Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Downers Grove Township, Illinois

Downers Grove Township’s own rules

• Driveway accessRequired

  Removal and replacement of an existing driveway subject to Downers Grove Township and DuPage County requirements.

  • The Township Highway Department maintains approximately 70 miles of roadway in unincorporated areas of the Township.

  “The Township and DuPage County require a permit for removal and replacement of existing driveways.”

Rules another office applies inside Downers Grove Township

Downers Grove 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Patio work on property in the unincorporated portion of Downers Grove Township that is subject to DuPage County Building & Zoning review.

  • The cited County handout describes minimum requirements for the County's adopted Building Code and Zoning Ordinance; incorporated communities have their own authorities.

  “This information is provided to identify minimal requirements in the County’s adopted Building Code and Zoning Ordinance.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Concrete patio work reviewed by DuPage County Building & Zoning in the unincorporated portion of Downers Grove Township.

  • A minimum of 24 hours advance notice is required to schedule the inspection.
  • The required inspection is pre-pour, before concrete is poured.

  inspection scheduling notice: >= 24 hours

  “Inspections: (a minimum of 24 hours advance notice required for inspection scheduling) concrete patios will require a pre-pour inspection before any concrete is poured.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Downers Grove Township that are served by the DuPage County Health Department program.

  • The source describes the Department's private sewage disposal system program.

  “The goal of DuPage County Health Department’s private sewage disposal system program is to protect public health through the elimination of disease hazards and nuisances resulting from improperly disposed and/or treated wastewater.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of a new septic system or repair of a septic system inside Downers Grove Township where the DuPage County Health Department has jurisdiction.

  • Contact the Department's Plan Review office regarding the permit.

  “If you have any questions regarding obtaining a permit for installing a new septic system or repairing a septic system, please contact Plan Review at 630-221-7045.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions in the unincorporated portion of Downers Grove Township.

  • The subdivision must be reviewed and approved by the DuPage County Plat Committee.
  • Subdivision land within 1.5 miles of a municipality that has adopted and recorded a comprehensive plan is subject to the more restrictive County or incorporated-area requirements.

  municipal planning-area distance: <= 1.5 miles (Where the city or village has adopted and recorded a comprehensive plan.)

  “All subdivisions located within the unincorporated area of the County shall be subject to the requirements of this Ordinance and shall be reviewed and approved by the Plat Committee.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in floodplain areas undergoing DuPage County Building & Zoning review in the unincorporated portion of Downers Grove Township.

  • An elevation certificate is required.
  • Properties with substantial damage, substantial improvement, or repetitive loss must comply with the County Building Code and Countywide Stormwater and Flood Plain Ordinance.

  “Pursuant to 8-128.2.E of the Building Code, any development in the floodplain must obtain an Elevation Certificate.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  DuPage County Health Department well and septic permit applications for land inside Downers Grove Township where the Department has jurisdiction.

  • An account must be created before using the permit system.
  • Credit-card transactions have a 2.25 percent or $1.00 minimum processing fee; e-check transactions have a $0.75 processing fee; those processing fees are charged by the State of Illinois processing company, not the Health Department.

  credit-card processing fee: 2.25 percent (Minimum $1.00.) · e-check processing fee: 0.75 USD

  “Before you can use the permit system you will need to create an account.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Downers Grove Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residential structures inside Downers Grove Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Downers Grove Township, including its incorporated and unincorporated portions.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Downers Grove Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Downers Grove 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.