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

Yellowhead Township’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Building activity on unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township.

  • The County says activity may require a permit and lists examples including new homes, manufactured homes, additions, water and sewer lines, and demolition.
  • The page instructs applicants to contact County staff if uncertain whether a specific project requires a permit.

  “Building activity in the unincorporated areas of the County may require a building permit.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Homeowners completing their own work on unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township.

  • This is an exemption from County contractor registration only; it does not establish an exemption from building permits, zoning, inspections, or other requirements.

  “Homeowners completing their own work are not required to be registered by the County”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction on unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township subject to Kankakee County building regulation.

  • The handbook lists code editions but says the County periodically adopts updated codes; confirm current adopted edition with County staff.

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

• InspectionsRequired

  County-permitted construction on unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township.

  • Residential inspection requirements may differ from non-residential projects.
  • Inspection timing is subject to County scheduling and availability.

  “Inspections are required periodically throughout the construction period.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township; the applicable zoning is administered by Kankakee County, not shown by the official sources to be a township-adopted ordinance.

  • This conclusion applies only where land inside Yellowhead Township is unincorporated.
  • The County handbook directs properties in municipalities to the relevant municipality, except specified villages.

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township subject to the Kankakee County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The applicable district for a particular parcel must be confirmed from the current County zoning map or Planning Department.
  • The handbook says there are 10 zoning districts for unincorporated Kankakee County.

  “there are 10 zoning districts for the unincorporated areas of kankakee county.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Existing farmsteads in the County A1-Agriculture District inside unincorporated Yellowhead Township.

  • The farmstead must have been standing on the application date and constructed before July 9, 2002.
  • The application has lot-size, lot-width, and setback requirements.
  • All divisions must comply with the Illinois Plat Act.

  “in order to be eligible for a farmstead exemption, the farmstead must be standing on the date of application and have been constructed prior to july 9, 2002.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions on unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township.

  • The County regulations cited apply to subdivisions in unincorporated Kankakee County.
  • All subdivisions must submit an IDNR EcoCAT results report at filing for preliminary plat.
  • A final plat may be approved after improvements are complete or a bond or irrevocable letter of credit for 110% of unfinished-improvement cost is submitted.

  minor subdivision fee: 250 USD (plus $20 per lot) · major subdivision fee: 600 USD (plus $20 per lot)

  “on December 9, 2008 the County Board approved new regulations for subdivisions in unincorporated Kankakee County.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Parcels being subdivided on unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township.

  • This evidence addresses subdivision parcels and County Zoning Ordinance section 4.09; it does not establish a separate driveway permit for every existing parcel.

  “the parcels must comply with driveway spacing requirements, as regulated in section 4.09 of the zoning ordinance.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in flood-prone areas on unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township.

  • A base flood-elevation survey from an Illinois licensed engineer or surveyor is required for proposed development in floodplain areas.
  • County staff determines whether the site is subject to floodplain regulations and plans may need adjustment.

  “Development within floodprone areas are subject to special review and issuance of a floodplain permit.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for unincorporated land inside Yellowhead Township.

  • Applicants must create a one-time personal account to apply online, check status, and submit required documentation.
  • County handbook says plan submission is required to obtain a building permit.

  “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.”

Rules another office applies inside Yellowhead Township

Yellowhead Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Onsite septic systems inside Yellowhead Township.

  • Kankakee County Health Department administers the septic program; its page links to the Illinois septic code.

  “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.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of septic systems inside Yellowhead Township.

  • The cited Health Department program issues the permit and conducts installation inspections.

  “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.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of septic systems inside Yellowhead Township.

  • Existing-system evaluations and dye tests are also conducted by KCHD.

  “conducts inspections to ensure proper installation”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction of private wells inside Yellowhead Township where public water is not available.

  • The official program limits this statement to areas where public water is not available.
  • KCHD conducts installation inspections.

  “KCHD issues well permits for the construction of private wells in areas where public water is not available, conducting inspections to assure proper installation.”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Yellowhead Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Yellowhead Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Yellowhead Township.
• Setbacks — Principal structures inside Yellowhead Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Yellowhead 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.