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

Rules another office applies inside Manlius Township

Manlius 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Projects subject to LaSalle County construction permitting on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • The county notice states the update was effective January 1, 2025.
  • Major amendments include a 105-mph wind load and deletion of IRC energy-efficiency and sprinkler systems.

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

  “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.”

• InspectionsRequired

  All structures receiving a LaSalle County building permit on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • The county identifies Safebuilt as its building-inspection contractor.
  • The Land Use page says inspections are currently remote video inspections.

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

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy and use of structures subject to the county building-permit regime on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • An occupancy permit follows a passing final inspection.
  • Health Department response/approval certification for the well and septic is required before issuance; the brochure says it takes at least 48 hours.

  “Occupancy and use of a structure [...] is forbidden without an Occupancy Permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Manlius Township; the county ordinance applies outside incorporated cities, villages, and towns with municipal zoning.

  • Does not establish that Manlius Township itself adopted or administers a township zoning ordinance.
  • Incorporated areas and areas with municipal zoning are outside this county zoning scope.

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Most county zoning districts on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • The county page qualifies these as applying in most zoning districts; district-specific variations may apply.

  township-road centerline setback: >= 70 feet (Most zoning districts.) · county-road centerline setback: >= 85 feet (Most zoning districts.) · state/federal-route centerline setback: >= 100 feet (Most zoning districts.) · side/rear-yard setback: >= 10 feet (Most zoning districts.)

  “Building setbacks in most zoning districts are 70 feet from Township Road centerline, 85 feet from County Road centerline, 100 feet from State/Federal Route centerline, and 10 feet from side/rear yards.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Unincorporated Manlius Township parcels mapped A-C Agriculture Conservation District.

  • Transient or travel trailers, motor homes, and other camping facilities require prior special-use approval after a public hearing under Chapter 14.

  “S. TRANSIENT OR TRAVEL TRAILERS, MOTOR HOMES and other CAMPING FACILITIES.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Unincorporated Manlius Township parcels mapped A-C Agriculture Conservation District.

  • Campgrounds and transient/travel-trailer, motor-home, and other camping facilities are listed special uses requiring prior approval after a public hearing under Chapter 14.

  “The following Special Uses require prior approval after a public hearing in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 14.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Unincorporated Manlius Township parcels mapped A-C Agriculture Conservation District.

  • Accessory dwelling units are special uses requiring prior approval after a public hearing under Chapter 14.

  “The following Special Uses require prior approval after a public hearing in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 14.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Manlius Township, subject to the LaSalle County Health Department's countywide program.

  • The cited application concerns private sewage disposal systems.
  • The application identifies LaSalle County Health Department as the receiving and inspecting body.

  “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

  Construction of a private sewage disposal system inside Manlius Township.

  • A completed application, fee, and onsite survey by department personnel are prerequisites to issuance.
  • If denied, the stated application fee is returned.
  • A credit- or debit-card payment incurs a service fee.

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

  “There is a two hundred thirty ($230.00) dollar application fee for a private sewage disposal system permit.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal-system construction inside Manlius Township.

  • The Health Department must be notified before backfilling.
  • The resulting inspection is a statement of whether the system meets current Illinois Department of Public Health standards, not a warranty.

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

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal systems serving property inside Manlius Township.

  • Private sewage disposal construction requires the county Health Department's permit process and onsite survey.
  • The designated sewage-disposal area must be protected during all construction phases under the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code.

  “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.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction, modification, or sealing of water wells inside Manlius Township.

  • Permit applications must be written on Health Department forms and submitted to the Health Officer.
  • A permit is valid for one year from issuance and becomes void if construction or reconstruction has not started within that period.
  • The Health Department may refuse a permit where public or community water is available.

  permit validity: 1 year (Void if construction and/or reconstruction has not started within that period.)

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, modify, and/or seal any water well within the County unless he holds a valid permit issued by the Health Department.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New water-well proposals inside Manlius Township.

  • The Health Department may refuse a well permit where public or community water is available.
  • For this provision, availability includes an adjoining or abutting public-water line, or a practical permitted connection within 300 feet for a single-family residence or 1,000 feet for a commercial establishment, subdivision, or multifamily dwelling.
  • This source does not establish a sewer-connection mandate.

  single-family reasonable public-water distance: <= 300 feet (For a single-family residence.) · commercial, subdivision, or multifamily reasonable public-water distance: <= 1000 feet (For a commercial establishment, subdivision, or multi-family dwelling.)

  “The Health Department may refuse to grant a permit for the construction of a water well where a public or community water system is available.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Bona fide agricultural structures on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • Structures still require a building permit and zoning certificate.
  • The exemption is from county building-code inspections and building-code fees, not from setbacks or other applicable local, state, or federal regulation.
  • The agricultural operation must produce gross income of $5,000 or more, and proof of income from the preceding calendar year is required.

  minimum agricultural gross income: >= 5000 USD (Bona fide agricultural use; proof of preceding-calendar-year income is required.) · agriculture exempt fee: 25 USD (Compliance review fee; not a building-permit fee.)

  “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)

  Property splits and subdivisions on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • The county directs owners 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.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Guest-accommodation/rental-home use on unincorporated Manlius Township parcels mapped A-C Agriculture Conservation District.

  • Guest accommodations are a special use requiring prior approval after a public hearing.
  • Occupancy is capped at the lesser of two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons, maximum 12, or one person per 100 gallons/day of septic design capacity.
  • Occupant load must be posted and cannot be exceeded.

  maximum general guest-accommodation occupancy: <= 12 occupants per building (Also limited by two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons and septic design capacity.) · septic-capacity occupancy ratio: per 1 person per 100 gallons per day (Whichever occupancy limit is smaller.)

  “The occupant load of each guestroom, lodging or rooming house or rental home shall be posted in a prominent location, and the occupant load shall not be exceeded.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  LaSalle County building-permit applications for unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • A fee is charged for each application and is paid when the permit is issued and picked up.
  • Following plan review, the inspector provides the permit cost.
  • The brochure directs readers to Article 6 of the Building Permit Ordinance for fee schedules.

  bona fide agriculture compliance application: 25 USD (The brochure states this is not a building-permit fee.)

  “a fee shall be charged for each building permit application and the fee shall be paid when the permit is issued and picked up.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building-permit applications for unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.

  • Apply at least 30 days before anticipated building.
  • Applications missing any appropriate information and attachments are not accepted.
  • The brochure lists construction documents, a site diagram, approved well and septic permits, and truss certificates where applicable as attachments.

  recommended advance application period: >= 30 days (Before anticipated building.)

  “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 Manlius Township or LaSalle County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots on unincorporated land inside Manlius Township.
• Building height — Principal dwellings and buildings on unincorporated land inside Manlius 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.