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

Clarion Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction in Clarion Township under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

  • No construction may begin before issuance of the County building permit.
  • The County's planning department states permits are required for most construction projects in areas under County ordinance jurisdiction.

  “permits for most construction projects are required before that construction starts.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Private sewage-system work on owner-occupied property inside Clarion Township.

  • The owner may perform the work only for owner-occupied property and only if all requirements are met.
  • A sewage permit, soil information, plans, applicable fee, and pre-backfill inspection remain required.

  “the work may be done yourself provided the system is an owner-occupied property and you meet all requirements.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in Clarion Township under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

  • The County describes inspections as generally three during construction.
  • The permit form also authorizes Zoning Enforcing Officer inspection before issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

  general inspections during construction: 3 inspections (The County page says generally.)

  “generally, three inspections are made during the course of construction.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Completed construction projects or changed tract uses in Clarion Township under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

  • Issued upon completion of the construction project or when the use on a tract changes.

  “occupancy certificates are issued upon completion of the construction project, or when the use on a tract of land changes.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in Clarion Township that is under Bureau County Zoning Ordinance jurisdiction.

  • The operative ordinance is administered by Bureau County, not shown by the sources as a Clarion Township-adopted ordinance.
  • A County agenda identifies a parcel in Section 15 of Clarion Township subject to the Bureau County Zoning Ordinance's agricultural setback requirements.

  “VARIATION from the Agricultural Setback requirements as stated in the Bureau County Zoning Ordinance to install a 16.06 kW roof mounted solar array as close as 30’ from the right-of-way of 3360 E St., needs 50’.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Land in Clarion Township under Bureau County Zoning Ordinance jurisdiction.

  • Official sources identify R-1 and Agricultural district controls on Clarion Township parcels, but the complete district schedule was not located.
  • County says lands under ordinance jurisdiction are divided into districts or zones.

  “the lands under the jurisdiction of this ordinance are divided into districts or “zones”.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural-district front-yard/right-of-way setback for the cited Clarion Township parcel in Section 15.

  • The cited request sought a variation for a solar array; the source establishes the stated 50-foot requirement for that project, not every possible agricultural use.
  • Variation procedure may alter the standard after approval.

  agricultural front setback from right-of-way: 50 ft (Cited solar-array variation on a Clarion Township parcel.)

  “requesting up to a 20’ front yard variation.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Zoning District, cited property in Section 13 of Clarion Township.

  • The County agenda describes a requested height variation; a granted variation could alter the standard for that property.

  maximum building height: 20 ft ground to peak (R-1 Zoning District; cited variation request.)

  “Ordinance allows a maximum height of 20' ground to peak in the R-1 Zoning District.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private on-site wastewater systems inside Clarion Township.

  • Bureau County Health Department regulates septic systems under state-granted authority.
  • Illinois Department of Public Health establishes the statewide rules for siting, design, installation, and inspection.

  “The Bureau County Health Department regulates septic systems through authority granted by the state. The state’s Department of Public Health establishes the statewide code for siting, design, installation, and inspection of POWDS.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation or replacement of a private sewage disposal system inside Clarion Township.

  • System must comply with the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code and the county ordinance.
  • Application must include soil report, address and PIN, complete plan, signature, and applicable fee.
  • Complete applications are processed within five business days; an approved permit is valid for one year.
  • A variance may be requested where compliance is impractical or impossible.
  • An NPDES permit is required where the proposed system discharges to waters of the United States.

  application processing: <= 5 business days (Only if submitted with all required information.) · permit validity: 1 year (If approved.)

  “your permit application will be processed within 5 business days if submitted with all required information. if your permit is approved, you will receive a copy in the mail. if the inspector has additional questions regarding your application they may call you. please ensure to include the correct contact information on the application. your permit will be valid for one year.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or replaced private sewage systems inside Clarion Township.

  • Notify the health department at least 48 hours before beginning work.
  • Inspection occurs before backfilling and before use.

  advance notice: >= 48 hours (Before beginning work; used to schedule inspection before backfilling.)

  “upon approval of the application, you are required to notify the health department at least 48 hours before beginning work.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private on-site wastewater disposal inside Clarion Township.

  • System is regulated by the County health department under state authority.
  • The County plan says alternatives can be used where conventional systems are infeasible because of unsuitable soil conditions.
  • Private systems remain subject to permit and inspection requirements.

  “In some cases, alternative waste disposal systems can be used in areas where conventional systems are not feasible due to unsuitable soil conditions.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private-well construction or modification inside Clarion Township.

  • Construction or renovation must use an Illinois Department of Public Health licensed well contractor.
  • The health department inspects newly constructed and renovated private wells in Bureau County.

  “Before construction or modifications can take place, the health department must issue a private water well construction permit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land in Clarion Township under Bureau County Zoning Ordinance jurisdiction.

  • County planning department regulates division of land only under County ordinance jurisdiction.
  • The County page says the regulations were adopted in 1969, revised in 1979, and are now known as the Bureau County Subdivision Ordinance.

  “the planning & zoning department is charged with regulating the division of lands under the jurisdiction of the bureau county zoning ordinance.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development on land designated by federal special flood-hazard maps in Clarion Township under County ordinance jurisdiction.

  • The ordinance restricts development in designated 100-year flood areas and allows only limited development activity.
  • Where floodplain applicability is uncertain, the applicant must provide certified elevation information and consult Planning & Zoning.

  “they are fairly restrictive and allow only limited development activity.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system permitting inside Clarion Township.

  • Soil-boring data is required.
  • Application must be complete and include soil report, PIN, plans, signature, and fee.
  • Health department notice is required at least 48 hours before beginning work; inspection precedes backfill.
  • A variance may be sought if compliance is impractical or impossible.

  “soil boring data must be attached to your application or it will not be accepted.”

Rules another office applies inside Clarion Township

Clarion Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses inside Clarion Township subject to Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

  • Only certain agricultural uses are exempt.
  • County directs a person asserting the exemption to verify it with the zoning department and legal counsel.

  “agriculture exemption: certain agricultural uses are exempt from meeting local zoning requirements according to state law.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Clarion Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Clarion Township.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Clarion Township.
• Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements inside Clarion Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Clarion 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.