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

Westfield Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and listed improvements on unincorporated land inside Westfield Township under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

  • Permit must be obtained before construction begins.
  • Examples include decks, sheds of 144 square feet or more, garages, gazebos, accessory structures, dwellings, commercial and industrial buildings, and additions.

  shed area threshold: >= 144 square feet (Listed by the County among projects needing a permit.)

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

• Building code adoptedNot adopted

  Residential land in unincorporated Westfield Township under Bureau County jurisdiction.

  • Cities and villages with their own municipal zoning control may have adopted building codes.
  • New commercial buildings in a non-building-code jurisdiction remain subject to the stated Illinois inspection and certificate requirements.

  “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.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Construction completed, or a changed tract use, on unincorporated land in Westfield Township under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction.

  • County states that occupancy certificates are issued upon project completion or when the tract use 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)

  Unincorporated land inside Westfield Township, where Bureau County administers the applicable zoning ordinance rather than a Township ordinance.

  • This is a county-administered rule for unincorporated land; incorporated municipalities may have separate jurisdiction.

  “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.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land under Bureau County zoning jurisdiction inside Westfield Township.

  • County Planning and Zoning regulates divisions of land under the zoning 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 inside Westfield Township that is designated by federal special-flood-hazard maps.

  • Regulations restrict development activity in designated areas.
  • If floodplain applicability is uncertain, applicant must provide certified elevation information.

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

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County-administered building permits for unincorporated land inside Westfield Township.

  • No construction may begin before issuance.
  • Application requires a property/site drawing showing listed site information.
  • Building must begin within 90 days after issuance or the permit is void.

  permit commencement deadline: <= 90 days (Building must begin within 90 days after permit issuance or the permit is void.)

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

Rules another office applies inside Westfield Township

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Westfield Township, Bureau County.

  • The health department reviews plans, issues permits, and inspects systems before use.

  “The health department reviews plans and issues permits of private sewage disposal systems. The health department is available for consultations prior to system construction. The health department conducts inspections of private sewage disposal systems prior to use.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage disposal-system construction inside Westfield Township, Bureau County.

  • Health department reviews plans and issues the permit before system construction.

  “The health department reviews plans and issues permits of private sewage disposal systems.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Westfield Township, Bureau County.

  • Inspection occurs before use.

  “The health department conducts inspections of private sewage disposal systems prior to use.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water-well construction or modification inside Westfield Township, Bureau County.

  • Construction or modification cannot begin until the health department issues the permit.
  • Private wells must be constructed or renovated by an Illinois Department of Public Health licensed well contractor.

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

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

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

  • Only certain agricultural uses are exempt under state law.
  • County advises verification with its zoning department and legal counsel.

  “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 Westfield Township or Bureau County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Westfield Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Westfield Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Westfield Township.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Westfield Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Westfield 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.