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

Rules another office applies inside Paw Paw Township

Paw Paw 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

  Construction on unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.

  • Work may not begin until the county issues the permit.
  • The county page identifies its building-permit service as applying in unincorporated DeKalb County.

  “reviews and issues all building permits for construction in unincorporated DeKalb County”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Owner-occupant serving as a subcontractor on a permitted project on unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.

  • The application checklist calls for a Homeowner Exemption Contractor Registration Form where the owner-occupant serves as a subcontractor.
  • The application also states licensed/registered contractors are required when improvements are made by someone other than the homeowner, or for commercial, industrial, or multi-family structures.

  “a Homeowner Exemption Contractor Registration Form as owner-occupant serving as a subcontractor on the project.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Residential construction on unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.

  • The county codes page identifies the listed codes as enforced by DeKalb County; applicability is limited to unincorporated property under the county planning authority.

  residential code: 2021 International Residential Code · energy code: 2021 IECC – Illinois State Energy Conservation Code

  “This page is a listing of the codes that are enforced by DeKalb County, effective July 1, 2019.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction on unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.

  • Permit holder must call for all required inspections identified in the permit package.

  “Then, it is your responsibility to call for all required inspections as outlined in your permit package.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township; incorporated municipal land is excluded.

  • DeKalb County states it is responsible only for property not annexed to a municipality.

  “DeKalb County is responsible for land use decisions for any property not annexed to a municipality. These are commonly referred to as “unincorporated properties”.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township, by parcel zoning classification.

  • The county explains that the zoning map divides the community into districts and the county zoning ordinance text identifies permitted construction and uses.
  • Parcel-specific zoning must be confirmed from the county's official zoning map.

  “The map divides the community into zones or districts with specific use classifications.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water-well drilling inside Paw Paw township.

  • The permit is obtained from the health department.

  water well permit/inspection/sample fee: 310 USD

  “A) Yes. By law a permit must obtained from the health department.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Building-permit applications on a parcel inside Paw Paw township with no driveway entrance or only an agricultural field entrance.

  • A copy of an access permit from the appropriate road authority is required in the stated circumstance.

  “A copy of the access permit from the appropriate road authority (if construction is to occur on a parcel possessing no driveway entrance or only an agricultural field entrance).”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Well and septic permits inside Paw Paw township.

  • The health department page lists fees; it also states a 2.25% credit-card fee, minimum $1.00, effective January 4, 2024.

  water well permit/inspection/sample: 310 USD · septic permit, contractor installed: 415 USD · septic permit, homeowner installed: 615 USD

  “Water Well Permit*/Inspection/Sample | $310.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.

  • Checklist requires completed application, site plan or plat, two complete plan sets, approved well/septic permits or site-verification form, and application fees.
  • Commercial and industrial projects are sent to third-party plan review and incur additional review fees.
  • County gives a typical one-to-three-week turnaround depending on project complexity.

  typical turnaround: 1 to 3 weeks (Depends on project complexity)

  “Depending on the complexity of your project, turnaround time will typically take between one (1) to three (3) weeks.”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Paw Paw township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings on unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.
• Setbacks — Unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.
• Lot coverage — Unincorporated land inside Paw Paw township.
• Building height — Unincorporated land inside Paw Paw 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.