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

Rules another office applies inside Earl Township

Earl 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

  Buildings and accessory structures in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Structures under 200 s.f. with no side 20 feet or greater, and inside a corporate city or village boundary, do not need a county permit.
  • Construction started before permit issuance is subject to a penalty of double the permit fee.
  • Agricultural buildings need a building permit and zoning certificate but are exempt from county building code inspections and fees.

  “BUILDING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED FOR: Any…. Building, Accessory Structure, Structure, Deck, Rebuilding, Structurally Altering, Adding to, Relocation, or significant change of use, of structure in unincorporated LaSalle County”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New construction inside unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Residential structures use the International Residential Code; 2024 and 2023 National Electrical Code as amended by the county board.
  • Non-agricultural commercial and multi-family buildings use the 2024 International Building Code family and 2023 National Electrical Code as amended.
  • Does not apply inside incorporated municipalities.

  “Residential Structures that require Building Permits are subject to the International Residential Codes”

• InspectionsRequired

  Structures receiving county building permits in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Agricultural buildings declared bona fide agricultural structures are exempt from county building code inspections.

  “Building Code inspections will apply to all structures which receive Building Permits.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of new or altered structures receiving county building permits in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Occupancy permit issued after final passing inspection.
  • Health department approval of well and septic must be certified to the building inspectors before an occupancy permit is issued.

  “occupancy and use of a structure (which includes but is not limited to moving furniture and personal items into the structure) is forbidden without an occupancy permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Earl township (LaSalle County zoning, administered by the county; not an Earl township ordinance). The county ordinance covers all unincorporated property in the county; the City of Earlville and other incorporated areas are excluded.

  • Not an Earl township ordinance; no township-adopted zoning was found.
  • Zoning districts are shown on a zoning district map of each township of the county.

  “It is hereby declared that the provisions of this Ordinance shall apply to all properties in unincorporated LaSalle County as hereinafter specifically provided:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-2 single family residence district, unincorporated land of Earl township: single-family detached dwellings

  • Lot size depends on whether the property is served by public sanitary sewer and water or by private systems.

  minimum lot area with public sewer and water: >= 10000 sq ft (served by public sanitary sewer and water) · minimum lot area with private sewer or water: >= 1 acre (served by private sanitary or private water systems)

  “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.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 agriculture district, unincorporated land of Earl township: single-family detached dwellings

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

  • Specified — RR rural residence district, unincorporated land of Earl township: single-family detached dwellings

    “Single Family Detached Dwellings: The zoning lot shall not be less than one (1) acre in size.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-1 agriculture district, unincorporated land of Earl township: front yard depends on road classification

  • County roads: 85 feet; state roads: 100 feet, each measured from the roadway centerline.
  • Front yard setback must be at least 30 feet from the edge of the right-of-way or roadway easement.
  • Side and rear yards are measured from the property line.

  front yard setback, township road: 70 feet from road centerline (county road 85 ft; state road 100 ft)

  “Properties facing township roadways have a seventy (70) foot setback from the centerline of the roadway.”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-1 agriculture district, unincorporated land of Earl township: dwellings and small lots

  • Non-dwelling buildings on zoning lots of one acre or more have no height limitation.

  maximum dwelling height: <= 36 feet (on lots under one acre and all dwelling-unit buildings)

  “On zoning lots with less than one (1) Acre of land area, and on all buildings used as dwelling units the building height shall not exceed thirty-six (36) feet in height.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles used for living or sleeping on private land in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • 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.
  • Applies to county zoning only; not an Earl township rule.

  maximum living or sleeping use: <= 180 days per calendar year (unless otherwise permitted by this ordinance)

  “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 systems on land inside Earl township, administered by the LaSalle County Health Department (county rule; the health department's service area is not stated separately on the page)

  • State Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code and Water Well Construction Code also apply (cited in county brochure).

  “The program requires that all installations and/or repairs of individual sewage disposal systems be permitted and inspected by an Environmental Health Practitioner.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage disposal systems on land inside Earl township, issued by the LaSalle County Health Department

  • Plat of survey, plot plan and soil investigation report must be submitted.
  • Onsite survey by health department personnel is required before a construction permit is issued.
  • Fee may be paid online or by check to the health department.

  application fee: 230 USD (fee returned if permit denied)

  “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 inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems constructed on land inside Earl township

  • Inspection statement covers whether the system meets Illinois Department of Public Health standards; the county does not guarantee the system.
  • Site area must be protected from traffic and soil compaction during construction.

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

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private on-site sewage systems on land inside Earl township

  • Permitted only through the LaSalle County Health Department permit process and inspection.
  • Area designated for the system must be protected prior to and during construction.

  “The program requires that all installations and/or repairs of individual sewage disposal systems be permitted and inspected by an Environmental Health Practitioner.”

• Well permitRequired

  Water wells serving new construction on land inside Earl township, through the LaSalle County Health Department

  • Approved well permit must be attached to the county building permit application.
  • Water Well Construction Code (state) also applies.

  “Copy of approved Well Permit from LaSalle County Health Department”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Bona fide agricultural buildings in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Requires proof of gross agricultural income and a sworn affidavit from the owner.
  • Exempt from county building code inspections and building code fees, but not from setbacks or other rules.

  minimum annual gross agricultural income: >= 5000 USD

  “If these structures are declared Bona Fide Agriculture Structures and will be used for agricultural purposes they are exempt from County building code inspections and building code fees.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and house construction in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Accessory building and house construction permits in platted subdivisions require compliance with the county subdivision ordinance.
  • Parcel creation requires the county's new parcel split requirements (not reviewed here).

  “Proposed subdivisions are also reviewed to ensure proper disposal of domestic sewage.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway and highway access for building permits in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Highway access ordinance compliance is a precondition for the building permit; the ordinance text was not opened, so driveway standards are not stated here.

  “In addition to the LaSalle County Building Permit Ordinance, the following County Ordinances must be met before the issuance of a building permit: [...] LaSalle County Highway Access Ordinance”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Building permits for structures in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • County floodplain ordinance must be met before a building permit issues; the floodplain ordinance text was not opened.

  “In addition to the LaSalle County Building Permit Ordinance, the following County Ordinances must be met before the issuance of a building permit: [...] Floodplain Ordinance”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  County building permits for structures in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Fee schedule is in the county building permit ordinance, article 6; not reproduced in the brochure.
  • Agricultural exempt compliance fee is a separate $25.00 fee (not a building permit fee).

  “THE PRICE OF THE PERMIT IS FIGURED BY THE BUILDING INSPECTOR ONCE THE BUILDING PLANS ARE REVIEWED.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building permit applications for structures in unincorporated land of Earl township

  • Application must include building permit application, two sets of construction documents, site diagram, approved well and septic permits, and stamped truss certificates where trusses are used.
  • Inspections are scheduled by phone at least 48 hours ahead.

  minimum lead time before construction: >= 30 days

  “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 Earl Township or LaSalle County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in unincorporated land of Earl township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated land of Earl township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in unincorporated land of Earl township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated land of Earl township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy in unincorporated land of Earl 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.