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

Rules another office applies inside Adams Township

Adams 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

  Commercial projects and the listed residential construction work in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • Residential structures over 200 square feet or larger than 20 feet on any side are included.
  • Residential remodeling requires a permit where structural changes occur.
  • The source also lists signs, fences, pools, solar and wind equipment, and towers.
  • Additional zoning approvals may be necessary depending on project type.

  residential structure area threshold: > 200 square feet (Also applies if larger than 20 feet on any side.)

  “Building permits are required for all commercial projects, all residential structures over 200 square feet or larger than 20 feet on any side, and residential remodeling requires structural changes, signs, fences, pools, solar and wind equipment, and towers.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • Notice states the listed code years were effective January 1, 2025.
  • The notice states major amendments include wind-load updates and deletion of IRC energy-efficiency and sprinkler systems.

  International Residential Code edition: 2024 · National Electrical Code edition: 2023

  “notice: effective january 1, 2025; lasalle county building codes will be updated to the following code years with amendments: international residential code 2024, international building code 2024 international fire code 2024, the international mechanical code 2024, international fuel gas code 2024, and national electrical code 2023.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township; incorporated territory is outside this county rule.

  • The source states that the county ordinance applies to the County's unincorporated area.

  “In order to carry out the purpose and intent of this Ordinance, the unincorporated area of the County is hereby divided into the following districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land in Adams Township; parcel district must be confirmed from the adopted township zoning map.

  • The ordinance says the zoning-district map of each township and all explanatory matter are adopted by reference.

  “In order to carry out the purpose and intent of this Ordinance, the unincorporated area of the County is hereby divided into the following districts: AGRICULTURE DISTRICTS A-1 Agriculture District AC Agriculture-Conservation District RESIDENCE DISTRICTS R-1 Rural Residence District R-2 Single Family Residence District R-3 General Residence District”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the A-1 Agriculture District in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • Applies except as otherwise provided in the ordinance.

  minimum zoning-lot area: >= 35 acres (Single-family detached dwellings in A-1.)

  “Single Family Detached Dwellings: The zoning lot shall be not less than thirty-five (35) acres.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the R-3 General Residence District in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township, if the parcel is mapped R-3.

  • The ordinance separately specifies coverage limits for two-family, multiple-family, mobile-home-park, and other uses.

  maximum zoning-lot coverage: <= 40 percent (Single-family detached dwellings in R-3.)

  “The sum total of the ground area coverage by buildings and structures shall be as follows: 1. Single Family Detached Dwellings: Forty (40) percent.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the R-3 General Residence District in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township, if the parcel is mapped R-3.

  maximum building height: <= 36 feet (Single-family detached dwellings in R-3.)

  “MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS Single Family Detached Dwellings: Not to exceed thirty-six (36) feet in height.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping stays at campgrounds in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • The rule concerns campgrounds, not all private-land camping.
  • Campground hosts/managers are excepted from the 30-day stay maximum.
  • An Illinois Department of Public Health campground permit must be approved before county building permits.
  • Campgrounds with more than 20 sites must have a permanent storm-shelter structure.

  maximum stay: <= 30 days (Campground host/manager(s).)

  “Stays shall not exceed 30 days, with the exception of campground host/manager (s).”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal construction in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • The application identifies the LaSalle County Health Department as the recipient of application, fee, and onsite survey process.

  “A permit for construction will not be issued until a completed application and fee have been submitted to the LaSalle County Health Department and an onsite survey performed by department personnel.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage disposal construction in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • A completed application and fee must be submitted.
  • Department personnel must perform an onsite survey before the construction permit is issued.
  • The stated application fee is returned if the permit is denied.
  • A service fee is assessed for credit- or debit-card payments.

  private sewage disposal permit application fee: 230 USD (Returned if permit is denied.)

  “This is your permit application. There is a two hundred thirty ($230.00) dollar application fee for a private sewage disposal system permit. If a permit is denied, the fee shall be returned to the applicant.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal system construction in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • The Health Department must be notified before backfilling.
  • The designated disposal area must be protected during all construction phases from traffic, soil compaction, and soil removal or addition.

  “The Health Department must be notified for a final inspection sewage disposal system construction before backfilling.”

• Well permitRequired

  New wells in Adams Township, subject to the County Health Department program.

  • The official page states the requirement is prior to construction of a new well.

  “Prior to the construction of a new well, a permit from the Health Department is required to ensure the protection of groundwater.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  All development within the R-3 General Residence District in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township, if a parcel is mapped R-3.

  • Applicability depends on the parcel being in the R-3 General Residence District.

  “All developments within this district shall be served with public sewer and water facilities.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Property subdivision in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • County asks applicants to contact Land Use before subdividing to verify compliance with the county subdivision ordinance, county zoning ordinance, and Illinois Plat Act.

  “Please contact our department prior to subdividing property in order to verify that the split will comply with the LaSalle County Subdivision, LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance, and the Illinois Plat Act.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction occurring in mapped floodplain in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.

  • Construction and modifications may require permits from other local entities and state and federal agencies.

  “The Department enforces the LaSalle County Floodplain Ordinance in the unincorporated areas of the County. All construction occurring in the floodplain requires a permit from the LaSalle County Land Use Department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Construction in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in the unincorporated portion of Adams Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in the unincorporated portion of Adams 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.