Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Colona, Illinois

Colona’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of a new building inside Colona city limits; the quoted sentence sits in the trailer-coach section, so it is a city permit trigger for new buildings

  • Construction may proceed once the permit is obtained, so status is conditional.
  • Contractors doing business in the city must register and show license and insurance/bonding proof and pay a $50 annual registration fee (9-1-10(a)-(b)).
  • The general building permit section (9-1-1 Adopted Codes, 9-1-4 Building Inspector, 9-1-5 Permit Fees) was not retrieved; fee and application rules are not confirmed here.

  “unless a permit to do so is obtained as required for the construction of a new building”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Energy-efficient building envelope and mechanical, lighting and power systems inside Colona city limits (International Energy Conservation Code, 2012 edition)

  • Amended: section C101.1 and R101.1 insert City of Colona, Illinois; sections C108.4 and R108.4 insert $50.00 to $750.00 in two places.
  • Adopted by Ord. 0-10-13 (2-10-2014) as shown in the code text.

  adopted edition: 2012 edition

  “the international energy conservation code, 2012 edition, as published by the international code council, be and is hereby adopted as the energy conservation code of the city of colona, in the state of illinois”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Adopted (with conditions) — Residential construction and maintenance inside Colona city limits (International Residential Code, 2012 edition)

    “the international residential code, 2012 edition, including appendix chapters c, e, g, i and j (see international residential code section 101.2.1, 2012 edition), as published by the international code council, be and is hereby adopted as the residential code of the city of colona, in the state of illinois”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Colona city limits (municipal zoning ordinance, Title 12 Zoning of the city code)

  • Only the code table of contents was opened; the Title 12 zoning text itself was not retrieved, so district rules and administration are not verified here.
  • The table of contents places Title 12 under the city's own code, so this claim does not rely on county zoning.

  “title 9 building regulations title 10 mobile homes and mobile home parks title 11 subdivisions title 12 zoning title 13 flood control”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Trailer coaches (vehicles built to be towed or moved on public streets) occupied as a dwelling inside Colona city limits; not a general RV rule

  • A trailer coach used for human habitation may not be maintained on a plot of ground in violation of the city code (9-1-9(b)).
  • A trailer coach rendered immobile by removing wheels or placing it on a foundation or the ground may be occupied only if it and its location comply with the code and rules for single-family dwellings (9-1-9(d)).
  • Converting a trailer coach to permanent attachment needs a permit (9-1-9(c)).

  “it shall be unlawful to occupy for sleeping or other residence purposes any trailer coach which has been rendered immobile by the removal of wheels or placing the same on a foundation or on the ground unless such trailer coach in question and location complies with the provisions of this code and other regulations applicable to single-family dwellings.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Colona city limits under the city's subdivision title

  • Only the table-of-contents title is verified; the subdivision standards and approval process in Title 11 were not retrieved.

  “title 9 building regulations title 10 mobile homes and mobile home parks title 11 subdivisions title 12 zoning title 13 flood control”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or expanded driveways and walkways connecting a lot to a public street or alley inside Colona city limits

  • Permit is issued by the clerk after city council approval (9-1-7(b)).
  • Concrete driveways: minimum 4 inches thick; 6 inches thick by 12 inches wide at the street abutment; no wider than 30 feet without a variance.
  • Asphalt driveways: minimum 2 inches thick with a 4-inch rock base and minimum 8 feet wide without a variance.
  • Culverts minimum 20 feet for driveways; installation and maintenance at the lot owner's expense.

  concrete driveway minimum thickness: >= 4 inches (no variance) · concrete driveway maximum width: <= 30 feet (without obtaining a variance)

  “no driveway or walkway connecting any lot or tract with a public street or alley upon which such lot abuts shall be constructed unless a permit therefor has been first obtained.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from contractor requirements inside Colona city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Colona city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Colona city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Colona city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the main single-family residential district inside Colona 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.