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

Rules another office applies inside Bourbonnais Township

Bourbonnais 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Structures and properties in unincorporated land inside Bourbonnais Township.

  • The county guide pertains to unincorporated Kankakee County.
  • The guide states that the County periodically adopts updated codes; it does not identify the currently operative code editions in the quoted passage.

  “Building Codes have been adopted by the County to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all County residents.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land located inside Bourbonnais Township; this does not establish the rules for incorporated municipalities located in the Township.

  • Kankakee County Planning Department jurisdiction is limited to unincorporated County areas.
  • For development within municipal boundaries, the applicable municipality must be contacted.

  “The Kankakee County Planning Department administers the zoning for the unincorporated areas of the County.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Bourbonnais Township subject to Kankakee County zoning.

  • The listed districts are for unincorporated Kankakee County.
  • District assignment must be confirmed for the individual parcel; municipalities generally administer their own zoning.

  published zoning districts: A1 Agriculture; A2 Agricultural Estate; R1 Single-Family Residential; R2 High Density Residential; RE Rural Estate Residence; C1 Restricted Commercial; C2 General Commercial; I1 Restricted Industrial; I2 General Industrial; PL Public Lands; PUD Planned Unit Development (County guide also states there are 10 zoning districts despite listing PUD.)

  “Zoning Districts: A1 - Agriculture A2 - Agricultural Estate R1 - Single-Family Residential R2 - High Density Residential RE - Rural Estate Residence C1 - Restricted Commercial C2 - General Commercial I1 - Restricted Industrial I2 - General Industrial PL - Public Lands PUD - Planned Unit Development”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Any unincorporated Bourbonnais Township parcel subject to Kankakee County zoning; applicable district must be verified by parcel.

  • County zoning is administered for unincorporated areas.
  • The guide says each district has bulk requirements and summarizes minimum lot size and width, but no district-specific numeric lot size was verified in the opened passage.

  “Bulk regulations are the lot size, lot width, lot coverage, floor to area ratio, setbacks, height of structures and off-street parking and loading. Listed on the following pages are the zoning districts, a brief description of their purpose, and a summary of their minimum lot size and width.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Any unincorporated Bourbonnais Township parcel subject to Kankakee County zoning; applicable district must be verified by parcel.

  • County zoning is administered for unincorporated areas.
  • The opened official guide identifies setbacks as bulk regulations but does not provide a verified numerical setback for the parcel.

  “Each zoning district lists permitted and special uses as well as bulk requirements.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Any unincorporated Bourbonnais Township parcel subject to Kankakee County zoning; applicable district must be verified by parcel.

  • County zoning is administered for unincorporated areas.
  • The opened guide identifies lot coverage as a bulk regulation but does not provide the parcel's numeric limit.

  “Each zoning district lists permitted and special uses as well as bulk requirements.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Any unincorporated Bourbonnais Township parcel subject to Kankakee County zoning; applicable district must be verified by parcel.

  • County zoning is administered for unincorporated areas.
  • The opened guide identifies height as a bulk regulation but does not provide the parcel's numeric limit.

  “Each zoning district lists permitted and special uses as well as bulk requirements.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site septic systems inside Bourbonnais Township, subject to any municipality-specific utility or sanitation rules.

  • The source identifies KCHD as the permit issuer and inspector; it does not expressly state a township-specific service boundary.

  “KCHD issues septic system permits, conducts inspections to ensure proper installation, conducts evaluation of existing systems, conducts dye tests to determine possible failures, evaluates findings, and makes recommendations.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals on unincorporated land inside Bourbonnais Township.

  • County Planning Department jurisdiction lies in unincorporated areas.
  • Municipal subdivision procedures are not established by this claim.

  “The Planning Division also gives guidance on zoning changes, subdivision plat reviews, and new development proposals, especially as they relate to overall growth patterns.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County permit and zoning-process applications for unincorporated land inside Bourbonnais Township.

  • Portal states that permit fees can be paid there, but no building-permit fee amount was verified from the opened sources.
  • Zoning and subdivision fees may differ by application type.

  “Farmstead Exemption $100 application fee Natural Resource Inventory Report: Full Report - $400 base fee for 0-5 acres, $15 for each additional acre or part thereof. Letter - $200 processing fee, if staff determines full report is not necessary.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building-permit applications for unincorporated land inside Bourbonnais Township.

  • Applicant must create a one-time personal account to use the online portal.
  • A user access code is needed to schedule or view inspections submitted by that user.

  “Once there, you will need to create a one-time personal account which will allow you to apply for permits, check their status, and submit any required documentation.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Residential owner-builders inside Bourbonnais Township.
• Inspections — Building work in unincorporated land inside Bourbonnais Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Land inside Bourbonnais Township, including incorporated and unincorporated areas.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Bourbonnais Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bourbonnais 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.