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

Rules another office applies inside Ridgeland Township

Ridgeland 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)

  Construction subject to the Iroquois County building-permit process on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township.

  • The application states that work must conform to county building ordinances and the submitted plans and plot diagram, except changes authorized or required by the Building Officer.

  adopted codes: International Building Code; National Electrical Code; State Plumbing Code

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects receiving a County of Iroquois permit on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township.

  • The county directs permit holders to contact the appropriate inspector before construction.

  “Building code requires inspections for your permit. Please contact the appropriate inspector prior to any construction on your project-”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy under the Iroquois County building-permit process on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township.

  • Moving in without an occupancy permit carries a $50-per-day fine according to the permit application.

  fine for moving in without occupancy permit: per 50 USD/day

  “Iroquois County has adopted the International Building Code, National Electrical Code and State Plumbing Code. There will be a FINE of $50.00 per day for moving in without Occupancy Permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township; this is the County of Iroquois ordinance, not a Ridgeland Township ordinance.

  • The county ordinance expressly applies only to unincorporated areas; incorporated areas inside the township are excluded.

  “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 Ridgeland Township under the County of Iroquois zoning ordinance.

  • The actual district for a parcel must be determined from the county zoning atlas, which is on file in the County Clerk's office; incorporated areas are outside this ordinance's jurisdiction.

  districts: A-1, A-2, RR-1, UR-1, RH-1, WF-1, B-1, B-2, B-2A, B-2B, M-1, M-2, M-3, PD

  “For the purpose of this ordinance, the County of Iroquois is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: A-1 Agriculture District A-2 Agriculture District RR-1 Single-Family Residential District UR-1 Single Family Residential RH-1 Rural Homestead District WF-1 Waterfront Residence District B-1 Business District B-2 Shopping Center District B-2A Neighborhood Shopping Center B-2B Community Shopping Center M-1 Industrial District M-2 Industrial District M-3 Extraction District PD Planned Development District”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  A-1 Agricultural District: a relative's single-family dwelling on the same farmstead, on a tract exceeding 75 acres, on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township.

  • The stated coverage applies to the relative-dwelling provision and requires a tract exceeding 75 acres.

  maximum structure coverage: <= 20 percent of buildable lot area (Relative dwelling on same farmstead exceeding 75 acres)

  “One single-family dwelling for relatives of the landowner when located on the same farmstead, and only if located on a tract exceeding 75 acres in size. BULK REQUIREMENTS: Minimum Buildable Lot Size: 20,000 sq. ft. Structure must not exceed 20% of buildable lot area”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

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

  • The program enforces both the Iroquois County Sewage Disposal Ordinance and Illinois Department of Public Health law 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.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  New subdivisions on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township where public sanitary sewer is not reasonably accessible.

  • The County Board may refuse development detrimental to health and welfare, or may approve a plat with septic arrangements conforming to Illinois Department of Public Health requirements; septic tanks and tile fields are prohibited on lots smaller than 20,000 square feet.

  minimum lot area for septic tank and tile field: >= 20000 square feet (Subdivision lots)

  “Septic tanks and tile fields shall not be permitted on any lot less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in area.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  New subdivisions on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township that can reasonably be served by extension of an existing public sanitary sewer.

  • Whether a subdivision can reasonably be served is determined by the Iroquois County Board; the developer must provide sewer mains and lateral connections for each lot or potential building site.

  “If a subdivision can be reasonably served by the extension of an existing public sanitary sewer, as determined by the Iroquois County Board, the developer shall provide a system of sanitary sewer mains and shall provide lateral connections for each lot or potential building site.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways intersecting designated arterial roads in the A-1 Agricultural District on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township.

  • The 1,000-foot spacing rule has an exception where two parallel driveways are no more than 10 feet apart.

  minimum driveway spacing: >= 1000 feet (Except where two driveways are parallel and spaced no more than 10 feet apart)

  “DRIVEWAYS: All driveways intersecting arterial roads, as designated shall be a minimum of 1000 feet apart, except where two driveways are parallel to each other and spaced no more than 10 feet from each other.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Iroquois County building permits on unincorporated land inside Ridgeland Township.

  • The application provides a blank building-fee field and provides for reimbursement of building-permit review fees if necessary.

  “I/we hereby agree to reimburse the County for Building Permit Review fees if in fact this becomes necessary.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Ridgeland Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Ridgeland Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Ridgeland Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Ridgeland Township.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Ridgeland 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.