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

Rules another office applies inside Hope Township

Hope 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, rebuilding, structural alteration, relocation or significant change of use of structures on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Applies to structures 200 square feet or larger, or with a side of 20 feet or greater.
  • Construction beginning before a permit is issued carries a penalty of double the permit fee.
  • Other county ordinances (subdivision, floodplain, mobile home park, setback, zoning) must be met before a permit issues.

  threshold structure area: >= 200 sq ft (or any structure with a side of 20 feet or greater)

  “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 If…. The Structure is one of the following: 1. 200 s.f. or larger or; 2. has a side of 20 feet or greater”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential and commercial structures in unincorporated Hope township, LaSalle County, that require a county building permit

  • One- and two-family residential: 2024 International Residential Code, 2024 and 2023 National Electric Code as amended by the county board.
  • Non-agricultural commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings: 2024 International Building, Fire, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Existing Building and Energy codes, and 2023 National Electrical Code as amended by the county board.
  • Municipal incorporated areas inside the township are not covered.

  “Residential Structures that require Building Permits are subject to the International Residential Codes - for one and two family dwellings, 2024 and 2023 National Electric Code as amended by the LaSalle County Board.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Structures that receive a county building permit on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Inspections must be scheduled about 48 hours in advance.
  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from county building code inspections but still need Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing inspections.

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

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Unincorporated land inside Hope township, LaSalle County, IL, under the LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance

  • The district boundaries are shown on the county zoning district map of each township of the county; the map for Hope township was not opened.
  • Incorporated municipalities inside the township are not covered by this county ordinance.

  “The location and boundaries of the districts established by this Ordinance are as shown on the Zoning District Map of each township of the County”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New parcels created on private well and septic on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County, in districts other than A-1 (including R-2 single family residence)

  • Guidance from the county land use office: new parcels must comply with the most restrictive applicable minimum lot size.
  • Applies to parcels served by septic and well. Other-district minimums in the zoning table were not extracted.

  minimum lot area, non-A-1 district, septic and well service: >= 1 acres (A-1 district has the 35-acre minimum)

  “All newly created parcels must comply with the LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance, which has the following minimum lot sizes when served by septic/well: A-1 district is a minimum of 35 acres; all other districts are minimum of one acre.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family detached dwellings on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County, in the A-1 Agriculture district

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

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Living or sleeping in a recreational vehicle on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Not allowed for any period when the RV is located in a subdivision, an unincorporated platted town, or on a parcel with an existing residence, unless otherwise permitted by the ordinance.
  • Limit of 180 days per calendar year.

  RV living or sleeping period: <= 180 days per calendar year (not allowed in subdivisions, unincorporated platted towns, or on parcels with an existing residence)

  “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. 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.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping in a recreational vehicle on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Same 180-day-per-calendar-year RV living limit in sec. 4.22.
  • Not allowed in a subdivision, unincorporated platted town, or on a parcel with an existing residence.

  RV living or sleeping period: <= 180 days per calendar year (not allowed in subdivisions, unincorporated platted towns, or on parcels with an existing residence)

  “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.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Bona fide agricultural buildings on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Exempt from county building code inspections only.
  • Still subject to Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing inspections.
  • Compliance permit fee for agriculture buildings is $25.00 per application.

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

  “Agricultural buildings are exempt from local county building code inspections, however, they are not exempt from building codes and are still subject to Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing inspections.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creating new parcels or splits on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • New parcels must comply with the county zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance and the Illinois Plat Act.
  • Two splits of 2 acres with 150 feet of public road frontage each are allowed without subdivision process; remaining parcels must be at least 5 acres with 150 feet of frontage.
  • Subdivision ordinance exemptions and variances apply.

  “The subdivision ordinance allows a maximum of two splits of 2 acres and 150’ of public road frontage each without going through subdivision process or meeting an exception/variance. Any remaining parcels must be a minimum of 5 acres and 150’ of public road frontage.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway or road access for new construction on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Must satisfy the county highway access ordinance before a building permit issues.
  • Contact the county highway department for details.

  “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

  Construction on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County, where the floodplain ordinance applies

  • Must satisfy the county floodplain ordinance before a building permit issues.
  • The floodplain map and the extent of the regulated area were not checked.

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

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  County building permit fees on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Fee is set by the building inspector after plan review, paid when the permit is issued, and is non-refundable.
  • Fee schedule for one- and two-family dwellings is in Article 6 of the county building permit ordinance, not opened.

  “After the plans are reviewed by a building inspector, the inspector will notify the applicant that the permit is ready to be picked up and will provide the cost of the permit.”

• Permit processPartial

  County building permit application process on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

  • Apply at least 30 days before construction.
  • Applicant must comply with all listed county ordinances before applying; permit is denied if any is violated.
  • Permit must be posted visibly from the road.

  application lead time: >= 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 Hope Township or LaSalle County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from county building permit requirements on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County
• Local zoning — Whether Hope township (LaSalle County, IL) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage on unincorporated land in Hope township, LaSalle County

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.