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

Rules another office applies inside Elizabeth Township

Elizabeth 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

  New construction and listed work administered by Jo Daviess County on unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township.

  • Accessory structures under 120 square feet with no electrical or plumbing do not require a building permit but must comply with zoning setbacks.
  • A septic permit or sign-off must issue before a building permit where septic applies.

  accessory-structure exemption threshold: < 120 square feet (Only if the structure contains no electrical or plumbing.)

  “A permit must be obtained prior to beginning any construction or excavation. This include: New Houses, Accessory Buildings, Decks, Structural Changes or Repair, any work that involves electrical wiring, plumbing, and/or life safety codes. Accessory structures that are less than 120 square ft. & contain no electrical or plumbing, do not require a building permit; however, still must comply with the zoning setbacks.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction subject to Jo Daviess County building administration on unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township.

  • The county adopted the 2021 International Building Code and 2021 International Residential Code among its technical codes.
  • County code identifies the Jo Daviess County Planning and Development Department as the Department of Building Safety.

  “1. Building Code: International Building Code 2021 edition, including appendix Chapter G (see international building code section 101.2.1, 2021 edition), published by the International Code Council, Inc. 2. Residential Code: International Residential Code 2021 edition, including appendix chapters A, B, C, D, E, G, J, M, and Q, (see international residential code section R101.2.1, 2021 edition), published by the International Code Council, Inc.”

• InspectionsRequired

  County-permitted construction on unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township.

  • Owner or contractor must contact Planning and Development for all inspections.
  • The cited schedule includes footing, framing, rough mechanical/electrical, post-insulation conditioned-space, and final inspections.

  “Inspections are required. Call the Planning & Development Department at (815) 591-3810 before the work is ready. Allow as much time for scheduling as practical. It is the responsibility of the owner or contractor to contact the Planning & Development Office for any and all inspections.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township; this is Jo Daviess County zoning, not an Elizabeth Township ordinance and not the incorporated Village of Elizabeth.

  • County zoning map applies to unincorporated areas of Jo Daviess County.

  “ZONING MAP: The map adopted by the County Board in accordance with 55 Illinois Compiled Statutes or any other statute enacted in lieu thereof showing all zoning district boundaries in the unincorporated areas of Jo Daviess County, Illinois.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township; parcel-specific district must be confirmed from the County zoning map or Planning and Development Department.

  • County zoning map shows district boundaries only in unincorporated areas of Jo Daviess County.
  • Opened materials identify AG and R-1 as districts but did not provide a complete applicable map or district table for Elizabeth Township.

  “ZONING MAP: The map adopted by the County Board in accordance with 55 Illinois Compiled Statutes or any other statute enacted in lieu thereof showing all zoning district boundaries in the unincorporated areas of Jo Daviess County, Illinois.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  AG and R-1 districts on unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township, if the parcel is mapped in either district.

  • The cited requirements-page statement applies only to AG and R-1.
  • Road-frontage setbacks vary by road authority.

  side setback: 20 feet (AG and R-1 districts.) · rear setback: 40 feet (AG and R-1 districts.)

  “Side & Rear Setbacks. (In Ag & R-1, Side setback is 20’, & Rear setback is 40’)”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township subject to Jo Daviess County zoning.

  • Applicable limit depends on the parcel's zoning district.

  “Jo Daviess County does have limits on how much of your land can be covered in non-permeable surface. Please see the ordinance for your zoning district, or call the Planning & Development office to see what your property has”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured/mobile-home placement on unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township subject to County Health Department private-sewage review.

  • Private sewage disposal installation permit or other written Health Department approval must be obtained before a mobile-home placement is approved.

  “No building permit for new structures with indoor plumbing facilities shall be issued nor any mobile home placement approved until a private sewage disposal system installation permit or other written approval shall be obtained from the health department.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private septic systems on land inside Elizabeth Township served by the Jo Daviess County Health Department.

  • Systems must meet applicable state code and local ordinance.
  • The county page identifies its department staff as issuing permits and inspecting construction.

  “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 inspectionRequired

  New or replacement private septic systems inside Elizabeth Township served by the Jo Daviess County Health Department.

  • Inspection follows completion of installation and checks location, sizing, and compliance with state code and county ordinance.

  “Inspection - once the septic installation contractor has completed the septic installation, an inspection takes place to check if the system was installed in the correct location, is sized properly, and meets applicable state code and county ordinance.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Building-permit fees for agricultural buildings on county-administered unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township.

  • The code states agricultural buildings may be exempt; it does not establish an automatic exemption.

  “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.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Properties inside Elizabeth Township participating in the Jo Daviess County Guest Accommodations Program.

  • County must review plans for compliance because guest accommodations have different requirements from a single-family house.

  “Properties used in the Guest Accommodations Program (Short Term Rental) do have different requirements than for a single-family house. If you are considering this program, let our office know so we can review your plans for compliance with this program.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building-permit fees on county-administered unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township.

  • Fee is set by the County Board.
  • 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 for unincorporated land inside Elizabeth Township.

  • Review is approximately 15–20 working days after receipt of a completed packet.
  • Solar permits may take longer and require energy-company interconnect sign-off.
  • No work, including excavation, may start before payment.
  • Work must start within six months and have consistent inspections to remain valid.

  review time: 15-20 working days (After receipt of a completed application packet; solar may take longer.)

  “Review time is approximately 15 - 20 working days after we have received a completed application packet. Solar permits might take longer and will require interconnect sign off from the energy company prior to approval.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building construction inside Elizabeth Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Elizabeth Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Elizabeth Township.
• Building height — Buildings inside Elizabeth Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Elizabeth 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.