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

Sheldon Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction in unincorporated Sheldon Township administered through Iroquois County Planning & Zoning.

  • The official page states a $1,000-per-day fine for beginning construction without a permit.
  • Incorporated land is not established by this evidence as subject to county permitting.

  fine for beginning construction without permit: 1000 USD per day

  “Be aware the county has established a fine of $1,000 per day for beginning construction without a permit”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in unincorporated Sheldon Township administered through Iroquois County Planning & Zoning.

  • Applicants are directed to contact the appropriate inspector before construction.
  • The page lists building/construction, electrical, and plumbing inspectors.

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Sheldon Township, Iroquois County; Iroquois County administers the applicable zoning ordinance rather than the township.

  • The County Zoning Ordinance applies only to unincorporated areas.
  • Incorporated Village of Sheldon land is outside the county ordinance's stated jurisdiction.

  “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 Sheldon Township under the Iroquois County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The certified zoning atlas establishes actual district boundaries, is part of the ordinance, and is on file in the County Clerk's office.
  • The source does not establish which listed districts occur in Sheldon Township.

  “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

  The A-1 Agricultural District provision for a relative's single-family dwelling on the same farmstead in unincorporated Sheldon Township, if the parcel is zoned A-1.

  • The dwelling must be for relatives of the landowner, on the same farmstead, and on a tract exceeding 75 acres.

  maximum structure coverage: <= 20 percent of buildable lot area (Relative's single-family dwelling on same farmstead exceeding 75 acres in A-1)

  “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”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary sleeping or camping vehicles on lots of record in unincorporated Sheldon Township.

  • 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 under a temporary permit)

  “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.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile-home occupancy in unincorporated Sheldon Township.

  • A mobile home may be occupied as a dwelling only in a licensed and approved mobile-home park, unless otherwise provided in the ordinance.
  • In an agricultural district, a dwelling or mobile home must meet Section 3.4(1) conditions.

  “Mobile Homes - No mobile home shall be occupied as a dwelling except when such mobile home is located in a licensed and approved mobile home park or as otherwise herein provided.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New subdivisions in unincorporated Sheldon Township administered under the Iroquois County Subdivision Ordinance.

  • For public sewer, reasonable service by extension is determined by the Iroquois County Board.
  • For public water, reasonable distance is determined by the Iroquois County Board.
  • Where a sewer capable of serving a subdivision is later installed, septic use becomes unlawful and affected properties must connect.

  “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.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision in unincorporated Sheldon Township.

  • An incorporated municipality may regulate subdivisions within its adjacent 1.5-mile area after adopting and recording an official comprehensive plan.
  • Preliminary and final plats must be submitted to the Regional Planning Commission.
  • No subdivision, sale, or listed improvement may proceed before approval, endorsement, and recording.

  “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, except that incorporated municipalities may adopt subdivision regulations to control the platting of subdivisions within the adjacent one and one-half (l -1/2) mile area of their corporate limits after the adoption of an official comprehensive plan, and the recording thereof with the County Clerk.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways intersecting designated arterial roads in the A-1 Agricultural District in unincorporated Sheldon Township, if the parcel is zoned A-1.

  • Exception applies when two driveways are parallel and spaced no more than 10 feet from each other.

  minimum arterial-road driveway spacing: >= 1000 feet (Except two parallel driveways 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.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in floodplains in unincorporated Sheldon Township.

  • Only identified uses are permitted in flood plains regardless of underlying zone.
  • Existing residential, commercial, and industrial uses must comply with County Code Sections 18.45 through 18.48.
  • More restrictive flood-plain regulations control if they conflict with the zoning ordinance.

  “Flood Plain regulations are found beginning at Section 18-41 of the Iroquois County Code. The more restrictive regulation applies in the event of conflict between the Iroquois Zoning Ordinance and the flood plain regulations starting at Section 18-41.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Sheldon Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Sheldon Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Construction and occupancy inside Sheldon Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Sheldon Township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in Sheldon 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.