St. Clair County, IL Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

St. Clair County adopts the Illinois State Plumbing Code as its own plumbing code rather than writing local plumbing standards from scratch. Sec. 7-12-1, in Article XII of the Building Regulations, adopts "77 Illinois Administrative Code, Part 890, as amended and promulgated by the Illinois Department of Public Health," and folds in "each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms" of that state code, governing new plumbing systems and any alteration, renovation or replacement of an existing one. A copy of the adopted code is kept on file in the Zoning Administrator's office for reference.

Sec. " The permit itself is obtained under the general Division V permit requirement, Sec. 7-1-27, which covers anyone who intends to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any plumbing system regulated by the code; the building official will not release the permit until fees are paid (Sec. 7-2-45). The fee is set under Sec. 7-2-46 by the schedule adopted in County Ordinance No. 13-1087 (11-25-13), covering building, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work alike, and building permit valuation folds in plumbing equipment and materials under Sec.

7-2-47. Only narrowly defined minor work skips the permit step: stopping a leak or clearing a stoppage that does not require replacing pipes, valves or fixtures (Sec. 7-1-28(E)); a defective concealed pipe that must be removed and replaced is treated as new work and needs both a permit and inspection.