ordinances.1 The village has adopted the 2024 International Building Code, 2023 National Electrical Code, current state plumbing code and 2024 International Property Maintenance Code.9

Start with the village application office at the City Hall Annex; applicants are encouraged to visit for help completing the form.10 Ask that office which documents, inspections and occupancy approvals your particular project needs before arranging construction.10

Who handles building applications in Village of Fairmont City?

The Fairmont City building-permit application directs applicants to complete all information and encourages an office visit for assistance.11 Call 618-274-6306 for an appointment to avoid delays.11 The application office’s published address is 2568 N 41st St, Ste C, Fairmont City, Illinois 62201.10

Describe the proposed use as well as the construction: the village application treats statements, maps and drawings as representations of the proposed buildings and uses, and a permit may be revoked for a breach of those representations or conditions.11 Ask the village application office for the building-permit fee and inspection arrangements for your work.10

Does Village of Fairmont City have zoning and minimum lot sizes?

Fairmont City divides land inside village limits into its own zoning districts, so the district matters when choosing a site and designing a home.212 In SR-3, the minimum lot area is 7,000 square feet, with 70 feet of width and 100 feet of depth.5 In SR-4, the minimum lot area is 6,000 square feet, with 60 feet of width and 100 feet of depth.6

Both SR-3 and SR-4 require front and rear setbacks of 25 feet and a setback of 10 feet from either side lot line.1314 Ask the village Zoning Board Administrator to identify the parcel’s district before using these dimensions in a site plan.15

How do septic permits work inside Village of Fairmont City?

For Fairmont City parcels in St. Clair County that are not served by public sewer, the St. Clair County Health Department administers private sewage disposal.3 Constructing or repairing a private sewage system requires a permit, with a $300 fee due at application submission.4 Installation must be by a contractor licensed by Illinois and St. Clair County, or by a homeowner.4

A village zoning lot minimum does not settle whether a septic site is large enough: the county health rule generally requires 1 acre of usable space for a residence needing private sewage, excluding lakes, ponds and easements, with provisions for greater area, variances and pre-existing platted lots.16 The Health Department refuses a septic permit where sanitary sewer is available under its connection rules.17

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Village of Fairmont City?

Before planning RV living, temporary camping or a tiny home in Fairmont City, ask the village Zoning Board Administrator to evaluate the proposed use at the specific address.15 We could not confirm a complete answer for those uses; ask about occupancy, minimum dwelling floor area and whether an accessory dwelling is allowed.15

Fairmont City has a manufactured-home park district, MH-1, with a minimum lot area of 2,500 square feet for new construction; that district-specific standard does not establish permission for an RV or tiny home on another residential lot.18 Village building and zoning approval and St. Clair County septic approval address different requirements for parcels in that county.123

Building a home in Village of Fairmont City: what comes first?

  1. Ask Fairmont City’s Zoning Board Administrator to confirm the zoning district and evaluate your proposed home and site layout.15
  2. For a St. Clair County parcel without public sewer, consult the Health Department about sewage disposal before relying on the village’s residential lot-size minimum.316
  3. Complete the village building-permit application and arrange an appointment for help with the form; ask the application office about fees, inspections and occupancy approval.1110
  4. If a private well is planned in the St. Clair County portion, obtain the $200 well permit and use an Illinois Department of Public Health licensed well driller; the county performs construction and final inspections.7

For land outside village limits, use the St. Clair County guide: the county’s building-permit rules apply to unincorporated property rather than replacing Fairmont City’s municipal process.191

Watch-outs

  • Confirm the parcel’s county before using the St. Clair County septic and well contacts; those answers cover the St. Clair County portion of Fairmont City.37
  • Illinois’s owner-occupant plumbing exemption requires code compliance and inspection and does not establish a general exemption from Fairmont City building permits.81
  • We could not confirm village building-permit fees, the inspection schedule or general occupancy approval requirements; ask the Fairmont City application office before budgeting or scheduling a move.10

Sources

  1. Application for Building Permit - Village of Fairmont City, IL (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  2. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 40-468. Establishment of districts (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  3. Water & Private Sewage - St. Clair County Health Department (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  4. Water & Private Sewage - St. Clair County Health Department (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 40-661. Area/bulk restrictions (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  6. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 40-690. Area/bulk restrictions (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  7. Water & Private Sewage - St. Clair County Health Department (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  8. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 8-1. Codes adopted (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Fairmont City – Building Permit Applications (fairmontcityil.com)
  11. Application for Building Permit - Village of Fairmont City, IL (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  12. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 40-468. Establishment of districts (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  13. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 40-661. Area/bulk restrictions (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  14. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 40-690. Area/bulk restrictions (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  15. Village of Fairmont City – Zoning Board Administrator (fairmontcityil.com)
  16. Health Department - Private Sewage Disposal Code, quoted and re-checked
  17. Health Department - Private Sewage Disposal Code, quoted and re-checked
  18. Code of Ordinances: Sec. 40-825. Area/bulk restrictions (Village of Fairmont City), quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 7 - Building Regulations, 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 Village of Fairmont City

Village of Fairmont City’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Demolition, erection, moving, alteration, and use of buildings and premises inside Fairmont City village.

    • The application must be completed; permits may be revoked without notice upon breach of representations or conditions.
    “Application is hereby made for a BUILDING/DEMOLITION PERMIT AS REQUIRED under the Building and Zoning Ordinances of the Village of Fairmont City, for the demolition, erection, moving, or alteration, and use of buildings and premises.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction within Fairmont City village corporate limits.

    • The ordinance adopts the 2024 International Building Code, 2023 National Electrical Code, current state plumbing code, and 2024 International Property Maintenance Code.
    “(1) International Building Code of 2024. (2) National Electrical Code of 2023. (3) The current state plumbing code as adopted by the state legislature or the state department of health. (4) The 2024 International Property Maintenance Code.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Fairmont City village limits; the village adopts and administers its own zoning chapter.

    “In order to implement the regulatory scheme of this chapter so as to achieve the objectives enumerated in section 40-4, the entire village is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    The entire Fairmont City village zoning jurisdiction.

    • The ordinance lists Conservation; SR-1 through SR-4 Single-Family Residential; MR-1 and MR-2 residential; MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential (Park); HB, PB, LI, HI, and FPO districts.
    • Minimum areas listed in the table range from none to 5 acres depending on district.
    “District Code Zoning District Name Minimum Area C Conservation None SR-1 Single-Family Residential 5 acres SR-2 Single-Family Residential 5 acres SR-3 Single-Family Residential 5 acres SR-4 Single-Family Residential 5 acres MR-1 Two-Family Residential 3 acres MR-2 Multi-Family Residential 3 acres MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential (Park) 3 acres HB Highway Business 2 acres PB Planned Business 1 acre LI Light Industrial 3 acres HI Heavy Industrial 5 acres FPO Flood Plain Overlay None”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Buildings and structures in the SR-3 Single-Family Residential District.

    • The same section also requires 70-foot lot width and 100-foot lot depth.

    minimum lot area: >= 7000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 70 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 100 feet

    “Minimum lot size: a. Lot area: 7,000 square feet. b. Lot width: 70 feet. c. Lot depth: 100 feet.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings and structures in the SR-3 Single-Family Residential District.

    front setback: >= 25 feet · side setback: >= 10 feet (either side lot line) · rear setback: >= 25 feet

    “Minimum setbacks: a. From front lot line: 25 feet. b. From either side lot line: ten feet. c. From rear lot line: 25 feet.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Buildings and structures in the SR-4 Single-Family Residential District.
      “Minimum setbacks: a. From front lot line: 25 feet. b. From either side lot line: ten feet. c. From rear lot line: 25 feet.”
    • Specified — Buildings and structures in the MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential (Park) district.
      “Minimum setbacks: a. From any park property line: 25 feet. b. From any park street: 15 feet. c. From another manufactured home: 20 feet. d. From any detached accessory building or structure: ten feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Accessory uses on any lot inside Fairmont City village.

    • The restriction concerns accessory uses in the rear yard and does not establish total principal-building lot coverage.

    maximum accessory-use occupation of buildable rear-yard area: <= 30 percent

    “All accessory uses on any one lot in any zoning district shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the buildable area within the rear yard area created as a result of setback regulations of said district.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings and structures in the SR-3 Single-Family Residential District.

    maximum building height: lesser of 35 feet or 2½ stories

    “Maximum building height: the lesser of 35 feet or 2½ stories.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Applications for building or demolition permits inside Fairmont City village.

    • Applicants should complete all information on the application.
    • Applicants are encouraged to visit the office and may call 618-274-6306 for an appointment.
    • The application represents the proposed uses and buildings as true, and a permit may be revoked without notice for breach of representations or conditions.
    “All information must be completed on this Application. Applicants are encouraged to visit this office and every assistance will be given in filling out this form. If possible, call 618-274-6306 for an appointment to avoid delays.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Fairmont City

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

  • Who permits septicCounty

    The St. Clair County portion of land inside Fairmont City village limits that is not served by public sewer.

    • The source describes St. Clair County administration; the authority for any Madison County portion was not established in this research.
    “The Private Sewage Disposal Program regulates methods of sewage disposal from facilities and homes that are not served by public sewer systems.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing or repairing a private sewage system in the St. Clair County portion of Fairmont City village.

    • A $300 fee is required at application submission.
    • Installation must be by a licensed Illinois contractor and licensed St. Clair County contractor, or by a homeowner.
    • Applications are reviewed and may receive on-site consultations.

    permit fee: 300 USD (required at time of application submission)

    “BEFORE constructing or repairing a Private Sewage System in St. Clair County, a permit must be obtained from our office. A Private Sewage Disposal System MUST be installed by a Licensed State of Illinois Contractor and Licensed St. Clair County Private Sewage Disposal Contractor OR a homeowner. There is a $300.00 fee required at time of application submission.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Newly installed or renovated private wells in the St. Clair County portion of Fairmont City village.

    • The source applies to residents obtaining drinking water from a source other than a municipal water supply.
    • A licensed Illinois Department of Public Health well driller is required.
    • The department performs construction and final inspections.

    well permit fee: 200 USD

    “All newly installed or renovated wells must be constructed by an Illinois Department of Public Health licensed well driller. All installations must obtain a permit for $ 200.00 from this office. Personnel are on-site during the construction and again for final inspection once the well is completed.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions inside the St. Clair County portion of Fairmont City village that will be served by private sewage disposal systems.

    • The county health office must review the subdivision and receive a subdivision application with the appropriate fee.
    “ALL subdivisions in the County to be served by Private Sewage Disposal Systems MUST be reviewed by our office for approval, as well as submit a Subdivision Application with appropriate fee.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Fairmont City or St. Clair County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Fairmont City village limits.
  • Inspections — Building work inside Fairmont City village limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Fairmont City village limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Fairmont City village limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on land inside Fairmont City village limits.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Fairmont City publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Clair County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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