Bolthole Index

Tazewell County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Tremont, Illinois

The Village of Tremont, Illinois requires a building permit before covered construction, alteration, movement or repair, with limited minor-work exemptions.1 Tremont sets its own zoning inside village limits; private septic systems remain under the Tazewell County Health Department.23 Start building-permit questions at Village Hall.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required for covered work; minor-work exemptions apply1
Zoning
Village zoning applies inside corporate limits2
Septic permits
Tazewell County Health Department3
Building codes
2015 International Residential and Building Codes, with village amendments5
Occupancy approval
Certificate of compliance required before occupation or use6
Building permit fees
Set by Village Board resolution; ask for the current schedule7

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Tremont Village Hall — Building and Zoning

Building-permit inquiries and village zoning questions

(309) 925-5711

211 S. Sampson St. Tremont, IL 61568

Septic permits

Tazewell County Health Department

Private sewage disposal permits in Tazewell County, including Tremont

309-925-5511

[email protected]

21306 IL Route 9 Tremont, IL 61568-9252

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Tremont, IL?

Tremont requires a building permit before a building or structure is erected, altered, moved or repaired, subject to applicable minor-work exemptions.1 Tremont has adopted the 2015 International Residential Code and 2015 International Building Code with village amendments.5 A new or changed land use also requires a building permit and a certificate of compliance on completion.8 Do not treat an exemption for minor construction as permission to occupy a dwelling: Tremont requires a certificate of compliance before land or buildings are occupied or used.6

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Village of Tremont?

Village Hall is the contact for questions about whether a Tremont project needs a building permit, and the Village Zoning Board interprets and enforces village zoning ordinances.4 Contact Village Hall at (309) 925-5711 or visit 211 S. Sampson St., Tremont, IL 61568.4 Tremont building-permit and inspection fees are established by Village Board resolution; ask Village Hall for the current fee schedule and application requirements.7 Private sewage disposal approvals come from the Tazewell County Health Department rather than the village building-permit counter.3

Does the Village of Tremont have zoning and setback rules?

Tremont has village zoning, including single-family, two-family, multiple-family, office, business and industrial districts.9 Confirm the parcel’s district before drawing a house footprint: the single-family districts have different yard requirements.10 In R-1a, the front setback is 15 feet and the rear setback is 25 feet; in R-1, the corresponding setbacks are 25 and 35 feet.10 Both districts require at least one side yard of 5 feet, while the combined side yards must total at least 10 feet in R-1a and 15 feet in R-1.10 Street-facing yards, side-facing doors and rear alleys can change the calculation.10 Maximum lot coverage is 45% in R-1a and 35% in R-1.11

How do septic permits work inside the Village of Tremont?

The Tazewell County Health Department administers private sewage disposal permits and inspections inside Tremont.3 Construction, alteration or extension of a private sewage disposal system requires a septic permit, valid for 1 year from issuance.12 A soil investigation is required before issuance, subject to the ordinance’s pre-site-inspection waiver.12 Public sewer availability matters before choosing septic: the Board of Health may refuse a septic permit where public or municipal sewer is available.13 For a single-family home, availability includes a practical, permitted connection within 300 feet, as well as an adjoining or abutting sewer line.13 Ask the Health Department to evaluate sewer availability and the site before committing to a private system.133

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Tremont?

We could not confirm a Tremont rule allowing residential RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or an accessory dwelling; ask Village Hall about the proposed use and parcel before buying a vehicle or small dwelling.4 Tremont’s zoning and certificate-of-compliance requirements still govern land and building use.26 We also could not confirm a village minimum dwelling size or general owner-builder exemption; ask Village Hall for a project-specific answer.4 Illinois does allow qualifying owner occupants to perform plumbing on their own single-family residence, subject to code compliance, inspection and restrictions on hired assistance.14 That plumbing provision does not remove local plumbing permit requirements.15

Building a home in the Village of Tremont: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm village limits and the parcel’s zoning district with Village Hall, then check the applicable setbacks against the proposed footprint.4210
  2. Resolve public sewer availability with the Health Department before planning a private sewage system; obtain the septic permit where applicable.1312
  3. Ask Village Hall for the application checklist and current fees, then obtain the building permit before covered work begins.471
  4. Arrange the foundation inspection before foundation construction and notify the Code Enforcement Officer 72 hours before permanent footings.8
  5. Obtain the village certificate of compliance before occupying or using the completed building.6

What should you check before buying land in the Village of Tremont?

For land outside village limits, use the Tazewell County guide: county building and zoning administration applies to unincorporated Tazewell County.16 For a Tremont parcel, we could not confirm the complete village rules for well permits, public utility connection, floodplain development or driveway access; ask Village Hall to identify the approvals for the specific address, and ask the Health Department about a proposed well.417 If rental income is part of the purchase plan, Tremont allows short-term rental units only in R-1 and R-2 districts with Village Board approval after a Zoning Board hearing.18

Watch-outs

  • A Tremont building permit does not replace the certificate of compliance required before occupation or use.6
  • Public sewer availability can prevent approval of a private septic system in Tremont.13
  • We could not confirm residential RV or tiny-home permission in Tremont; ask Village Hall before planning to live on the parcel during construction.4

Sources

  1. § 153.248 Permits (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  2. § 153.020 Districts Established (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  3. Sewage (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  4. Village of Tremont Village Hall — Building and Zoning (tremontil.gov)
  5. § 150.001 Adoption of Commercial Building Code by Reference (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 153.249 Certificates (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  7. § 150.002 Building Permits; Fees (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  8. § 153.248 Permits (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 153.020 Districts Established (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  10. § 153.058 Size and Distance Requirements (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  11. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked
  12. Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  13. Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  14. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. 225 ILCS 320/18 — Local regulation; Department standards (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Community Development | Tazewell County, quoted and re-checked
  17. Tazewell County Health Department (tazewellhealth.org)
  18. § 153.210 Short-Term Rental Units (Village of Tremont), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 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 Tremont

Village of Tremont’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Buildings and structures inside Tremont village.

    • A permit is required before erection, alteration, movement, or repair unless an applicable minor-work exemption applies.
    • Residential-code exemptions include one-story detached accessory structures not greater than 80 square feet, fences not over 2 feet, certain retaining walls, certain tanks, specified sidewalks and driveways, finish work, certain pools, playground equipment, specified awnings, decks not exceeding 80 square feet and certain repairs.
    “No building or structure, or part thereof, shall be hereafter erected, altered, moved or repaired unless a building permit has been first issued for such work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Commercial and residential construction inside Tremont village.

    • The commercial code is the 2015 International Building Code with listed village amendments.
    • The residential code is the 2015 International Residential Code with listed village amendments.

    commercial code edition: 2015 International Building Code · residential code edition: 2015 International Residential Code

    “There is hereby adopted for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, the most current edition of that certain building code known as the“2015 International Building Code,” published by the International Code Council, Inc.; Appendices G, H and J thereto; and the amendments prescribed in division (B) below are hereby adopted as the “Building Code of the Village of Tremont, Illinois” (the “Commercial Building Code”).”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupation or use of land, buildings, and structures inside Tremont village.

    • The village calls the document a certificate of compliance.
    • Accessory buildings on the plot plan completed simultaneously with the dwelling do not require separate certificates; a certificate is required if a building permit was issued for accessory construction.
    • Applications are made in writing and certificates are issued within five days when compliant.

    issuance period: 5 days (when the building, structure, or land use complies)

    “No land, building or part thereof, shall be occupied by or for any use unless and until a certificate of compliance shall have been issued for such use.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside the corporate limits of Tremont village.

    • The village zoning chapter establishes residential and non-residential zoning districts and related administration.
    “The village has established the following districts:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Tremont village.

    • The code also provides an official zoning map in Appendix B.
    “The village has established the following districts: (A) Residential districts, being: (1) R-1 and R-1a: Single-Family Residential District; (2) R-2 and R-2a: Two-Family Residential District; and (3) R-3: Multiple-Family Residential District. (B) Non-residential districts, being: (1) OS: Office District; (2) B-1: Central Business District; (3) B-2: General Business District; (4) I-1: Light Industrial District; and (5) I-2: General Industrial District.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rental units within Tremont village corporate limits.

    • Allowed only in R-1 and R-2 districts upon Village Board approval after a Zoning Board hearing.
    • A short-term rental is a dwelling or part thereof rented for compensation to transient guests for less than 30 consecutive days.
    • The application requires a fee determined by the Village Board and specified applicant, property, guest-capacity, and compliance information.
    • No more than five special-use permits may be issued; permits are for terms not exceeding one year.

    maximum rental duration: < 30 consecutive days · maximum special-use permits: 5 permits

    “A short-term rental unit shall be permitted in the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts only upon approval by the Village Board after a hearing before the Zoning Board as set forth in § 153.267 (B) of the Village Code.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Village building permits, inspections, and violations inside Tremont village.

    • The Village Board establishes fees and fines by resolution; the code page does not state the current amounts.
    “Fees and fines for all permits, inspections and violations shall be established by resolution of the Village Board.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building and zoning permit processing inside Tremont village.

    • Building permits are required for covered work.
    • New or changed land uses require a building permit and certificate of compliance.
    • Foundation inspection requests must be made before foundation construction, with 72 hours' notice before permanent footings.
    • The code does not publish a complete application checklist in the reviewed pages.
    “No land heretofore vacant shall hereafter be used, or an existing use of land be hereafter changed to a use of a different class or type unless a building permit is first obtained for the new or different use and a certificate of compliance is issued upon completion. [...] The Code Enforcement Officer shall be notified 72 hours before construction of permanent footings.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Tremont

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

  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1a (Pre-1998) and R-1 (Post-1988) single-family residential zoning districts inside Tremont village.

    • Lots abutting more than one public street use the minimum front and side-yard setback for yards abutting a public street.
    • Buildings with doors facing side yards require at least double the minimum side-yard value.
    • One-half the width of alleys at the rear may be counted in computing rear-yard setbacks.

    R-1a front yard setback: 15 feet · R-1a rear setback: 25 feet (one-half alley width may be counted) · R-1a side setback at least one: >= 5 feet (double if doors face side yard) · R-1a total side setbacks: >= 10 feet (double minimum applies to side yard with doors) · R-1 front yard setback: 25 feet · R-1 rear setback: 35 feet (one-half alley width may be counted) · R-1 side setback at least one: >= 5 feet (double if doors face side yard) · R-1 total side setbacks: >= 15 feet (double minimum applies to side yard with doors)

    “Minimum yard setback Front yard 15 a 25 a Rear 25 c 35 c Side yard - at least one 5 a, b 5 a, b Side yard - total of both 10 a, b 15 a, b”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1a (Pre-1998) and R-1 (Post-1988) single-family residential zoning districts inside Tremont village.

    R-1a maximum lot coverage: 45 percent · R-1 maximum lot coverage: 35 percent

    “Maximum percent of lot coverage 45% 35% Minimum width (feet) 85”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1a (Pre-1998) and R-1 (Post-1988) single-family residential zoning districts inside Tremont village.

    • The table separately lists maximum height above grade and stories above grade.

    R-1a maximum height above grade: 25 feet · R-1 maximum height above grade: 25 feet · R-1a maximum stories above grade: 2 stories · R-1 maximum stories above grade: 2 stories

    “Maximum height of structure Height above grade 25 25 Stories above grade 2 2”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Tremont village, which is located in Tazewell County.

    • The Tazewell County Health Department administers private sewage disposal permits and inspections for systems within Tazewell County.
    • County rules adopt the Illinois Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code by reference.
    “Review applications and issue permits for private sewage disposal systems. Provide assistance in system design and problem solving. Inspect new and repaired private sewage disposal systems.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Tremont village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling units inside Tremont village.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential occupancy of recreational vehicles inside Tremont village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Tremont village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Tremont village.
9 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain

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

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