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

Rules another office applies inside Groveland Township

Groveland 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

  New buildings and specified alterations outside incorporated limits within Groveland Township.

  • Routine maintenance, utility service connections, certain small structures, and mobile homes placed on pads in licensed mobile-home parks are exempt as stated in §4.2.
  • The ordinance excludes property within city, village, or incorporated-town limits.

  “To erect a new building, accessory structure or structure or part thereof without first obtaining a written building permit from the LaSalle County Building Officer.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Non-agricultural construction outside incorporated city, village, and town limits within Groveland Township.

  • The residential code applies to non-agricultural detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories with separate means of egress.
  • Other listed codes apply to specified non-agricultural commercial, industrial, storage, business, institutional-public, and multifamily buildings.

  residential code edition: 2024 International Residential Code (As amended in Article 5; Illinois State Plumbing Code also applies.)

  “The provisions of the Ordinance shall apply whenever a building, accessory structure or structure is constructed outside the limits of cities, villages and incorporated towns of LaSalle County except as hereafter provided.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings subject to Article 5 building-code provisions outside incorporated limits within Groveland Township.

  • The permit holder or agent must notify the Building Officer when work is ready for inspection.
  • Final inspection is before occupancy.

  “Any building, accessory structure or structure that is subject to the Building Code provisions of the Article 5 shall be subject to inspections.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Permitted buildings, accessory structures, and structures outside incorporated limits within Groveland Township.

  • The Building Officer must inspect and find no violations of the Building Code or other laws and ordinances enforced by the County Land Use Department and Health Department.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for a safely occupiable portion for a period set by the Building Officer.

  “No building, accessory structure or structure shall be used or occupied until the Building Officer has issued a certificate of occupancy therefore as provided herein.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land within Groveland Township, subject to the County zoning map classification.

  • The county ordinance applies to unincorporated county area; the actual district of a parcel must be determined from the official zoning map/record.

  “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:”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the County R-2 Single Family Residence District on unincorporated land within Groveland Township, if mapped R-2.

  • 10,000 square feet applies where served by public sanitary sewer and water; one acre applies where served by private sanitary or private water systems.
  • Planned unit developments have no minimum lot area.

  minimum lot area with public sanitary sewer and water: >= 10000 square feet · minimum lot area with private sanitary or private water systems: >= 1 acre

  “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.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles used for living or sleeping on unincorporated land within Groveland Township.

  • Living or sleeping use is limited to 180 days in a calendar year.
  • It is not allowed on a subdivision, unincorporated platted town, or parcel with an existing residence unless otherwise permitted by the ordinance.

  maximum living or sleeping use: <= 180 days per calendar year (Unless otherwise permitted by the 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.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds on unincorporated land within Groveland Township.

  • Campground stays must not exceed 30 days except for campground hosts/managers.
  • An approved Illinois Department of Public Health campground permit is required before County building permits for the site.

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

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

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes intended for permanent habitation on individual lots outside licensed mobile-home parks within Groveland Township.

  • The ordinance excludes city, village, and incorporated-town limits.
  • The rule addresses homes not on a permanent foundation.

  “To set, erect, build, raise, or move into place or otherwise construct a mobile home, manufactured home, modular home, prefabricated home, or any similar structure used for permanent habitation on an individual lot or lots outside of a licensed mobile home park that is not on a permanent foundation and without first obtaining a building permit from LaSalle County.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on unincorporated land within Groveland Township.

  • The unit may be attached or detached on a permanent foundation.
  • Existing two-family or multifamily properties may not have an ADU.
  • Well/septic and building-code requirements apply; no more than two bedrooms, one ADU per lot, owner occupancy, two additional parking spaces, and a recorded owner-occupancy deed restriction are required.

  maximum bedrooms: <= 2 bedrooms · maximum footprint: <= 900 square feet · maximum detached height: <= 35 feet

  “An accessory dwelling unit may be attached to the principal dwelling unit or detached as a standalone structure with a permanent foundation.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems proposed inside Groveland Township.

  • The county application requires an onsite survey before a construction permit is issued.

  “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 inside Groveland Township.

  • Completed application, fee, and onsite survey are prerequisites to issuance.
  • The application states that denied-permit fees are returned.

  application fee: 230 USD (Returned if the permit is 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 system construction inside Groveland Township.

  • The Health Department must be notified before backfilling.

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Building applications and lot divisions on unincorporated land within Groveland Township.

  • Applicants must comply with the County Subdivision Regulations Ordinance.

  “The applicant, including those applying for agricultural buildings, accessory structures or structures must also comply with the following LaSalle County Ordinances: Subdivision Regulations Ordinance, Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, Mobile Home Park Ordinance, Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code, Water Well Construction Act, and the Zoning Ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County building-permit applications for construction outside incorporated limits within Groveland Township.

  • Fees are charged for each building-permit application when approved and are nonrefundable.
  • The $25 compliance fee applies to buildings not subject to Article 5, including agricultural buildings, agricultural accessory structures, agricultural structures, and pools.

  compliance permit application fee: 25 USD per application (For structures not subject to Article 5 Building Code provisions.)

  “To partially defray expenses of administering the ordinance, a fee shall be charged for each building permit application and the fee shall be paid when the application is approved.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building-permit applications for construction outside incorporated limits within Groveland Township.

  • Applications require County permit and zoning applications, a dimensioned site drawing, and premises description.
  • Separate Health Department approval is required before a building permit when water supply or sewage disposal will be installed.
  • County gives written approval or denial within 30 days; a denied applicant has 45 business days to cure deficiencies and resubmit without additional fees.

  written approval or denial notice: <= 30 days after submittal · time to correct denied application: <= 45 business days (Resubmission without additional fees.)

  “All building permit applications shall be reviewed promptly and applicants shall be notified in writing within 30 days of submittal of the application, as to its approval or denial.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Groveland Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Groveland Township, LaSalle County, Illinois.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings on unincorporated land within Groveland Township.
• Setbacks — Residential land within Groveland Township.
• Lot coverage — Residential land within Groveland 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.