Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Flora, Illinois

Flora’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings or structures erected, structurally altered, or remodeled in Flora city limits.

  • Applications must be submitted to the Building Inspector and reviewed by the Administrative Official before approval.
  • The provision excepts farm buildings, farm dwellings, and farm accessory uses located and permitted in the A-1 Agricultural District.

  “No building or structure shall hereafter be erected or structurally altered or remodeled until a building permit shall be issued by the Building Inspector stating that the building or structure, and the use of land, comply with the regulations of this Title and all building and health laws and ordinances.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction and alterations within Flora city limits.

  • The City page lists 2024 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Property Maintenance, Fire, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Fuel Gas Codes; it also lists the 2024 Illinois Energy Conservation Code, current Illinois Plumbing Code, 2023 National Electrical Code, State Accessibility Code, and specified NFPA codes.
  • The 2024 International Residential Code is listed with Amendment R309.2 requiring automatic sprinkler systems for one- and two-family dwellings.

  “The City has adopted the following editions of the International Codes:”

• InspectionsRequired

  Residential new construction using Flora's residential building-permit application.

  • Inspections must be performed before continuing to the next construction phase.
  • The application instructs applicants to schedule inspections at least 24 hours in advance.

  “The 2024 International Code requires that the following inspections be performed prior to continuing on to the next phase of construction.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Flora city limits.

  • The ordinance applies within the corporate limits and mapped City territory.

  “This Ordinance shall be applicable within the corporate limits of this municipality and within all territory located within the official maps of the City as shown in Exhibits A and B attached hereto and made a part hereof.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land within Flora city limits subject to the Flora Zoning Ordinance.

  • The official district maps, their notations, references, and other information are part of the zoning title and are on file with the City Clerk.

  “DISTRICTS. For the purpose of this Chapter, the City of Flora is hereby divided into the following districts:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-4 Single-Family Residence District within Flora city limits.

  • Supplemental area requirements are provided in Chapter 19, Section 19.2.

  minimum lot area: 5000 square feet · minimum lot width: 50 feet

  “Minimum lot area--5,000 square feet. Minimum width of lot--50 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-4 Single-Family Residence District within Flora city limits.

  • Supplemental area requirements are provided in Chapter 19, Section 19.2.

  front yard minimum depth: 20 feet · side yard minimum width: 8 feet · rear yard minimum depth: 25 feet

  “Minimum depth of front yard--20 feet. Minimum width of side yard--8 feet. Minimum depth of rear yard--25 feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-4 Single-Family Residence District within Flora city limits.

  • Supplemental height requirements are provided in Chapter 19, Section 19.1.

  maximum height: 35 feet (Or 2½ stories.)

  “The maximum height shall be 35 feet, or 2 ½ stories. Supplemental height requirements are provided in Chapter 19, Section 19.1.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Accessory buildings in Flora's R-4 Single-Family Residence District.

  • This finding is district-specific and does not determine treatment in other Flora districts.

  “No accessory building shall be constructed upon a lot until the construction of the main building has been actually commenced and no accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage systems where the municipal or public sewerage system is not reasonably available within Flora city limits.

  • A private sewerage system must be installed and used when municipal or public sewerage is not reasonably available.
  • The system must conform to the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act, Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code No. 4.002, pertinent current Illinois EPA regulations, and applicable municipal codes and ordinances, particularly Land Subdivision Regulations.

  “Whenever the municipal or public sewerage system is not reasonably available, a private sewerage system shall be installed and used. All private sewerage systems shall be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in conformity with the following requirements.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Buildings and places where people live, work, or assemble in all Flora zoning districts.

  • The municipal or public sanitary sewerage system must be reasonably accessible and within 100 feet.
  • The connection requirement applies whether or not a private system already exists or is more convenient.

  public sewer distance: <= 100 feet (Only when the municipal or public sanitary sewerage system is reasonably accessible.)

  “Whenever the municipal or public sanitary sewerage system is reasonably accessible and within 100 feet, all sewage shall be discharged into such system, whether or not a private sewerage system already exists or is more convenient.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Farm buildings, farm dwellings, and farm accessory uses located and permitted in Flora's A-1 Agricultural District.

  • The farm building, dwelling, or accessory use must be primarily associated with and used in normal farm operations.
  • The exemption is from § 20.2's building-permit application provision only.

  “This section shall apply to all structures erected, altered or remodeled in all districts, with the exception of farm buildings, farm dwellings and farm accessory uses located and permitted in the A-1 Agricultural District.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Buildings erected on lots within Flora city limits.

  • The lot must abut or have permanent easement access to a public street or a private street conforming to City Land Subdivision Regulations.

  “ACCESS REQUIRED. No building shall be erected on any lot unless such lot abuts, or has permanent easement of access to, a public street or a private street that conforms to the standards set forth in the Land Subdivision Regulations of the City of Flora.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Residential new-construction permit applications within Flora city limits.

  • Fees are determined after permit application approval.

  “Permit fees will be determined after permit application approval.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits governed by Flora Zoning Ordinance § 20.2.

  • The Administrative Official reviews applications before approval.
  • Applicants must submit duplicate, scale-drawn plats with actual lot dimensions, building/structure size and location, and other necessary enforcement information.
  • A licensed-surveyor survey is required if required by the City.

  “Applications for a building permit shall be submitted to the Building Inspector and shall be reviewed by the Administrative Official prior to approval.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction within Flora city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings within Flora city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings within Flora city limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots within Flora city limits.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land within Flora city limits.

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.