Bolthole Index

Carroll County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Savanna, Illinois

The City of Savanna, Illinois (Carroll County) administers its own zoning ordinance and asks for a city permit before new construction12. Living in a trailer or similar portable structure inside city limits is prohibited outside a licensed mobile home park3. Septic work is a county and state matter: the Carroll County Health Department handles private sewage inspections4.

At a glance

Building permit
City permit required for new construction, additions, decks and similar work; apply to the City of Savanna2
Zoning
Savanna's own zoning ordinance (Title 10), with residential, business and manufacturing districts15
Building code
International Building Code adopted by the city, excluding plumbing and electricity sections6
RV / trailer living
Prohibited outside a licensed mobile home park3
Mobile / manufactured homes
Living in a mobile home outside a licensed park is prohibited7
Septic
Carroll County Health Department inspects private sewage disposal; state plan approval applies48
Sewer hookup
Connect within 60 days once a public sewer becomes available9
R-1 minimum lot
12,000 square feet and 80 feet wide10

Who to call

Building permits

City of Savanna, City Hall (permits and zoning)

Building permits, special work permits (driveways, culverts, excavation) and zoning permits inside Savanna city limits

815-273-2251

Septic permits

Carroll County Health Department

Environmental-health inspections of water wells and private sewage disposal

(815) 244-8855

[email protected]

822 South Mill Street, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Savanna, Illinois have zoning?

Yes. The City of Savanna administers its own zoning ordinance, Title 10 of the city code, and divides the city into districts1. The published districts are R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential, C-R commercial-recreation, B-1 through B-4 business, and M general manufacturing, with no agricultural or rural-residential district in the list5.

That matters for a rural-minded buyer: Savanna's rules are city rules, not Carroll County's. Carroll County's zoning stops at the city limits11. Land annexed into the city has no zoning until the council assigns it a district1.

In the R-1 single-family district, a house lot needs at least 12,000 square feet and 80 feet of width10. Yards are 40 feet in front, 10 feet on each side and 40 feet in the rear12. Height tops out at two and one-half stories or 35 feet, whichever is less13. In R-2, the minimum lot is 5,000 square feet and 50 feet wide14.

Do you need a building permit in Savanna, and who issues it?

Yes, the City of Savanna asks for a city permit for new construction, additions, remodels, decks, garages and sheds, fences and demolition2. Most applications need a site plan and a building plan document2. Starting work without approval is treated as a code violation that can bring fines and even removal of the work2.

The city has adopted the International Building Code, leaving out the plumbing and electrical sections, along with the residential, existing-building, mechanical, fuel gas and property maintenance codes6. Illinois does not issue building permits for private homes itself; any permit is handled by the local government15.

Call Savanna City Hall at 815-273-2251 before you start2. We could not confirm the city's fee schedule, inspection steps or whether an owner-builder gets any exemption, so ask City Hall for those directly.

How do septic permits work inside Savanna?

Septic permits are not a city function. The Carroll County Health Department conducts environmental health inspections of private sewage disposal4, and Illinois requires plan approval from the state health department or the local authority before a new private sewage system is built8.

Most lots inside a city sit on public sewer. Savanna's code requires a building with a private sewage system to connect within 60 days after a public sewer becomes available, with a written permit from the city superintendent9. The code does not say how far away a sewer line must be to count as available9.

Whether a brand-new private system is allowed on a lot inside city limits is something we could not confirm. Ask the Carroll County Health Department at (815) 244-8855 and City Hall before you buy4. Wells also fall under health-department permits across Illinois16.

Can you live in an RV, trailer or tiny home in Savanna?

Not on an ordinary lot. Savanna's code prohibits using mobile homes, trailers or similar portable structures as a dwelling, except inside a licensed mobile home park3. The code does not separately define recreational vehicles, so the city decides whether a particular RV counts as a trailer3. Living in a mobile home outside a licensed park is likewise prohibited7.

A tiny home on wheels may fall under the same portable-structure wording, and we could not confirm any separate tiny-home rule. Ask City Hall before you buy2.

Outside city limits the answer differs: unincorporated Carroll County has its own RV rules, covered on the Carroll County page.

Building a home in Savanna: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district with Savanna City Hall at 815-273-2251; district boundaries are on the city's 1977 zoning map52.
  2. Check lot size, width and yards against the district rules, for example 12,000 square feet and 80 feet in R-110.
  3. Prepare a site plan and building plan and apply to the city for a building permit2.
  4. Ask whether the lot has public sewer; if not, contact the Carroll County Health Department about the septic and well approvals4.
  5. Build to the city's adopted codes6.
  6. If a public sewer later becomes available, connect within 60 days9.

What stays with Carroll County, and what to check before you buy

Inside Savanna, the city sets zoning and issues building permits, while Carroll County Health handles private sewage inspections24. Carroll County's own building and zoning applications apply only outside incorporated cities and villages17. Land just beyond the city limits therefore follows the county's rules instead; see the Carroll County page.

Check whether the parcel lies in a flood zone: Savanna's code includes a flood damage prevention chapter that we could not review, so ask City Hall2. In Carroll County, the median property tax bill is about $2,308 a year at an effective rate of 2%1819. The typical home value in the county is about $165,80120.

Watch-outs

  • Savanna's city code posted online may not reflect the newest ordinances; the publisher advises consulting the official printed copy, so confirm with City Hall6.
  • Do not apply Carroll County's unincorporated rules (county RV permits, county zoning districts) to a lot inside Savanna; they stop at the city limits11.
  • We could not confirm Savanna's building permit fees, inspection and occupancy steps, or driveway rules; ask City Hall at 815-273-22512.

Sources

  1. Savanna Code Title 10 Chapter 3 Zoning Districts (10-3-1 to 10-3-4) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Savanna, City Hall (permits and zoning) (savanna-il.us)
  3. Savanna Code 10-2-11 Trailers and mobile homes (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  4. Carroll County Health Department (carrollcountyil.gov)
  5. Savanna Code Title 10 Chapter 3 Zoning Districts (10-3-1 to 10-3-4) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  6. Savanna Code 4-1-1 Model codes adopted (Title 4 Chapter 1 Building Codes) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  7. Savanna Code 10-2-11 Trailers and mobile homes (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  8. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Savanna Code Title 7 Chapter 5 Sewer Regulations (7-5-3 Sewers, 7-5-4 Building sewers and connections) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  10. Savanna Code Title 10 Chapter 4 Residence Districts (10-4-2 R-1, 10-4-3 R-2, 10-4-4 R-3) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  11. carrollcountyil.gov, quoted and re-checked
  12. Savanna Code Title 10 Chapter 4 Residence Districts (10-4-2 R-1, 10-4-3 R-2, 10-4-4 R-3) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  13. Savanna Code Title 10 Chapter 4 Residence Districts (10-4-2 R-1, 10-4-3 R-2, 10-4-4 R-3) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  14. Savanna Code Title 10 Chapter 4 Residence Districts (10-4-2 R-1, 10-4-3 R-2, 10-4-4 R-3) (Savanna), quoted and re-checked
  15. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Applications & Support Documents, quoted and re-checked
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 Savanna

Savanna’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction inside Savanna city limits

    • The International Building Code is adopted excluding the sections related to plumbing and electricity (4-1-1(a)1).
    • Adopted editions are the most current editions of the listed international codes, including residential, existing building, mechanical, fuel gas and property maintenance codes (4-1-1(a)).
    • Publisher disclaimer: the posted code may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the municipality; the official printed copy should be consulted.
    “the following codes are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference pursuant to 65 illinois compiled statutes 5/1-3-1 to 5/1-3-6, inclusive, as amended.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Savanna city limits: Savanna city administers its own zoning ordinance, Title 10 Zoning Regulations, under which the city is divided into zoning districts.

    • Zoning district map is adopted by reference as dated January 1, 1977 and is on file with the city superintendent (10-3-2(a)).
    • Zoning applies inside city limits only; annexed land has no zoning until the council designates a district by amendment (10-3-3).
    “in order to carry out the purposes and provisions of this title, the city is hereby divided into the following districts: r-1 single-family detached residence district”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Savanna city limits

    • Districts listed in 10-3-1: R-1, R-2 and R-3 single-family and general residence; C-R commercial-recreation; B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-4 business; M general manufacturing.
    • No agricultural or rural-residential district appears in the 10-3-1 district list.
    • District boundaries are shown on the 1977 zoning district map, which is on file with the city superintendent; the map itself was not opened.
    “r-1 single-family detached residence district r-2 single-family detached residence district r-3 general residence district c-r commercial-recreation district b-1 retail business district b-2 general business district b-3 service business district b-4 general business district m general manufacturing district”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached dwelling in the R-2 single-family residence district inside Savanna city limits

    • Figures are ground floor area per dwelling.
    • Two-story and one-and-one-half-story figures are set separately in 10-4-3(f)3.

    minimum ground floor area, one-story without cellar: >= 900 square feet · minimum ground floor area, one-story with cellar: >= 820 square feet · minimum ground floor area, one and one-half story: >= 800 square feet · minimum ground floor area, two-story: >= 650 square feet

    “(f) ground floor area per dwelling: 1. one-story dwellings without cellar: not less than nine hundred (900) square feet. 2. one-story dwelling with cellar: not less than eight hundred twenty (820) square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family detached dwelling in the R-1 single-family residence district inside Savanna city limits
      “(g) ground floor area per dwelling: 1. one-story dwellings without cellar: not less than one thousand three hundred fifty (1,350) square feet. 2. one-story dwellings with a cellar: not less than one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet. 3. dwellings having more than one story: not less than nine hundred (900) square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached dwelling in the R-1 single-family residence district inside Savanna city limits

    • Lot width minimum for the same dwelling is 80 feet (10-4-2(d)1).

    minimum lot area: >= 12000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 80 feet

    “single-family detached dwellings: not less than twelve thousand (12,000) square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family detached dwelling in the R-2 single-family residence district inside Savanna city limits
      “(c) lot area: 1. single-family detached dwelling: not less than five thousand (5,000) square feet. 2. nonresidential uses: as herein set forth for each use. (d) lot width: 1. single-family detached dwelling: not less than fifty feet (50').”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family detached dwelling in the R-1 single-family residence district inside Savanna city limits

    • Corner lot: the side yard abutting a street must be not less than forty feet (40') in width, with a reduction allowed only for a lot recorded before the title took effect that cannot otherwise keep a 35-foot buildable width (10-4-2(h)2(c)).
    • Nonresidential uses have different yards and add two feet of yard per foot of building height over 25 feet (10-4-2(h)4).

    minimum front yard depth: >= 40 feet · minimum side yard width (each side): >= 10 feet · minimum rear yard depth: >= 40 feet

    “3. rear yard: not less than forty feet (40') in depth.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family detached dwelling in the R-1 single-family residence district inside Savanna city limits

    • Nonresidential permitted and conditional uses in R-1 are limited to forty-five feet (10-4-2(f)2).

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (or two and one-half stories, whichever is less)

    “(f) building height: 1. single-family detached dwellings: not more than two and one- half (2 1 / 2) stories or thirty five feet (35'), whichever is less. 2. nonresidential permitted uses and conditional uses: not more than forty five feet (45').”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Using a trailer or similar portable structure as a dwelling place inside Savanna city limits

    • Prohibition applies except within the confines of a licensed mobile home park.
    • The code does not separately define recreational vehicles; whether a given RV is a trailer or similar portable structure is for the city to decide.
    • Parking a unit for display or storage before sale or delivery may be allowed in districts where sales or manufacturing of such units is permitted or conditional.
    “mobile homes, trailers or similar portable structures used or so constructed as to permit their being used as a dwelling place for one or more persons are prohibited except within the confines of a licensed mobile home park”
  • Manufactured homesProhibited

    Living in a mobile home or trailer outside a licensed mobile home park inside Savanna city limits

    • The code says mobile homes; it does not separately define manufactured homes, so whether a given manufactured home is covered is for the city to decide.
    • Temporary offices or storage on a construction site are allowed under 10-2-11(a) and are not dwelling use.
    “mobile homes, trailers or similar portable structures used or so constructed as to permit their being used as a dwelling place for one or more persons are prohibited except within the confines of a licensed mobile home park”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Existing or new building served by a private sewage disposal system inside Savanna city limits once a public sewer is available

    • Trigger is a public sewer becoming available; the passage gives no distance threshold for availability.
    • Connection must be made within 60 days after the public sewer becomes available (7-5-3, item 8).
    • Connecting requires a written permit from the superintendent (7-5-4(a)); the private system must be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean bank run gravel or dirt after connection.
    • Water connection is not addressed in the passage reviewed; value is sewer only.

    connection deadline after public sewer becomes available: <= 60 days

    “when a public sewer becomes available, the building sewer shall be connected to said sewer within sixty (60) days and the private sewage disposal system shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean bank run gravel or dirt.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Savanna or Carroll County directly.

  • Building permit — New residential construction inside Savanna city limits
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Savanna city limits
  • Inspections — Inspection of new residential construction inside Savanna city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new dwellings inside Savanna city limits
  • Lot coverage — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 and R-2 districts inside Savanna city limits
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Savanna publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Carroll County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Carroll County: county rules, score and offices