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

Rules another office applies inside Virginia Township

Virginia 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

  Building projects on unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois, issued by the county zoning officer

  • Building permits are issued by the Cass County zoning officer; the city of Virginia inside the township is not covered.
  • Project may start only after the permit is obtained; the county page warns of a fine for starting before the permit.

  “failure to obtain a building permit before starting a project may result in a fine.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois (county zoning, not a township ordinance)

  • This is the county's zoning ordinance, not an ordinance adopted by Virginia township.
  • The county zoning officer administers the ordinance for unincorporated areas; the incorporated city of Virginia inside the township is not covered by this claim.
  • Whether Virginia township has adopted its own zoning ordinance is not established (see vt-local-zoning-township).

  “the cass county zoning officer administers the cass county zoning ordinance. this applies to the unincorporated areas of the county as well as villages that do not have a zoning ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois, under the county zoning ordinance

  • District boundaries are on the county zoning map, which was not opened; the list below is from the ordinance table of contents.
  • Districts apply only to unincorporated land; the city of Virginia is not covered.

  “agricultural and conservation districts a - agricultural district cd – conservation district urban residential districts r-1 – single-family residential district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residences in the county's A (Agricultural) district, unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois

  • Applies to residences on agricultural-district land in unincorporated Cass County.

  minimum living area of residence: >= 800 square feet

  “the minimum living area of any residence constructed in an agricultural district must be at least eight hundred (800) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family residence or detached structure on land in the county's A (Agricultural) district, unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois

  • Stated in the county ordinance's agricultural district permitted-use rules for single-family dwellings.
  • Flag lots are separately limited to a minimum of five (5) acres per individual lot, with a 20-acre minimum parent lot before creating flag lots.
  • Lot-size limits for residences on agricultural land are the only part of the ordinance that applies to agricultural use under 55 ILCS 5/5-12001.

  minimum lot size for single-family residence or detached structure: >= 3 acres (flag lots require five acres per lot (separate flag lot rule))

  “the minimum lot size permitted for the construction of a single-family residence or detached structure in an agricultural district is a minimum of three (3) acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Structures in the county's A (Agricultural) district, unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois

  • Front setback is measured from the road type shown; the county also states special setbacks for permitted and conditional uses in the agricultural district (50 feet from federal and state highway rights-of-way, 35 feet from county or township roads).
  • Setbacks apply to unincorporated land only; the city of Virginia is not covered.

  front setback from federal highway right-of-way: >= 50 feet · front setback from state highway right-of-way: >= 50 feet · front setback from county or township road right-of-way: >= 35 feet · side and rear setback for residences or detached structures: >= 35 feet

  “the minimum side and rear setback requirements for residences or detached structures constructed in an agricultural district must be at least thirty-five (35) feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes in the county's R-3 single-family residential district, unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois

  • Permitted only when section 18.2 (mobile home park regulations) is complied with; section 18.2 was not opened.
  • Mobile homes outside R-3 were not checked and are not covered by this claim.

  “mobile homes (providing section 18.2, mobile home park regulations is complied with)”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural use of land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois (unincorporated land only)

  • Agricultural purposes are generally exempt from county zoning, except building or setback lines for agricultural buildings and the minimum lot size for residences on agricultural land.
  • The exemption is the state rule in 55 ILCS 5/5-12001, as the county ordinance itself recites.

  “a. exception: notwithstanding the foregoing, and as allowed by 55 ilcs 5/5-12001, this ordinance shall be construed to apply to and regulate: (i) building or setback lines for agricultural buildings or structures as hereinafter specified; and (ii) the minimum lot size for residences on land used for agricultural purposes.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois

  • The county zoning officer reviews and issues building permits and handles variances, conditional uses, special use permits and rezonings.
  • The page does not give steps, review times or required documents; applications are obtained from the zoning office.

  “property owners and contractors can obtain applications for building permits and receive assistance by contacting the cass county zoning officer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for construction inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois
• Building code adopted — Building code applicable to construction inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois
• Lot coverage — Residential districts, unincorporated land inside Virginia township, Cass County, Illinois

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.