Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bonus Township, Illinois

Bonus Township’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Decks, porches, and piers on land in the unincorporated portion of Bonus Township.

  • The county handout expressly limits this requirement to unincorporated Boone County.
  • The handout concerns decks, porches, and piers; it does not establish a rule for every type of residential construction.

  “Building permits are required for all decks/porches/piers within unincorporated Boone County.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Deck construction in the unincorporated portion of Bonus Township.

  • The county deck handout lists footing, rough-in, and final inspections for decks.
  • The final inspection is to occur when the deck is completed but before occupancy.

  “Required inspections: 1. Footing: After holes are dug, but before concrete is poured. 2. Rough-In: When sub-framing is complete, but prior to installation of decking and guardrails. 3. Final: When deck is completed, but before occupancy.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division and associated public improvements inside Bonus Township, where Boone County subdivision regulations apply.

  • The cited ordinance states that the County has adopted and periodically amended subdivision regulations.
  • The cited amendment temporarily provided no land dedication or cash contribution for specified lots with building permits issued from March 1, 2023 through March 1, 2025, and for specified final plats approved during that period.

  “WHEREAS, the County of Boone has adopted Subdivision Regulations, and amended from time to time thereafter, in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, to establish and set forth regulations pertaining to the division of land and standards for the public improvements constructed thereon in the County;”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A roadway entrance associated with a county building-and-use permit in the unincorporated portion of Bonus Township.

  • The applicant must receive approval from the highway authority for the entrance type and size.

  “In consideration of the issuance of this permit, the applicant shall receive approval of the highway authority for the type size of roadway entrance.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  County building-and-use permit projects on lots located in an A Zone in the unincorporated portion of Bonus Township.

  • If the lot is located in an A Zone, the application requires certification from a registered professional engineer or architect.
  • The certification must show that the lowest floor, including basement, is elevated one foot above the Base Flood Elevation.

  lowest-floor elevation above Base Flood Elevation: 1 foot (Applies if the lot is located in an A Zone.)

  “If this lot is located in an A Zone, certification from a registered professional engineer or architect is attached to this permit to show that the lowest floor, including basement is elevated to one (1) foot above the Base Flood Elevation.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bonus Township or Boone County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Bonus Township.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Bonus Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Bonus Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Bonus Township, Illinois.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Bonus Township.

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.