Bolthole Index

Bureau County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in Greenville Township, Illinois

Greenville Township, Illinois requires building permits for new construction under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction, including homes and listed accessory structures.1 Bureau County Planning & Zoning administers that construction process; Bureau County Health Department handles septic permitting and inspection.23 We could not confirm permission for year-round RV living in Greenville Township; ask Planning & Zoning about the proposed parcel and use.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required before new construction under county zoning jurisdiction1
Zoning
Bureau County zoning applies where county jurisdiction governs2
Construction inspections
Zoning-compliance inspections at stake-out, footings and completion5
Septic
Bureau County Health Department; application, soil report and system plans required36
Private wells
Health department construction permit and licensed well contractor required7
Owner installation of septic
Conditional for owner-occupied property; permit and inspection requirements remain8

Who to call

Building permits

Bureau County Planning & Zoning Department

Building and zoning permits, zoning administration, flood-hazard review, subdivisions, construction compliance inspections and occupancy certificates in areas under county jurisdiction

815-875-1631

[email protected]

700 South Main Street, Room B-5, Princeton, Illinois 61356

Online permits →

Health department

Bureau County Health Department

Permits and inspections for septic systems and water wells in Bureau County

815-872-5091

526 Bureau Valley Pkwy. Princeton, Illinois 61356

Online permits →

Roads & driveways

Bureau County Highway Department

County-highway driveway and field-entrance applications

815-875-4477

[email protected]

595 Elm Place, Princeton, Illinois 61356

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Greenville Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Greenville Township, IL?

Greenville Township projects under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction require a building permit before construction begins: the listed work includes dwellings, additions, decks, garages, gazebos and sheds of 144 square feet or more.1 Re-roofing, window installation or replacement, siding replacement and similar maintenance are generally exempt.1

Bureau County has not adopted a local building code for areas under its jurisdiction, including the covered Greenville Township land.9 Illinois nevertheless has statewide baseline building-code requirements effective in 2025, including requirements for jurisdictions without locally adopted codes; ask Planning & Zoning how the baseline applies to your home project.10

Who issues building permits in Greenville Township?

For Greenville Township construction under county zoning jurisdiction, contact Bureau County Planning & Zoning before starting the project.2 The department is reachable at 815-875-1631 or [email protected], with its office at 700 South Main Street, Room B-5, Princeton, Illinois 61356.4

Greenville Township construction under that jurisdiction normally receives zoning-compliance inspections at the stake-out, footings and completion stages; the county expressly distinguishes those checks from building inspections.5 Occupancy certificates are issued when construction is completed or a tract’s use changes.4 Septic and water-well permitting and inspection stay with Bureau County Health Department, rather than the zoning counter.11

Does Greenville Township have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Greenville Township land under Bureau County jurisdiction follows the county zoning, flood-hazard and subdivision process.2 The county ordinance divides covered land into districts with different allowed uses, so ask Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel’s classification before choosing a house site or proposed use.4

We could not confirm Greenville Township-specific minimum dwelling size, lot size or setbacks; request the applicable district standards from Planning & Zoning.4 Certain agricultural uses may qualify for a state-law zoning exemption, but the county advises checking the proposed exemption with its zoning department and confirming the advice with legal counsel.12 A division of covered Greenville Township land also falls under the county subdivision regulations.13

How do septic permits and wells work in Greenville Township?

Bureau County Health Department administers septic permitting and inspection inside Greenville Township; call 815-872-5091 for the environmental-health program.311 A private sewage disposal application requires a soil report, complete system plans and the county fee; after approval, notify the health department at least 48 hours before work begins so inspection can occur before backfilling.6

An owner may install a septic system on owner-occupied property if all requirements are met; the application and inspection obligations still apply.8 Bureau County’s soil data rate 26.5% of soils “not limited” for conventional drain fields; that countywide figure supports getting a site evaluation and may mean an engineered system, rather than ruling septic out.14 Private well construction or renovation requires a health department permit and an Illinois-licensed well contractor.7

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Greenville Township?

We could not confirm a Greenville Township rule allowing residential RV use, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or an accessory dwelling; ask Bureau County Planning & Zoning about the exact proposed use and parcel.4 For a proposed tiny home, request the applicable district’s minimum dwelling size and permitted dwelling types before ordering the structure.4

Illinois allows specified human-waste alternatives, including compost toilets, subject to their requirements, but other domestic wastes still need a conventional private sewage disposal system.15 A compost toilet therefore does not resolve the entire wastewater plan for a Greenville Township home; discuss the remaining domestic wastewater with Bureau County Health Department.1511

Building a home in Greenville Township: what comes first?

  1. Ask Bureau County Planning & Zoning to confirm jurisdiction, district, proposed use and flood-hazard requirements for the Greenville Township parcel before beginning the project.2
  2. Obtain the soil report and septic design, then submit the complete private sewage disposal application to the health department; arrange well permitting if the project needs a private well.67
  3. Identify the road authority before planning access: Bureau County publishes a driveway/field-entrance highway application, while work in a state-highway right-of-way requires IDOT authorization.1617
  4. Obtain the building permit before construction, arrange zoning-compliance inspections and complete the occupancy-certificate process.154

Mapped special flood-hazard areas in Greenville Township have restrictive county development rules; uncertain floodplain applicability requires certified elevation information.18 For land outside Greenville Township, consult the Bureau County guide and confirm the county’s jurisdiction with Planning & Zoning.4

Watch-outs

  • No locally adopted county building code does not remove Illinois statewide baseline code requirements for covered Greenville Township construction.910
  • We could not confirm a general owner-builder construction exemption in Greenville Township; ask Planning & Zoning before treating self-built work as exempt.4
  • We could not confirm whether a Greenville Township parcel must connect to available public water or sewer; ask Bureau County Health Department about the proposed service and sanitation plan.11

Sources

  1. Frequently Asked Zoning Questions (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning & Zoning (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. bureaucounty-il.gov (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Bureau County Planning & Zoning Department (bureaucounty-il.gov)
  5. Frequently Asked Zoning Questions (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Health Department – Bureau County, Illinois, quoted and re-checked
  7. Water Program, quoted and re-checked
  8. Sewage Disposal System Permit — owner installation conditions, quoted and re-checked
  9. Frequently Asked Zoning Questions (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Codes and Regulations (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Bureau County Health Department (bureaucounty-il.gov)
  12. Planning & Zoning (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Planning & Zoning (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  15. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.130 Human Waste Disposal (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Bureau County Highway Department (bureaucounty-il.gov)
  17. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Planning & Zoning (Greenville Township), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Greenville Township

Greenville Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction and listed accessory structures and additions inside Greenville township under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

    • A permit must be obtained before beginning construction.
    • Listed examples include dwellings, commercial and industrial buildings, additions, garages, gazebos, decks, and sheds of 144 square feet or more.
    • Re-roofing, replacement or installation of windows, siding replacement, and similar maintenance projects are generally exempt.

    shed threshold: >= 144 sq ft

    “Generally, any new construction requires a building permit which must be obtained prior to beginning construction. Projects that need a permit include, but are not limited to: decks, sheds (144 sq. ft. or more in area), garages, gazebos and other types of accessory structures (whether on a permanent foundation or not); dwellings; commercial and industrial buildings; additions to any building or structure.”
  • Building code adoptedNot adopted

    Bureau County has not adopted a building code; this applies inside Greenville township where county jurisdiction governs.

    • A number of cities and villages with their own municipal zoning controls may have adopted building codes.
    • Commercial buildings in non-building-code jurisdictions are subject to the state statutory inspection and certificate requirements described on the page.
    “Bureau County has not adopted a building code. However, a number of cities and villages with their own municipal zoning control within Bureau County have adopted building codes.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Construction subject to Bureau County zoning inside Greenville township.

    • Typically three zoning-compliance inspections occur: stake-out, footings, and final completion.
    • The page expressly states these are not building inspections; they determine compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and/or Floodplain Ordinance.
    “Typically, three zoning compliance inspections are conducted during the course of construction – an initial site inspection at the stake-out stage, a second inspection at the footings stage, and a final inspection upon completion of the project for issuance of an Occupancy Certificate. These inspections are not building inspections.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic systems inside Greenville township are administered by the Bureau County Health Department.

    • The county health department's environmental-health role includes septic-system permitting and inspection.
    “Health department staff permits and inspects food facilities, water wells, geothermal wells and septic systems, inspects state-licensed tanning and body art facilities, tracks West Nile Virus activity and provides Food Handlers and Certified Food Sanitation Manager Classes and consultations to ensure that our community has the healthiest environment possible.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Certain agricultural uses inside Greenville township under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

    • The exemption is based on state law.
    • The county advises applicants to verify the possibility with the zoning department and confirm the information with legal counsel.
    “Certain agricultural uses are exempt from meeting local zoning requirements according to state law. If a citizen believes their proposed use may be exempt, it is suggested they verify that possibility with the zoning department and then confirm the information provided with their legal counsel.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land inside Greenville township under Bureau County jurisdiction.

    • The county subdivision regulations were adopted in 1969 and revised in 1979.
    • Health, floodplain, zoning, and other applicable requirements may also apply.
    “The Planning & Zoning Department is charged with regulating the division of lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau County Zoning Ordinance. The Subdivision Regulations were adopted in 1969 pursuant to Chapter 34, Section 5-1041 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (765 ILCS 205/1). The regulations were revised in 1979, and are now known as the Bureau County Subdivision Ordinance.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in federally mapped special flood-hazard areas inside Greenville township.

    • The Bureau County Floodplain Ordinance is incorporated by reference into the county Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance.
    • The county describes the regulations as fairly restrictive and allowing only limited development activity.
    • If applicability is uncertain, the applicant must provide certified elevation information relative to the 100-year floodplain boundaries.
    “These regulations are known as the Bureau County Floodplain Ordinance and are incorporated by reference in the Bureau County Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance. They are fairly restrictive and allow only limited development activity.”
  • Permit processPublished

    Bureau County zoning and construction-permit process inside Greenville township.

    • Applicants should contact Planning & Zoning before beginning a project.
    • The county uses zoning, flood-hazard, and subdivision regulations; conditional uses and variations may involve the Zoning Board of Appeals.
    “If a citizen wishes to build in an area under the jurisdiction of the Bureau County Zoning Ordinance, this department should be contacted before the project begins to be certain all local regulations are met. This department regulates construction through zoning, flood hazard and subdivision regulations.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Greenville township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Bureau County zoning districts inside Greenville township.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the applicable Bureau County zoning district inside Greenville township.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks in the applicable Bureau County zoning district inside Greenville township.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in the applicable Bureau County zoning district inside Greenville township.
13 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Greenville Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bureau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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