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

Rules another office applies inside Wauconda Township

Wauconda 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

  Construction of new structures on land inside Wauconda township that is in unincorporated Lake County

  • Minor items such as re-roofing, re-siding, fences, sheds, hoop houses, bee keeping and keeping chickens may instead be registered, subject to standards and restrictions.
  • Within the Villages of Island Lake, Lake Barrington, Lakemoor, Port Barrington, Volo and Wauconda, the village issues permits instead.

  “A Building Permit is required for any of the following activities in unincorporated Lake County:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New residential construction in unincorporated portions of Wauconda township

  • The adopting ordinance was not opened; adoption is shown by the county's own reference to its building code.
  • Village portions of the township use the building code adopted by their villages.

  “The design hereon was made under my direct supervision and conforms to the Building Code of Lake County, IL.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for unincorporated land inside Wauconda township, administered by Lake County under Chapter 151 (Unified Development Ordinance)

  • Applies only to unincorporated land; the parts of the township within the Villages of Island Lake, Lake Barrington, Lakemoor, Port Barrington, Volo and Wauconda follow those villages' own zoning.
  • The county publishes an online zoning map (Maps Online) and township zoning maps for printing and download; the district list itself was not opened.

  “individual township zoning maps are also available for printing and downloading.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual sewage disposal (septic) systems on land inside Wauconda township, unincorporated portions; the Lake County Health Department reviews septic approvals

  • Value county reflects that the Lake County Health Department (county-level) is the reviewing authority; the state septic code is not separately verified here.
  • Village portions of the township may have their own sewer rules.

  “If the site will contain a septic system (Individual Sewage Disposal (ISD) system) and/or water well, a Lake County Health Department approval is also required.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home sites with a septic system on land inside Wauconda township, unincorporated portions

  • Health department approval is required in addition to the county building permit and site development permit.
  • Health approval stamp required on all sets of building plans for septic-served property (per the county new-house page).

  “Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Construction Permit Application (PDF)”

• Well permitRequired

  New home sites with a private water well on land inside Wauconda township, unincorporated portions

  • Health department approval of the well location and size is required, in addition to the county building permit and site development permit.

  “Water Well Construction and Sealing Permit Application (PDF)”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New home in unincorporated Wauconda township: connection to public sanitary sewer or public water where the agency with jurisdiction provides it

  • The county permit asks for proof of connection payment (if applicable); no mandatory distance or availability threshold was found in the page opened.
  • Agency with jurisdiction for sewer and water connection is not identified on the county page; villages and any sanitary district set their own connection rules.

  “Proof of payment for connection to sanitary sewer from the government agency having jurisdiction (if applicable).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Wauconda township, unincorporated portions only

  • Lake County's UDO covers subdivision in unincorporated Lake County; the village portions of the township are regulated by their own villages.
  • Subdivision procedures and standards in Chapter 151 were not opened.

  “regulations include: zoning subdivision signs site development (stormwater detention, erosion control, floodplain and wetlands)”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction on property in the floodplain in unincorporated Wauconda township

  • The county UDO covers floodplain and wetlands under site development; the floodplain standards in Chapter 151 were not opened.
  • Only applies where the property is in the floodplain/flood table.

  “An additional two (2) complete sets of building plans required if the property is in the floodplain/flood table.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for new construction in unincorporated Wauconda township

  • Fees are based on the volume in cubic feet of new construction, with flat fees for utilities such as electric, heat and plumbing fixtures.
  • The fee schedule is a linked county PDF (land development fee schedule); its amounts were not opened.

  “Permit fees are based on the volume in cubic feet of your new construction. In addition, there are flat fees for building utilities such as electric, heat, plumbing fixtures, etc.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Permit process for a new home in unincorporated Wauconda township

  • Apply in person at the Lake County Central Permit Facility, 500 W Winchester Road, Libertyville, by the owner or an authorized agent.
  • A new single or two family dwelling needs a building permit and a site development permit, with health approval if on septic or well.

  “Your application must be made in person, by either the property owner or authorized agent.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home built by the owner in unincorporated Wauconda township
• Inspections — Construction inspections for land in unincorporated Wauconda township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Wauconda township
• Local zoning — Land inside Wauconda township's limits: whether Wauconda township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district and any agricultural district, unincorporated Wauconda 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.