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

Rules another office applies inside Hanover Township

Hanover 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 on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • The County Building Officer may reduce or waive plan-submission requirements when review is unnecessary for compliance.
  • For an agricultural building, only an accurate site plan is needed.
  • Accessory structures under 120 square feet with no electrical or plumbing do not require a building permit but must comply with zoning setbacks.

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

  “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”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Private septic-system installation inside Hanover Township; this is not evidence of a general building-permit owner-builder exemption.

  • System remains subject to permitting, inspection, applicable state code, and local 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.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township administered by Jo Daviess County.

  • The county document states the listed technical codes were effective 01/01/2025.
  • The document lists the 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2014 Illinois Plumbing Code, 2021 Illinois Energy Conservation Code, 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code, and 2020 NEC.

  code effective date: 01/01/2025

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

• InspectionsRequired

  County-permitted construction on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • Owner or contractor must contact Planning and Development for all inspections.
  • The published checklist calls for footing, framing, rough mechanical/electrical, post-insulation for 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.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Hanover Township; the rule-maker is Jo Daviess County, not Hanover Township.

  • This evidence establishes a county zoning ordinance; it does not establish that Hanover Township itself adopted or administers an ordinance.
  • Incorporated areas inside the township may be subject to their own municipal rules.

  “the unincorporated portions of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, are hereby organized in the following districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts applicable to unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • This research opened the officially published County zoning code title but did not complete district-by-district extraction.

  “AG Agricultural district R-1 Single-family residential district”

• SetbacksSpecified

  AG and R-1 districts on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • The building-permit checklist also identifies distinct frontage setbacks for state, county, and township roads.

  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’)”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles stored on residential premises on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • The 30-day limitation applies while the RV is stored on the premises.
  • A separate emergency-shelter permit pathway applies after fire or natural disaster.

  maximum living or sleeping use while stored: <= 30 days per calendar year

  “exceeding thirty (30) days in a calendar year”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes located in flood-regulated areas inside Hanover Township.

  • The quoted building-protection requirements apply to installation on a new site or of a new manufactured home on an existing site.
  • They do not apply to returning a manufactured home to the site it lawfully occupied before removal to avoid flood damage.

  “Installing a manufactured home on a new site or a new manufactured home on an existing site.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Hanover Township.

  • County staff administer permits and inspections under applicable state code and county ordinance.

  “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 inside Hanover Township.

  • A variance may be requested by written proposal where compliance with state-code and local-ordinance requirements is impractical or impossible.
  • The County checklist states a septic permit or sign-off must issue before a building permit.

  “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 or replacement private septic installations inside Hanover Township.

  • Inspection checks location, sizing, and compliance with applicable 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.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water wells inside Hanover Township, except community water wells.

  • The state program operates through agreements with local health departments.
  • The source excludes community water wells.

  “issue permits for new well construction, and inspect wells”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New addresses and driveway access inside Hanover Township.

  • The applicable agency can be the County Highway Department, Township Road Commissioner, or Illinois Department of Transportation, depending on road jurisdiction.
  • The road authority must sign off that the address location has safe access.

  “Prior to an address being issued, the Road Authority will need to sign off that the location has a safe access. (Address Applications should be submitted with the building permit, when a new address is needed.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Properties used for the County Guest Accommodations Program (short-term rentals) on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • Short-term-rental properties have requirements different from a single-family house.
  • Applicants must notify the office so plans can be reviewed for program compliance.

  “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 feesPublished (with conditions)

  County building and flood-area development permits for unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • No work, including excavation, may start before payment.
  • The published schedule lists a $75 application base fee, $4 per $1,000 cost value, and $100 flood-area-development permit fee.

  application base fee: 75 USD · building permit fee: per 4 USD per $1,000 cost value · flood area development permit: 100 USD

  “Flood Area Development Permit --------------------------------$100.00 Application fee (Base Fee) ------------------------------------------------$ 75.00 Building Permit fee Schedule $4.00 per thousand dollar cost value (Value x 0.004)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building permits for unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.

  • The listed review time is approximate and begins after receipt of a completed application packet.
  • Solar permits may take longer and require energy-company interconnect sign-off before approval.
  • Work may not start before fee payment.

  review time: 15-20 working days (After receipt of a completed application packet.)

  “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 Hanover Township or Jo Daviess County directly.

• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.
• Building height — Buildings on unincorporated land inside Hanover Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary tent camping on private land inside Hanover Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy on unincorporated land inside Hanover 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.