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

Rules another office applies inside Manlius Township

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

• Building permitRequired

  New residential construction (dwellings), accessory structures, and additions on land inside Manlius township, permitted through Bureau County Planning & Zoning

  • Permit must be obtained before construction begins; the permit form states 'no construction is to begin before permit is issued.'
  • Projects needing a permit include decks, sheds (144 sq. ft. or more), garages, gazebos and other accessory structures, dwellings, commercial and industrial buildings, and additions.
  • Generally a permit is not required for re-roofing, to replace or install new windows, siding replacement or similar maintenance projects.
  • Signs on private property generally need a building permit, per Article V of the county ordinance.

  “generally, any new construction requires a building permit which must be obtained prior to beginning construction.”

• Building code adoptedNot adopted

  Construction inside Manlius township, which is outside any municipal building code (county has not adopted a building code)

  • A number of cities and villages with their own municipal zoning control within Bureau County have adopted building codes; those do not apply to land in Manlius township unless the township itself adopts one.
  • Commercial buildings in non-building-code jurisdictions are subject to the state inspection requirement in 20 ILCS 3105/10.09-1, as summarized on the county FAQ page (not separately opened).

  “bureau county has not adopted a building code.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction under a county building permit inside Manlius township

  • Typically three zoning compliance inspections: initial stake-out site inspection, footings inspection, and final inspection for the occupancy certificate.
  • These are zoning/floodplain compliance inspections, not building code inspections, because the county has no adopted building code.
  • Plumbing work must comply with Illinois plumbing codes and the owner must notify the state plumbing inspector (permit form).

  “these inspections are not building inspections. they are conducted to determine that the project is in compliance with the requirements of the zoning ordinance and / or the floodplain ordinance.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Completed construction under a county building permit inside Manlius township

  • Occupancy certificate is issued by the zoning office after the final zoning compliance inspection; the permit form states inspection 'prior to the certificate of occupancy being issued.'
  • Commercial buildings in a non-building-code jurisdiction also need a qualified inspector's certificate under 20 ILCS 3105/10.09-1, per the county FAQ.

  “final inspection upon completion of the project for issuance of an occupancy certificate.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Manlius township's limits, where Bureau County zoning applies because the township has no zoning ordinance of its own (county-administered; not a Manlius township ordinance)

  • Bureau County Zoning Ordinance applies to unincorporated areas and to municipalities without their own zoning ordinance; the county statement names manlius in that list.
  • Articles of the county ordinance cover zoning districts, flood plain regulations, conditional uses, nonconforming uses, and permits and certificate of occupancy.

  “the bureau county planning & zoning department has jurisdiction over the unincorporated areas of bureau county as well as all incorporated municipalities without their own zoning ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  County zoning districts that apply inside Manlius township (county-administered)

  • The zoning index lists Article III district sections (Agricultural, Resort-Recreational RR, Rural Estate RE, Single Family R-1 to R-3, business and manufacturing districts), each as a separate PDF; the district text itself was not opened.

  “article iii – zoning districts – agricultural article iii – zoning districts – resort-recreational rr”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Manlius township, handled by the Bureau County Health Department rather than the zoning office

  • The county FAQ directs septic and well evaluations, permits, and questions to the Bureau County Health Department.
  • Whether the health department is a county agency or a multi-county health district is not stated on the pages opened; state private sewage rules (not opened) also govern.

  “please contact the bureau county health department for evaluations, permits, questions and concerns with wells and septic systems located in bureau county.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic systems on land inside Manlius township

  • Permit issued by the health department's environmental health staff; fees, application steps and forms were not found in the opened pages.
  • The county building permit form asks for the septic approval number and septic contractor license before construction.

  “health department staff permits and inspects food facilities, water wells, geothermal wells and septic systems”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic systems installed on land inside Manlius township

  • Inspection timing and standards were not found in the opened pages.

  “health department staff permits and inspects food facilities, water wells, geothermal wells and septic systems”

• Well permitRequired

  New water wells on land inside Manlius township

  • Permit issued by the health department's environmental health staff; the permit steps and fees were not found in the opened pages.

  “health department staff permits and inspects food facilities, water wells, geothermal wells and septic systems”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Construction on land inside Manlius township that lies in a mapped flood plain

  • The county FAQ says a flood zone can affect use and development and to contact the department for rules; the county flood plain ordinance was not opened.
  • The permit form asks for the 100-year flood plain elevation and the lowest floor elevation when the site is in a flood plain, and requires certification by a registered professional engineer.

  “100 year flood plain elevation: ________________ elevation of lowest floor: ____________________ ___________yes ____________ no must be certified by a registered professional engineer.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for construction inside Manlius township through Bureau County Planning & Zoning

  • Application requires a site drawing with setbacks and water supply and sewage locations; a permit that is not used within 90 days becomes void.
  • Staff stake-out and footing inspections are part of the process (see building-inspection claim).
  • Fees are non-refundable; amounts were not found.

  permit validity: construction must begin within: 90 days (permit becomes void if construction does not begin)

  “building must begin within ninety (90) days after permit is issued or the permit is void.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Manlius township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the county R-1 single-family district and the Agricultural district, as applied inside Manlius township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the county R-1 single-family district and the Agricultural district, as applied inside Manlius township
• Setbacks — Setbacks in the county R-1 single-family district and the Agricultural district, as applied inside Manlius township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in the county R-1 single-family district and the Agricultural district, as applied inside Manlius 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.