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

Rules another office applies inside Princeton Township

Princeton 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 construction on unincorporated land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL

  • Permit must be obtained before construction begins.
  • Listed projects include decks, sheds 144 sq. ft. or more, garages, gazebos, accessory structures, dwellings, commercial and industrial buildings, and additions; a structure needs a permit whether or not on a permanent foundation.
  • Re-roofing, new windows and siding replacement generally do not need a permit.
  • Most signs on private property need a permit (Article V of the county zoning ordinance).
  • Not applicable inside City of Princeton, which has its own zoning.

  shed size needing permit: >= 144 sq ft (sheds smaller than this are not listed as requiring a permit)

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

• Building code adoptedNot adopted

  Unincorporated land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL

  • Municipalities with their own zoning and building codes (including the City of Princeton) are outside this county statement.

  “bureau county has not adopted a building code.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction on unincorporated land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL, under a county zoning permit

  • Typically three zoning compliance inspections: stake-out site inspection, footings inspection, and final inspection for occupancy certificate.
  • These are zoning/floodplain compliance inspections, not building inspections.

  “typically, three zoning compliance inspections are conducted during the course of construction”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Newly constructed commercial buildings (not single-family homes, 2-or-fewer-unit dwellings, or exempt farm buildings) in unincorporated Princeton township, which is a non-building-code jurisdiction

    “public act 096-0704 (20 ilcs 3105/10.09-1) requires that no person may occupy a newly constructed commercial building in a non-building code jurisdiction until:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Construction on unincorporated land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL

  • Occupancy certificate is issued after the final zoning compliance inspection on completion of the project.

  “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.”

• Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL. Applies only outside the City of Princeton limits. Not a county-wide or statewide rule adopted by Princeton township.

  • The county's planning and zoning department has jurisdiction over unincorporated areas; the county page lists Princeton among municipalities that have their own zoning ordinance, so land inside City of Princeton limits is governed by the city, not this county rule.
  • The county page does not say Princeton township itself adopted a zoning ordinance; no township zoning ordinance was located.

  “the municipalities that have their own zoning ordinances include: dalzell; depue; ladd; neponset; princeton; seatonville; spring valley; tiskilwa and walnut.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  County zoning districts applying to unincorporated land inside Princeton township

  • Districts listed: Agricultural, RR resort-recreational, RE rural estate, R-1, R-2, R-3 single family home, B-3, B-1 business, M-1 and M-2 manufacturing. The county index lists them; the district text was not opened.

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

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Agricultural zoning district, unincorporated land in Princeton township

  • The county states this minimum as the agricultural setback that should be met, in a page about separating an existing farm dwelling from a larger parcel; the district article itself was not opened to confirm for all uses.
  • Setback does not apply inside the City of Princeton.

  minimum setback from road right-of-way: >= 50 feet · minimum side and rear setback: >= 30 feet

  “bureau county agricultural zoning setback requirements should be met (minimum of fifty (50) feet from the right-of-way of any road and thirty (30) feet from side and rear property lines.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL (including the City of Princeton area, which the county health department serves)

  • The county health department, not the zoning office, handles septic evaluations and permits.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic systems on land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL

  • Permit through Bureau County Health Department; permit fees, forms and specific permit steps were not located.

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic systems on land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL

  • Inspection is performed by Bureau County Health Department staff; timing and triggers not stated on the page reviewed.

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

• Well permitRequired

  Water wells on land inside Princeton township, Bureau County, IL

  • Permit and inspection by Bureau County Health Department; well permit details and fees not located.

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

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Construction inside mapped flood hazard areas on unincorporated land in Princeton township

  • Projects are checked for compliance with the county floodplain ordinance during zoning inspections; the floodplain ordinance itself (Article VI, flood plain regulations) was not opened to confirm permit terms.

  “they are conducted to determine that the project is in compliance with the requirements of the zoning ordinance and / or the floodplain ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a residence inside Princeton township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size, all residential districts, unincorporated land in Princeton township
• Minimum lot size — Agricultural (A) district, unincorporated land in Princeton township
• Lot coverage — Agricultural district, unincorporated land in Princeton township
• Building height — Agricultural district, unincorporated land in Princeton 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.