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

Rules another office applies inside Nora Township

Nora 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 houses, accessory buildings, decks, structural changes, and electrical, plumbing or life-safety work on land inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Permit must be obtained before construction or excavation begins; construction may not start until the permit is issued (county application form).
  • Exception: accessory structures under 120 sq ft with no electrical or plumbing do not need a building permit, but must still meet zoning setbacks (separate claim nora-township-building-permit-small-accessory-exemption).
  • Permit work must start within 6 months and have consistent inspections to remain valid; work started before payment or before issuance can incur penalties.

  “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.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Accessory structures under 120 sq ft with no electrical or plumbing, inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

    “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)

  New construction inside Nora township outside the village of Nora, under the county building code administered by Jo Daviess County Planning & Development

  • Adopted codes listed on the county sheet: International Building Code 2021 with appendix chapter G; International Residential Code 2021 with appendix chapters A, B, C, D, E, G, J, M and Q; International Mechanical Code 2021 with appendix chapter A; International Fuel Gas Code 2021 with appendix chapters A, B and C; State of Illinois Plumbing Code 2014 edition; Illinois Energy Conservation Code (International Energy Conservation Code 2021 as amended by the State of Illinois); 2018 Illinois Accessibility Code; National Electrical Code 2020.
  • The county sheet says the full list of adopted codes with amendments is on the county website.
  • Residents of a municipality should check with local officials on construction rules (county sheet); the village of Nora's own code is not covered by this county adoption.

  “Codes Adopted: The following technical codes are hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance, as if fully set out in this chapter.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings built under a Jo Daviess County building permit inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Final inspection (ready for occupancy) must be called in 24 hours ahead.
  • Flood-hazard projects also need an elevation certificate on the finished construction before the occupancy permit issues.

  “Occupancy and use shall not be allowed until the certificate is issued.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots fronting a township road inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Frontage setbacks on the county sheet: state highway 75 ft from property line / 125 ft from centerline; county road 60 ft / 110 ft; township road 50 ft / 80 ft.
  • The setback is shown on the site plan submitted with the building permit.
  • Accessory structures under 120 sq ft still must meet zoning setbacks.

  frontage setback from property line, township road: 50 ft · frontage setback from road centerline, township road: 80 ft

  “Township Roads: 50 ft from the property line/ 80 ft from the centerline of the roadway”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — AG (agricultural) district lots inside Nora township outside the village of Nora: side and rear setbacks

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

  • Specified — R-1 residential district lots inside Nora township outside the village of Nora: side and rear setbacks

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

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Nonpermeable surface coverage on lots inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • The county sheet states limits exist and says to see the ordinance for the zoning district; numeric percentages were not in the sheet and were not located.

  “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”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Total accessory building area on R-1 district lots inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

    “On lots one acre to one and forty-nine hundredths (1.49) acres: one thousand nine hundred fifty (1,950) square feet;”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems for new homes inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Permit issued by the Jo Daviess County Environmental Health Department (county health department, 9483 route 20 west, Galena, IL 61036).
  • Galena's own private sewage rule applies only inside the city of Galena and is not used here.

  “You or your septic contractor, are required to obtain a septic permit from the Jo Daviess County Environmental Health Department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes with a private septic system inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Septic permit must be issued before the building permit is issued; the health department sends the septic permit to Planning & Development.
  • Health department contact on the county sheet: (815) 777-0283.

  “A septic permit or sign off must be issued prior to the issuance of a building permit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creating lots from a larger parcel inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • County FAQ: subdividing is needed when lots are created from a larger piece and are smaller than 5 acres, or when a new easement of access is created; rezoning may be needed for some uses.
  • County FAQ says the subdividing/rezoning process often takes 90 to 120 days from application, with a planning commission public hearing and final county board decision.

  “Subdividing is needed when lot(s) are being created from a larger piece and are smaller than 5 acres or are creating a new easement of access.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction in a special flood hazard area on land inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Elevation certificate based on construction drawings is required before the building permit is issued.
  • A finished-construction elevation certificate is required before the occupancy permit.
  • Applies only where the project is in an area vulnerable to floodwaters.

  “As part of the Ordinances requirements you must submit an elevation certificate based on your construction drawings prior to issuance of a building permit.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Guest accommodations (short-term rental) on land inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Guest accommodation properties have different requirements than a single-family house; owners should tell the county office so plans can be reviewed for compliance.

  “Properties used in the Guest Accommodations Program (Short Term Rental) do have different requirements than for a single-family house.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permit and zoning certificate fees for work inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

  • Fee is set after permit approval and paid before work starts; no work including excavation may start before payment.
  • Work started before a permit is issued: fees increase 100 percent when in violation.
  • Additional inspection fee $50 per inspection when re-inspection is needed.
  • Schedule is in the county's 2025 requirements sheet (revised 12/30/2024); a later schedule posted on the county website would control.

  building permit fee: 4 USD per $1,000 of cost value (plus $75 application base fee) · application base fee: 75 USD · additional inspection fee: 50 USD per inspection (only when work not ready or continuing violation) · zoning certificate, single-family dwelling: 50 USD

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

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit process for land inside Nora township outside the village of Nora, through Jo Daviess County Planning & Development

  • Review takes about 15 to 20 working days after a completed application packet is received.
  • Submittals: completed application with firm finished-value estimate; plan review checklist; two sets of scaled plans; two copies of survey/site plan; septic permit copy if applicable; address application if needed.
  • Permit work must start within 6 months and have consistent inspections; a new address needs road-authority sign-off on safe access.
  • Solar permits may take longer and need utility interconnect sign-off.

  permit review time: 15 - 20 working days (after completed application packet)

  “Review time is approximately 15 - 20 working days after we have received a completed application packet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed construction inside Nora township outside the village of Nora
• Local zoning — Land inside Nora township's limits outside the village of Nora: whether Nora township itself adopted and administers a zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for land inside Nora township outside the village of Nora
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area on land inside Nora township outside the village of Nora
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area for residential or agricultural parcels inside Nora township outside the village of Nora

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.