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

Rules another office applies inside Garfield Township

Garfield 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 permits for residential construction in unincorporated Grundy County, including Garfield township land outside any city or village

  • A building permit requires an approved water and sewage system permit first (septic or well approval).
  • Garfield township land inside a village or city limit is not covered by this county statement.
  • Fees, application forms and scope of exempt structures were not verified in this pass.

  “in order to obtain a building permit, you must have an approved water & sewage system permit.”

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Permit review for flood-damaged homes in unincorporated Grundy County, which includes Garfield township land outside any city or village

  • Only confirmed for flood-damaged homes; the page does not state that the 2018 IRC or 2017 NEC governs all new construction.
  • Garfield township land inside a village or city limit is not covered by this county statement.
  • Special conditions may apply to buildings with repair costs of 50 percent or more of pre-flood market value.

  damage threshold for floodplain compliance: >= 50 percent (repairs for buildings damaged 50 percent or more must comply with the floodplain ordinance before repairs begin)

  “our office completes a full plan review that ensures that the construction proposed complies with the 2018 international residential code and the 2017 national electric code.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal (septic) systems on land inside Garfield township, administered by the Grundy County Health Department Environmental Health division

  • Health department service area covers the county; Garfield township is not a separate septic authority.

  “reviews proposed private sewage disposal system plans and applications.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage disposal systems on land inside Garfield township

  • Plans and applications are reviewed before a permit is issued; systems must be sized and located to code.
  • Permits are also required for repairs to existing septic systems.

  permit processing time: <= 72 hours (up to 72 hours for processing and reviewing)

  “issues permits for private sewage disposal systems that comply with code requirements.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of private sewage disposal systems on land inside Garfield township

  • Inspection covers installation work to confirm correct installation; routine pumping and periodic inspection are advised but not stated as a mandate on this page.

  “inspects the installation work performed on all private sewage disposal systems to ensure that the system is installed correctly.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water wells on land inside Garfield township

  • Proposed well locations are reviewed for separation from pollution sources before drilling.
  • Sealing an abandoned well requires a permit and fee, and the health department must witness it.

  permit processing time: <= 72 hours (up to 72 hours for processing and reviewing well permit applications)

  “reviews well permit applications and processes permits”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land (plats) inside Garfield township, reviewed by Grundy County

  • Preliminary and final plats go through a public hearing before the zoning board of appeals, then the land use committee and county board.
  • Variances are approved or denied by the zoning board of appeals; the page does not give the plat standards.
  • Municipal subdivision rules apply instead where land is inside a city or village.

  “all map amendments, subdivision plats, special uses, and text amendments are recommended by the zoning board of appeals to the land use committee and the county board.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Repairs to flood-damaged buildings in unincorporated Grundy County, including Garfield township land outside any city or village

  • Applies to buildings damaged 50 percent or more; repairs must comply with the floodplain ordinance before they begin.
  • General new-construction floodplain rules were not verified on this page.
  • Special conditions may apply where repair costs are 50 percent or more of pre-flood market value.

  damage threshold for floodplain compliance: >= 50 percent (repairs begin only after the structure complies with the floodplain ordinance)

  “if a building is found to be damaged 50 percent or more, regulations require that repairs do not begin until that structure complies with the floodplain ordinance.”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic and well permit processing for land inside Garfield township

  • Processing time is stated only for private sewage disposal and well permits; the full building permit steps are not on the page.

  permit processing time: <= 72 hours (up to 72 hours for processing and reviewing private sewage disposal system permits)

  “allow up to 72 hours for the processing and reviewing of all private sewage disposal system permits.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for work inside Garfield township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction on land inside Garfield township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Garfield township
• Local zoning — Whether Garfield township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and list for land inside Garfield 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.