Rock Island County, IL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 150.01(A)(1), the county's threshold "Permit required" clause, covers essentially any building work: anyone who intends to "construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure," or to touch an electrical, mechanical, or plumbing system regulated by the county's adopted codes, must first apply to the Director of Zoning and Building and obtain the permit before starting. The adopted codes referenced are listed at § 150.15: the 2012 International Building, Residential, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, and Existing Building Codes and Property Maintenance Code, plus the 2011 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, all amended locally at §§ 150.16 through 150.22.

Section 150.01(A)(2) lets an owner-occupant of a single-family detached home perform their own permitted work and that of accessory structures without outside registration, but anyone else doing the work, contractors included, must register with the county and, under § 150.01(A)(3), post a $10,000 compliance bond before the office of Zoning and Building Safety will issue permits to them. Permit fees follow the county building fee schedule referenced at § 150.16(F), and general contractors must also carry $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage under § 150.01(A)(4) before registering.