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

Iroquois Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, structure, or alteration work subject to the Iroquois County permit process on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • Construction must not begin until the permit is issued.
  • Building plans must accompany the application; the permit will not issue without them.
  • The county states a $1,000-per-day fine for beginning construction without a building permit.

  unpermitted-construction fine: 1000 USD per day (Beginning construction without a Building Permit.)

  “Construction must not be started until permit is issued.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction for which an Iroquois County building permit is sought on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • The application identifies the adopted codes as the International Building Code, National Electrical Code, and State Plumbing Code.

  “Iroquois County has adopted the International Building Code, National Electrical Code and State Plumbing Code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  County building-permit work on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • The page directs permit holders to contact the appropriate building, electrical, or plumbing inspector before construction.

  “Building code requires inspections for your permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of construction subject to an Iroquois County building permit on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • The application calls the document a Certificate of Completion and states a $50-per-day fine for moving in without it.

  occupancy-without-certificate fine: 50 USD per day (Moving in without Certificate of Completion.)

  “There will be a FINE of $50.00 per day for moving in without Certificate of Completion.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Iroquois township, where the Iroquois County Zoning Ordinance applies; this is a county-administered ordinance, not a township ordinance.

  • The cited ordinance applies to unincorporated areas of Iroquois County; incorporated municipal territory inside the township is not established by this source.

  “The jurisdiction of this ordinance shall include all lands and waters within the unincorporated areas of Iroquois County.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Iroquois township, subject to the county zoning atlas and its mapped district classification.

  • District boundaries are established on the Zoning Atlas of Iroquois County, Illinois.
  • Whether a particular listed district is mapped within Iroquois township requires parcel or atlas review.

  “Boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on the map entitled "Zoning Atlas of Iroquois County, Illinois," and is a part of this ordinance.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  WF-2 Waterfront Residence District on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township, if that district is mapped there.

  • The WF-2 district applies only where there is, or on completion will be, an Illinois-chartered lot-owners or condominium association.

  minimum total ground-floor area: >= 900 square feet (WF-2 Waterfront Residence District.)

  “Minimum Total Ground Floor Area: 900 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family lots on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township where either public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable.

  • The requirement applies where either public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable.

  minimum lot area: >= 20000 square feet (Single-family lot where either public water or public sewer is unavailable.) · minimum lot width: >= 100 feet (Single-family lot where either public water or public sewer is unavailable.)

  “In any district where either a public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable, the width and area for single-family lots shall be no less than 100 feet and no less than 20,000 square feet, respectively.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Permitted and conditional uses on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township, by associated thoroughfare classification.

  • Public utilities are exempt.
  • The setback requirements do not pertain to agricultural uses described in § 3.4(1)(b-1), but agricultural structures must comply.

  township land-access-road setback: 80 feet from center of road (Land Access thoroughfare classification.) · county collector-road setback: 80 feet from center of road (Major or Minor Collector thoroughfare classification.) · state interstate setback: 100 feet (Interstate thoroughfare classification.)

  “Interstate State 100' Major State 100' Area Service State 50' Collector - Major & Minor County 80' from center of road Land Access Township 80' from center of road”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  WF-2 Waterfront Residence District on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township, if that district is mapped there.

  • The WF-2 district applies only where there is, or on completion will be, an Illinois-chartered lot-owners or condominium association.

  maximum ground coverage: <= 30 percent (WF-2 Waterfront Residence District.)

  “BUILDING: Minimum Total Ground Floor Area: 900 square feet Maximum Ground Coverage: 30% Maximum Height: 35 Feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  WF-2 Waterfront Residence District on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township, if that district is mapped there.

  • The WF-2 district applies only where there is, or on completion will be, an Illinois-chartered lot-owners or condominium association.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (WF-2 Waterfront Residence District.)

  “BUILDING: Minimum Total Ground Floor Area: 900 square feet Maximum Ground Coverage: 30% Maximum Height: 35 Feet”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Wheeled vehicles designed for sleeping or camping on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • A temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer is required.
  • Travel trailers must be moved after 180 days.

  maximum travel-trailer duration: <= 180 days (Travel trailers must be moved after this period.)

  “However, temporary usage of lots of record, either with or without dwellings may be permitted for wheeled vehicles designed for sleeping or camping by temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Travel Trailers must be moved after one hundred and eighty (180) days.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary sleeping or camping in wheeled vehicles on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • A temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer is required.
  • Travel trailers must be moved after 180 days.

  maximum travel-trailer duration: <= 180 days (Travel trailers must be moved after this period.)

  “However, temporary usage of lots of record, either with or without dwellings may be permitted for wheeled vehicles designed for sleeping or camping by temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Travel Trailers must be moved after one hundred and eighty (180) days.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems inside Iroquois township within the jurisdiction of the Iroquois County Public Health Department.

  • The county health program enforces both the county Sewage Disposal Ordinance and the Illinois Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code.

  “The goal of this program is to protect every individual in the jurisdiction of the Iroquois County Public Health Department from contraction and transmission of disease by enforcing the Sewage Disposal Ordinance of Iroquois County as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Newly constructed or repaired septic systems inside Iroquois township within the Iroquois County Public Health Department jurisdiction.

  • Applies to newly constructed or repaired septic systems.

  “Issuance of permits for newly constructed or repaired septic systems”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Newly constructed or repaired septic systems inside Iroquois township within the Iroquois County Public Health Department jurisdiction.

  • The page lists inspections for newly constructed or repaired systems, disposal sites, loan/environmental surveys, and complaints; it does not establish routine inspection of every existing system.

  “Inspections of newly constructed or repaired septic systems”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Unincorporated land inside Iroquois township in a district where public sewerage service is unavailable.

  • The on-site sewage system must be designed under local or Illinois State Board of Health standards.
  • Where either public water or public sewer is unavailable, single-family lots must be at least 100 feet wide and 20,000 square feet.
  • Improved property must have wells and septic in good working condition under Illinois Public Health Regulations.

  minimum single-family lot width: >= 100 feet (Where either public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable.) · minimum single-family lot area: >= 20000 square feet (Where either public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable.)

  “In a district where public sewerage service is not available, the width and area of all lots shall be sufficient to permit the use of an on- site sewage disposal system designed in accordance with the local or Illinois State Board of Health standards.”

• Well permitRequired

  Newly constructed wells inside Iroquois township within Iroquois County.

  • The program also issues permits for newly constructed geothermal wells.

  “Issuance of permits for newly constructed wells”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision activity on unincorporated land inside Iroquois township subject to the Iroquois County Subdivision Ordinance.

  • All plats must comply with state drainage provisions and National Flood Insurance requirements.
  • The cited provision concerns subdivisions and does not establish that every parcel division is subject to the same approval procedure.

  “No person shall subdivide any tract of land which is located within any unincorporated area of the county that is not in conformity with the provisions of these regulations”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  County zoning petitions, use permits, certificates of compliance, variations, and zoning appeals affecting unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • Fees are established by County Board action from time to time and paid to the County Clerk.

  “Fees pertaining to petitions for zoning amendments, use permits, certificates of compliance, variations, and for appeals to the Board of Zoning Appeals shall be established by action of the County Board from time to time.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building/construction/development permit applications for unincorporated land inside Iroquois township.

  • The application requires a legal description, township and section, 911 address, construction details, a plot plan, fee, and plans.
  • The application states that construction cannot start before issuance.

  “REQUIRED DATA ON PLOT PLAN SKETCH A. State if your facility is existing or proposed. B. Lot size, building dimensions and location with all set-backs. C. Indicate North direction. D. Indicate Location of road or roads. E. Indicate well and septic locations.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Iroquois township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Iroquois township.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Iroquois township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Iroquois township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New-home water and sewer connection inside Iroquois 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.