County seat · Belleville
Land Surveyor in St. Clair County, Illinois
Surveying across St. Clair County
St. Clair County runs from the Mississippi riverfront at East St. Louis, Sauget and Dupo eastward across the bluffs to Lebanon, Mascoutah and Marissa. The western third is the American Bottom, a wide floodplain protected by levees. The middle is the county's suburban core around Belleville, Swansea, Fairview Heights, Shiloh and O'Fallon. The east and south are still largely farmland, with Scott Air Force Base sitting between them. Survey requests follow that pattern: levee-zone elevation work in the west, residential lot questions in the middle and acreage splits further out.
Every deed, mortgage and plat in the county is recorded by the St. Clair County Recorder of Deeds in the county building at 10 Public Square in Belleville. The county also runs a Mapping & Platting office and a GIS division whose Parcel Map Viewer combines parcel lines with assessment data. When we schedule a licensed surveyor who knows St. Clair County records, that surveyor will usually pull recorded plats and prior surveys before setting foot on the lot, then compare them with what is actually monumented on the ground.
Some of the oldest property lines in Illinois are here. Before the federal township grid arrived, French settlers at Cahokia and nearby villages held land in long, narrow river lots, and some of those early claims still shape descriptions in the bottomland. Away from the river, mining did the shaping: coal was dug under much of the county for decades, which is why St. Clair is one of Illinois' mandatory mine subsidence insurance counties.
What to know about St. Clair County
County Building & Zoning
Outside city limits, the county Building & Zoning department in Belleville enforces the county zoning ordinance, issues building permits and makes flood zone determinations. Check city limits first, since most of the central county is incorporated.
Levee-protected bottomland
The Metro East levee system shields the American Bottom in St. Clair, Madison and Monroe counties. Its reconstruction under the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District affects how property there is mapped and insured.
Old claims and mined ground
Early French-era claims along the river and decades of underground coal mining inland both leave traces in St. Clair County land records. Expect more research time on older parcels with long chains of title.
County land records
County parcel maps
St. Clair County GIS (Parcel Map Viewer)
Parcel maps are helpful, but they aren't a survey.
Cities in St. Clair County
Also serving East St. Louis, Fairview Heights, Swansea, Shiloh, Mascoutah, Lebanon, Cahokia Heights, Dupo, Sauget, Millstadt, Freeburg, Smithton, Caseyville, Marissa, New Athens, Summerfield, Fayetteville and unincorporated St. Clair County.
Survey services in St. Clair County
St. Clair County survey questions
My home is outside any city in St. Clair County. Who issues permits?
The county's Building & Zoning department, on the fifth floor of the county building at 10 Public Square in Belleville, handles zoning, building permits and code enforcement for unincorporated land. It also provides flood zone determinations if your lender or insurer asks.
How can I look up my parcel before ordering a survey?
The county GIS page links to a Parcel Map Viewer and parcel search by owner, street or parcel ID. Use it to find your parcel number and recorded subdivision, then share that with us when you ask for a quote.
Why does a survey in the American Bottom sometimes take more research?
Parts of the bottomland carry descriptions tied to early land claims that predate the township and section grid, and decades of industrial and railroad use have moved or buried many old monuments. A licensed surveyor has to reconcile those records before marking lines.
Does living near Scott Air Force Base change anything about a survey?
The survey itself is the same, but land near the base can fall under special zoning or height and land-use considerations. Ask the county or city planning office what applies to your parcel before planning an addition or new building.
Neighboring counties
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One simple request. We quote it, schedule a licensed local surveyor and deliver your survey — no calling around.