Bolthole Index

St. Clair County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lebanon, Illinois

The City of Lebanon, Illinois, in St. Clair County, issues its own building permits and zoning compliance permits through its building and zoning official12. Living in an RV or utility trailer inside city limits is prohibited3. Septic permits are a county matter: the St. Clair County Health Department runs the private sewage program4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Lebanon, with a small exemption for minor work on an owner-occupied dwelling1
Zoning
Lebanon has its own zoning, enforced through zoning compliance permits2
Septic
St. Clair County Health Department administers the private sewage program4
RV living
Prohibited as a residence inside city limits3
Accessory dwellings
Using an accessory structure as a dwelling is prohibited citywide5
Owner-builder
Only a minor-work exemption, not a general owner-builder exemption6
Floodplain
Development permit required for buildings in the floodplain7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Lebanon Building & Zoning

Building permits, zoning compliance permits, electrical and plumbing permit applications and the city's adopted construction codes inside Lebanon city limits

(618) 537-4976

405 N Madison St., Lebanon, IL 62254

Septic permits

St. Clair County Health Department – Water & Private Sewage

Private sewage disposal (septic) permits, contractor licensing and well permits for St. Clair County

618-233-7769

[email protected]

19 Public Square, Suite 150, Belleville, IL 62220

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Lebanon means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Lebanon, Illinois?

Yes. Lebanon's city code requires a building permit to erect, construct, alter or repair a building, with one narrow exception: construction or ordinary maintenance of an owner-occupied dwelling valued at no more than $1,000 excluding labor1. That is a minor-work exemption only, not a general owner-builder exemption6.

A zoning compliance permit is also required, and it is applied for at the same time as the building permit18. Once work conforms, a certificate of occupancy is issued within five days of a written request to the building and zoning official9.

The city has adopted the 2006 International Building and Residential Codes, the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, the 2005 National Electrical Code and the 2014 Illinois Plumbing Code10. Illinois itself does not issue building permits for privately funded construction, so the city is the office to call11. We could not confirm the city's permit fee schedule; ask the Building & Zoning office12.

Who issues building permits in Lebanon, and how do you reach them?

The City of Lebanon Building & Zoning office issues building permits and zoning compliance permits inside city limits12. Its published forms include the building permit application, electrical and plumbing permit and inspection applications, a zoning compliance form and a setback chart12.

St. Clair County's Building & Zoning Department serves unincorporated land, not addresses inside Lebanon, so a lot inside the city is not a county-counter question13. If a parcel's city or county status is unclear, ask Lebanon Building & Zoning before applying anywhere. The city's inspection process is not spelled out in the code sections we reviewed, so ask the office what inspections it will require.

Does Lebanon have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

Lebanon has its own zoning, and the building and zoning official issues zoning compliance permits for any new lot, development, use or structure2. Rules differ by district, so check which district a lot sits in.

In the A-1 Agricultural District, a principal building needs a lot of at least two acres, and the setbacks are 75 feet from the front lot line, 25 feet from either side and 50 feet from the rear1415. A dwelling under 750 square feet in A-1 requires a special use16.

In the MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential District, lots need at least 5,000 square feet, with a front yard of 25 feet and a 30 percent maximum lot coverage171819. Using any accessory structure as a dwelling is prohibited throughout the city5. Lebanon's code has no tiny-home provision that we could find, so ask Building & Zoning before planning one12.

How do septic permits work in Lebanon, Illinois?

Septic permits in St. Clair County come from the county Health Department, not the city's building office20. The county charges a $300 fee for a new, altered or extended system, and the permit is valid for one year20. We could not confirm how the county program applies to a specific lot inside Lebanon, so call the Health Department with the address21.

A septic system may not be the option at all on a lot near sewer. The county Health Department refuses a septic permit where a sanitary sewer is available, which includes a practical connection within 300 feet for a single-family home20. Inside Lebanon, the city code separately requires a house abutting a street with a public sewer to connect within 90 days of official notice when the sewer is within 100 feet of the property line22.

Wells are also a county matter: new or renovated private wells need a Health Department permit costing $200 in the townships the department covers23.

Can you live in an RV or manufactured home in Lebanon?

No for RVs. Lebanon's code says no recreational vehicle or utility trailer may be used as a residential dwelling3. A resident's guest can get a city permit to park an RV in a side or back yard for up to 10 consecutive days3. Sleeping overnight in a vehicle parked in the city is also prohibited, with exceptions for emergencies and council-approved events24.

Manufactured homes are allowed in the MH-1 district and by special use in A-125. In MH-1 a home must be no more than 10 years old when brought into the city and must have at least 720 square feet for a single-wide or 900 square feet for a double-wide2526.

Building a home in Lebanon: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot is inside Lebanon city limits and find its zoning district with Building & Zoning12.
  2. Check the district's lot size, setbacks and dwelling-size rules, for example the A-1 or MH-1 standards2.
  3. If the lot is near a public sewer, ask the city about the sewer connection requirement; otherwise apply to the St. Clair County Health Department for a septic permit2220.
  4. Apply for the building permit and the zoning compliance permit together8.
  5. If the lot is in the floodplain, a development permit is also required7.
  6. After the work conforms, request your certificate of occupancy in writing9.

What stays with St. Clair County, and what to check before you buy in Lebanon

Septic and well permits stay with the St. Clair County Health Department2023. For land outside city limits, the county's own rules apply instead; see the St. Clair County page27.

Before buying, check floodplain status: new buildings, additions, manufactured home installation and RVs kept on site more than 180 days per year need floodplain development approval in Lebanon7. Illinois also requires a state permit for work in a state floodway28. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state right-of-way permit29.

Property tax runs high: St. Clair County's effective property tax rate is 2.1 percent30.

Watch-outs

  • Lebanon's code adopts the 2006 International Residential Code, an older edition than many nearby buyers expect, so ask Building & Zoning how plan review works10.
  • Septic authority, septic permits and inspections inside Lebanon were not confirmed from the city's code; call the St. Clair County Health Department before assuming a septic system is possible on a lot21.
  • The city's building permit fee schedule was not confirmed; ask Lebanon Building & Zoning for current fees12.

Sources

  1. Lebanon Code Sec. 8-2 Building permit required (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  2. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-731 Zoning compliance permits (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  3. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-662 Recreational vehicles and utility trailers (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  4. St. Clair County Private Sewage Disposal Code (2026 county census)
  5. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-52 Accessory use restrictions (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  6. Lebanon Code Sec. 8-2 Building permit required (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  7. Lebanon Code Sec. 15-37 Protecting buildings (floodplain) (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  8. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-731 Zoning compliance permits (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  9. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-731 Zoning compliance permits (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  10. Lebanon Code Sec. 8-1 Adoption of construction codes by reference (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  11. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Lebanon Building & Zoning (lebanonil.org)
  13. St. Clair County Building Regulations, Chapter 7, quoted and re-checked
  14. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-81 A-1 lot and building requirements (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  15. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-81 A-1 lot and building requirements (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  16. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-85 A-1 special uses (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  17. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-156 Minimum zoning district regulations (MH-1) (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  18. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-156 Minimum zoning district regulations (MH-1) (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  19. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-156 Minimum zoning district regulations (MH-1) (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  20. Health Department - Private Sewage Disposal Code, quoted and re-checked
  21. St. Clair County Health Department – Water & Private Sewage (scchealthdept.com)
  22. Lebanon Code Sec. 34-150 Connection to public sewer (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  23. Water & Private Sewage, quoted and re-checked
  24. Lebanon Code Sec. 24-101 Regulation of public camping (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  25. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-85 A-1 special uses (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  26. Lebanon Code Sec. 36-155 Setback; lot size; building height (MH-1) (Lebanon), quoted and re-checked
  27. Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  28. Permit Program (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 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 Lebanon

Lebanon’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building construction, alteration or repair inside Lebanon city

    • Exception for construction or ordinary maintenance/alteration of an owner-occupied dwelling valued at not more than $1,000 excluding labor.
    • Zoning compliance permit also required (Sec. 36-731).

    owner-occupied exemption value limit: <= 1000 USD (excluding cost of labor)

    “No person shall erect, construct, alter or repair, or have erected, constructed, altered or repaired a building or portion thereof except for the construction of or ordinary maintenance or alteration of a dwelling occupied by the owner thereof of a value not in excess of $1,000.00 excluding the cost of labor”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-occupied dwelling inside Lebanon city; only a minor-work exemption, not a general owner-builder exemption

    • Limited to construction or ordinary maintenance/alteration valued at not more than $1,000 excluding labor.

    value limit: <= 1000 USD (excluding labor)

    “except for the construction of or ordinary maintenance or alteration of a dwelling occupied by the owner thereof of a value not in excess of $1,000.00 excluding the cost of labor”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Lebanon city

    • 2006 IBC, IMC, IRC, IEBC, IFGC; 2009 IPMC; 2012 IECC; 2005 NEC; 2014 Illinois Plumbing Code; Illinois Accessibility Code.
    “the following construction codes, published by the International Code Council, Inc., amended from time to time, are adopted by reference”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New or altered buildings inside Lebanon city

    • Issued within five days after written request to the building and zoning official once work conforms to chapter 36.

    issuance deadline: <= 5 days

    “a certificate of occupancy shall be issued within five days after the request for the same shall have been made in writing to the building and zoning official”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Lebanon city limits

    • Zoning compliance permit issued by the building and zoning official; also adopts the 2006 International Zoning Code to the extent applicable (Sec. 36-4).
    “no lot shall be created, no land shall be developed, no new use or structure shall be established or erected”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District inside Lebanon city

    • Any dwelling unit under 750 sq ft requires a special use.

    dwelling size below which special use needed: < 750 sq ft

    “The special uses in the A-1 district are as follows”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential District inside Lebanon city
      “the individual manufactured home shall contain not less than 720 square feet of living space for a one unit (single-wide) and not less than 900 square feet for two units (double-wide).”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential District inside Lebanon city

    • District must be at least 5 acres with min 200 ft width and depth.

    minimum lot area: >= 5000 sq ft · minimum width: >= 50 feet · minimum depth: >= 100 feet

    “minimum district area (in acres) 5 minimum lot standards area (in square feet) 5,000 width (in feet) 50 depth (in feet) 100”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — A-1 Agricultural District inside Lebanon city
      “every principal building erected in the a-1 agricultural district shall conform to the following requirements: (1) minimum lot area: two acres. (2) minimum lot width: 250 feet at the established building line. (3) minimum lot depth: 250 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District inside Lebanon city, principal buildings

    • Accessory uses prohibited in required front yard; at least 5 ft from side/rear lot lines (Sec. 36-52).

    front setback: >= 75 feet · side setback: >= 25 feet · rear setback: >= 50 feet

    “(4) minimum setbacks: a. from front lot line: 75 feet. b. from either side lot line: 25 feet. c. from rear lot line: 50 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential District inside Lebanon city

    • Accessory uses in residential districts may not cover more than 30 percent of a required rear yard (Sec. 36-52).

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “maximum lot coverage (%) 30 maximum number of dwelling units 1”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use of recreational vehicles or utility trailers as a residence inside Lebanon city

    • Max two combined RVs/utility trailers per lot.
    • Not parked on street or in front of residential area over 72 hours in any seven-day period.
    • No RV in a dwelling driveway.
    • Guest of a resident may obtain a city permit to park an RV in side/back yard up to ten consecutive days.
    • Permitted travel trailer parks are exempt from the parking limit (A-1 special use).

    guest RV permit max: <= 10 consecutive days

    “No recreational vehicle or utility trailer shall be used as a residential dwelling or office or for any other commercial purpose.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Public camping inside Lebanon city; private-land camping not addressed in provided sections

    • Overnight vehicle parking for sleeping prohibited; exceptions for authorized by Code, emergency declaration, or council-approved special event.
    “No person may park a vehicle overnight within the city for the purpose of sleeping or otherwise engaging in public camping in said vehicle.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes inside Lebanon city: special use in A-1 Agricultural District; allowed in MH-1 Manufactured Home Residential District

    • MH-1: district at least five acres; homes need towing device and operational wheels, concrete pad, no older than ten years when brought in, minimum 720 sq ft single-wide / 900 sq ft double-wide.
    • Units incapable of being moved are treated as permanent structures meeting the next higher residential category.

    max age when brought into city: <= 10 years (MH-1)

    “Units incapable of being moved shall be considered permanent structures and shall be meet the zoning and construction requirements of the next higher residential zoning category.”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Use of accessory structures as a dwelling throughout Lebanon city

    “Use of any accessory structure as a dwelling is strictly prohibited throughout the city.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Houses, buildings or property used for human occupancy abutting a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary or combined sewer inside Lebanon city (sewer only; water not addressed)

    • Must connect within 90 days after official notice.
    • Applies only if public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.
    • Not applicable where downstream sewer system or treatment capacity is insufficient.

    distance to sewer: <= 100 feet (capacity-insufficient exception) · connection deadline after notice: <= 90 days

    “within 90 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions inside Lebanon city

    • Lots must meet district minimum area and dimensions; lot remnants added to adjacent lots; adequate off-street parking space required.
    “All lots in a subdivision shall conform to the minimum lot area and dimension requirements”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Buildings in the floodplain inside Lebanon city

    • Applies to new buildings, additions, substantial improvements, repairs of substantial damage, manufactured home installation, and RVs on site over 180 days per year.
    • State permit and damage prevention requirements of Sec. 15-36 also apply.

    substantial improvement threshold: >= 50 percent of market value

    “installing a travel trailer or recreational vehicle on a site for more than 180 days per year.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning compliance permits inside Lebanon city

    • Application to building and zoning official; permit valid one year, renewable; applied for coincident with building permit application.

    zoning compliance permit validity: 1 year (renewable on written request)

    “the zoning compliance permit shall be valid for one year, or until revoked for failure to abide by a corrective action order.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Inspections — Inspections inside Lebanon city
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Lebanon city
  • Who permits septic — Septic systems inside Lebanon city
  • Septic permit — Septic permits inside Lebanon city
  • Septic inspection — Septic inspections inside Lebanon city
6 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • 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 Lebanon publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Clair County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of St. Clair County: county rules, score and offices