Building & Zoning Department

Building & Zoning Office Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M. (excluding holidays)
Please note: The office may be closed if the secretary is out due to illness, vacation, or appointments.

You can still call 618-259-1185 to hear the automated message and leave your name, phone number, property address, and a brief message.

The Building & Zoning office is a small team consisting of:

• 1 Permit Clerk/Secretary

• 1 Building & Property Maintenance Inspector

• 1 Director

The Director and Inspector are out of the office working in the field throughout the day and the schedule changes daily. If you need to meet them in person at the office, please call and schedule an appointment time.

Building Permits & Payments 

Please make sure to confirm the inspector will be available before starting your project and schedule your inspections several days in advance.

You can now apply for building permits online by visiting the Village of East Alton website:

• Go to Departments > Building & Zoning

• Click the blue “Zoning Permits” button

• Scroll to the “Submit an Application” section

• Select the appropriate application, complete it, and submit

Paper applications are also available under the Forms section on the website or at the Building & Zoning office.
Incomplete applications will not be processed.

⚠️ Most projects require a permit and inspections. Permits are not issued immediately and may take a week or more for review. Inspections must be scheduled in advance.

If you’re unsure whether a permit is required, call the office at 618-259-1185.
Permits are typically needed for:

• Decks, fences, sheds, roofs, carports, garages, pools

• Foundation repairs, additions, renovations

• Electrical upgrades, generators, solar panels, etc.

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Occupancy Permits

Occupancy inspections are required for both rental and owner-occupied properties.
A property must pass inspection and receive an Occupancy Permit before it can be occupied.
Inspections must be scheduled several business days in advance.

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Online Payment

Once your permit is approved, you can pay fees online:

• Go to Departments > Building & Zoning on the website

• Click “Zoning Permits”, then scroll to “Search Permits”

• Click the magnifying glass, enter your permit number, and hit Search

• Verify the permit details, then click “Submit Payment” and follow the instructions

💳 A convenience fee applies to online payments.
You may still pay by cash or check at the Building & Zoning office.

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Submit a Code Complaint Online

You can now submit property code complaints online through the Village of East Alton website.

✅ Use this form for issues such as:

• Tall grass or weeds

• Derelict or abandoned vehicles

• Unsafe structures

• Accumulated junk, trash, or garbage strewing

🚫 Do not use this form for:

• Employee complaints

• Police matters (e.g., drug activity, disturbances)

🔗 How to File a Complaint:

1. Visit the Village of East Alton website

2. Go to Departments > Building & Zoning

3. Click the blue “Code Complaints” button

4. Under “Submit a Violation”, click the file icon

5. Complete the form and submit

⚠️ Incomplete forms will not be processed