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

Rules another office applies inside Allen Township

Allen 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 inside Allen township that requires a LaSalle County building permit; no Allen township building permit was found

  • Construction may not begin before the building permit is issued; beginning early is subject to a penalty of double the permit fee, with each day a separate offense.
  • Applications should be made at least 30 days before anticipated building.
  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from county building code inspections (see agricultural claim).
  • The brochure states the county building permit ordinance applies; it does not itself state a municipal-boundary exception, so confirm no municipality covers the parcel.

  “construction beginning prior to the issuance of a building permit is subject to a penalty of double the permit fee”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Allen township, inspected under the LaSalle County building permit ordinance

  • Inspection calls require 48 hours' notice to schedule.
  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from county building code inspections but still subject to Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing inspections.

  “for permit inspections call 847-510-4104 (allow for 48 hours for inspection to be scheduled)”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of the LaSalle County zoning ordinance, which apply to land inside Allen township where the township has not adopted its own zoning (not confirmed by search)

  • The ordinance divides the unincorporated county into districts by section 6.0; the district maps are adopted by reference in section 6.1 for each township of the county.
  • The section 6.0 district list names R-1 rural residence, but the later residence chapter headings name RR rural residence (section 8.1) and R-2 and R-3; the inconsistency was not resolved from the captured text.

  “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 R-2 single family residence district of unincorporated LaSalle County, including land inside Allen township if the township has no zoning of its own (not confirmed)

  • Lot size depends on whether the lot is served by public sanitary sewer and water or by private systems.
  • Planned unit developments: minimum lot area not required.
  • All other permitted or special uses: not less than one (1) acre except as otherwise required herein.

  minimum zoning lot area, served by public sanitary sewer and water: >= 10000 square feet (single family detached dwellings served by public sanitary sewer and water) · minimum zoning lot area, served by private sanitary or private water systems: >= 1 acre (single family detached dwellings served by private sanitary or private water systems)

  “1. single family detached dwellings: the zoning lot shall be not less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet in size for properties that are served by public sanitary sewer and water and the zoning lot shall not be less than one (1) acre in size for properties served by private sanitary or private water systems.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family detached dwellings in the RR rural residence district of unincorporated LaSalle County, including land inside Allen township if the township has no zoning of its own (not confirmed)

    “1. single family detached dwellings: the zoning lot shall not be less than one (1) acre in size.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings in the RR rural residence district of unincorporated LaSalle County, including land inside Allen township if the township has no zoning of its own (not confirmed)

  • Other structures in the RR district have no height limitation under the cited text.
  • Height limits for the A-1 and R-2 districts were not captured and remain unresolved.

  maximum height, single family detached dwellings: <= 36 feet (all other structures have no height limitation)

  “detached dwellings shall not exceed thirty-six (36) feet in height. all other structures shall have no height limitation.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Living or sleeping use of a recreational vehicle on private land in unincorporated LaSalle County, including inside Allen township if the township has no zoning of its own (not confirmed)

  • Use for living or sleeping is limited to a period not exceeding 180 days in a calendar year.
  • A recreational vehicle shall not be used for living or sleeping purposes for any period of time when located in a subdivision, unincorporated platted town, or on a parcel with an existing residence; unless otherwise permitted by this ordinance.
  • Recreational vehicle is as defined in chapter 3 of the ordinance (not captured).

  maximum living or sleeping use period: <= 180 days per calendar year (subdivisions, unincorporated platted towns, and parcels with an existing residence are excluded)

  “a recreational vehicle, as defined in chapter 3, may be used for living or sleeping purposes for a period not exceeding 180 days in a calendar year.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal (septic) inside Allen township, handled through the LaSalle County Health Department under the state Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code

  • The brochure lists the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code as a requirement before a county building permit issues, with questions directed to the county health department.
  • No Allen township septic rule was found.

  “private sewage disposal licensing act and code water well construction code for more information contact the lasalle county health department at 815-433-3366”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Bona fide agricultural buildings inside Allen township under the LaSalle County building permit ordinance

  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from local county building code inspections.
  • Agricultural buildings are not exempt from building codes and remain subject to Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing inspections (call 309-693-5360).
  • A compliance permit is charged for agricultural buildings ($25.00 per ag exempt application).

  compliance permit fee, agricultural buildings: 25 USD (per ag exempt application)

  “exempt from County building code inspections”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land into lots inside Allen township under the LaSalle County subdivision control ordinance

  • Lots created by subdivision or deed division must make land/cash donations under the county subdivision control ordinance.
  • The county subdivision control ordinance itself was not opened.
  • Plat approval requirements are cross-referenced in sec. 4.3-7 but not captured.

  “such lots, created by subdivision or deed division, shall be required to make land/cash donations in accordance with the lasalle county subdivision control ordinance.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access for a building permit project inside Allen township, under the LaSalle County highway access ordinance

  • The brochure lists the highway access ordinance among county ordinances that must be met before a building permit issues.
  • The highway access ordinance text was not opened; permit terms and fees are not known.

  “lasalle county highway access ordinance for more information contact the lasalle county highway department at 815-434-0743”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development requiring a building permit inside Allen township, which must also meet the county floodplain ordinance

  • The brochure lists the floodplain ordinance among county ordinances that must be met before a building permit is issued.
  • Whether a parcel is in a mapped floodplain was not determined; the floodplain ordinance text was not opened.

  “the following county ordinances must be met before the issuance of a building permit”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for construction inside Allen township under the LaSalle County building permit ordinance

  • Dwelling permit fees are based on square footage and the number of inspections required; the schedule is in Article 6 of the ordinance, which was not opened.
  • All fees are nonrefundable and paid when the permit is issued.
  • Fees are payable to the LaSalle County Treasurer.

  “the fee schedule can be found in the lasalle county building permit ordinance “article 6.””

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for construction inside Allen township under the LaSalle County building permit ordinance

  • Apply at least 30 days before anticipated building.
  • Plans are reviewed by a building inspector, who then notifies the applicant of the permit cost and pick-up.
  • Permit must be posted visibly from the road.
  • The brochure says issuance of a county permit does not exclude other applicable local, state or federal rules.

  “apply for a permit at least 30 days in advance of anticipated building”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home inside Allen township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Allen township
• Local zoning — Whether Allen township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside Allen township limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Allen township
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks for principal buildings inside Allen township, A-1, RR and R-2 districts

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.