Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Council Hill Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside Council Hill Township

Council Hill 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

  Buildings and structures subject to Jo Daviess County building administration inside Council Hill Township.

  • A separate permit is required for each building.
  • The county building officer may reduce or waive plan-submission requirements where plan review is unnecessary; an agricultural-building permit requires only an accurate site plan.
  • One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 120 square feet, other than storm shelters, are exempt from permit requirements.

  “No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge or modify any building or structure, or change the use of any existing building without first obtaining a separate permit therefor, as defined in this chapter, for each such building.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction subject to Jo Daviess County building administration inside Council Hill Township.

  • The County adopted IBC 2021, IRC 2021, NEC 2020, Illinois Plumbing Code 2014, Illinois Accessibility Code 2018, IMC 2021, IFGC 2021, and IECC 2021 as amended by Illinois.
  • County ordinance O2024-4 states an effective date of January 1, 2025.

  International Residential Code edition: 2021

  “The following Technical codes have been adopted and made a part of the Building Code, effective 01/01/2025:”

• InspectionsRequired

  County-permitted building work inside Council Hill Township.

  • Permit holders must give 24 hours' advance notice.
  • Inspections are required at footing forms, framing before siding, rough electric/plumbing/mechanical before insulation, and final completion before moving in.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “All bearers of building permits are required to give the building and zoning administrator twenty four (24) hours' advance notice of the readiness of a particular building unit for inspection following completion of the following stages of construction:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings receiving a County final inspection inside Council Hill Township.

  • The building and zoning administrator must approve the final inspection.
  • Occupancy and use are not allowed until the certificate is issued.

  “Upon approval by the building and zoning administrator, following final inspection, a certificate of occupancy will be signed and given to the owner. Occupancy and use shall not be allowed until the certificate is issued.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts potentially applicable to land inside Council Hill Township; parcel zoning must be confirmed with County Planning and Development.

  • The official County fee schedule identifies General Agricultural, R-1 Rural Residential, R-2 Single-Family Residential, and Planned Residential districts, but the opened materials do not establish the district mapped to a particular Council Hill Township parcel.

  “Rezoning from General Agricultural District to R-1 Rural Residential District, R-2 Single-Family Residential District or Planned Residential District.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  County AG and R-1 district properties inside Council Hill Township, where the County zoning district applies.

  • State-highway frontage setback is 75 feet from the property line or 125 feet from roadway centerline.
  • County-road frontage setback is 60 feet from the property line or 110 feet from roadway centerline.
  • Township-road frontage setback is 50 feet from the property line or 80 feet from roadway centerline.

  AG and R-1 side setback: 20 feet · AG and R-1 rear setback: 40 feet

  “Township Roads: 50 ft from the property line/ 80 ft from the centerline of the roadway [...] Side & Rear Setbacks. (In Ag & R-1, Side setback is 20’, & Rear setback is 40’)”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private septic systems inside Council Hill Township.

  • The County Health Department administers permits and inspections for new and replacement private septic systems.

  “The department staff reviews plans, issues permits, and inspects the construction of new and replacement private septic systems; performs septic evaluations for real estate transactions.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private septic systems and new structures with indoor plumbing inside Council Hill Township.

  • A septic-system installation permit or other written health-department approval is required before a building permit for a new structure with indoor plumbing or mobile-home placement approval.
  • A variance may be requested in writing where state-code and local-ordinance compliance is impractical or impossible.

  “All septic systems are to be permitted, installed by a licensed contractor or homeowner, and inspected to determine if the installation meets applicable state code and local ordinance.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New and replacement private septic-system installations inside Council Hill Township.

  • Inspection determines whether the installation is correctly located, correctly sized, and complies with applicable state code and county ordinance.

  “All septic systems are to be permitted, installed by a licensed contractor or homeowner, and inspected to determine if the installation meets applicable state code and local ordinance.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water wells inside Council Hill Township.

  • A licensed well driller installs the well.
  • The well is inspected for compliance with applicable state code and local ordinance.
  • A written variance may be requested where compliance is impractical or impossible.

  “All private water wells are to be permitted, installed by a licensed well driller, and inspected to determine if the installation meets applicable state code and local ordinance.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision inside Council Hill Township that is not within an incorporated municipality or otherwise exempt.

  • Where jurisdiction overlaps within 1.5 miles of a municipality exercising subdivision control, the applicable jurisdiction is determined by agreement and the highest competing requirement governs.
  • Properties more than 1.5 miles from an annexing municipality and subject to annexation agreements remain under County Board control and County ordinances and codes.

  municipal overlap distance: <= 1.5 miles (municipality exercising subdivision control)

  “This title shall apply to all land in the county not exempted herein or not within an incorporated municipality.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a floodplain inside Council Hill Township.

  • Applies unless exempted by law.
  • The Floodplain Officer cannot issue a permit if development does not meet the flood-damage-prevention chapter.
  • The applicant must provide site, elevation, building, and cost information; other required federal, state, and local approvals must be obtained before issuance.

  “No person, firm, corporation, or governmental body not exempted by law shall commence any development in the floodplain without first obtaining a development permit from the floodplain officer.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Transient rental property inside Council Hill Township subject to County guest-accommodations administration.

  • Applies to rentals of less than 30 consecutive days containing 16 or fewer units.
  • All transient rental property must be County-licensed.
  • A single-family home must obtain a zoning certificate before applying for a guest-accommodations license.
  • The license is annual and must be renewed by December 31.

  transient rental period: < 30 consecutive days · maximum units covered: <= 16 units

  “This ordinance, which went into effect on January 11, 2000, requires that all transient rental property be licensed by the County. The Guest Accommodations Ordinance was designed to provide life-safety standards for all transient rental properties (property rented for a period of less than 30 consecutive days) that contain 16 or fewer units.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  County building permits inside Council Hill Township.

  • The County Board sets building-permit fees.
  • Fees apply to new construction regulated by the chapter.
  • Agricultural buildings may be exempt.

  “Any application for a building permit shall be accompanied by a fee as set by the county board. Fees shall apply to all new construction of any building or structure regulated by this chapter. Agricultural buildings may be exempt.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building-permit applications inside Council Hill Township.

  • Owner or representative files the County form, signed statement of building-unit purpose, and plans.
  • Required plot plan shows locations and distances from lot lines for existing and proposed structures, well, and septic.
  • The County officer may reduce or waive plan submission if review is unnecessary; agricultural buildings require an accurate site plan only.

  “To obtain a permit, the owner or his/her representative shall file an application therefor on a form furnished by the County for that purpose, and said application shall include a signed statement indicating the purpose of the building unit. A set of plans must be furnished at the time of the permit application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Local zoning — Whether Council Hill Township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Council Hill Township.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum residential lot size inside Council Hill Township.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Council Hill Township.
• Building height — Building height inside Council Hill 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.