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

Rules another office applies inside Meriden Township

Meriden 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 structures in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township outside any incorporated municipality

  • Permit required for all commercial projects, residential structures over 200 square feet, and structures larger than 20 feet on any side; additional zoning approvals may be needed.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit issues.
  • Work started before a permit is issued is subject to a penalty of double the permit fee.

  residential structure size threshold for permit: > 200 square feet (or any structure larger than 20 feet on any side)

  “building permits are required for all commercial projects, all residential structures over 200 square feet or larger than 20 feet on any side”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township outside any incorporated municipality

  • Adopted with amendments as stated by the county; the Land Use page lists the code years and notes major amendments such as a 105 mph wind load.

  adopted international residential code edition: 2024 year

  “effective january 1, 2025; lasalle county building codes will be updated to the following code years with amendments: international residential code 2024”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township outside any incorporated municipality

  • Inspections are scheduled through the county's building inspection contractor (SafeBuilt per the Land Use page); the Land Use page says inspections are currently done by remote video.
  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from county building code inspections but remain subject to state plumbing inspections.

  “*building code inspections will apply to all structures which receive building permits.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of new structures in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township outside any incorporated municipality

  • Occupancy permit issued by the building inspectors after a passing final inspection.
  • The owner must certify to the building inspectors that the county health department has approved the well and septic 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)

  Land inside Meriden township limits that is outside any incorporated municipality. The zoning ordinance in force is LaSalle County's, administered by the county Land Use Department.

  • The county ordinance applies to all properties in unincorporated LaSalle County as stated in its scope section.
  • No official page showing that Meriden township itself adopted a zoning ordinance was located, so this claim does not establish township zoning.
  • The village of Meriden, if incorporated within the township, is not covered by this claim and was not researched.

  “it is hereby declared that the provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all properties in unincorporated lasalle county”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts applying to unincorporated land in Meriden township

  • Districts: A-1 agriculture, AC agriculture-conservation, RR rural residence, R-2 single family residence, R-3 general residence, B-1 local business, B-2 general business, I-1 industrial.
  • District boundaries are shown on the county zoning district map for each township, which is adopted by reference.

  “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

  A-1 agriculture district, single-family detached dwelling lots in unincorporated Meriden township

  • Lot width of at least 150 feet is also required for single-family detached dwellings in the A-1 district.
  • The 35-acre minimum applies to the zoning lot.

  minimum zoning lot area, single-family detached dwelling: >= 35 acres

  “single family detached dwellings: the zoning lot shall be not less than thirty-five (35) acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Building setbacks in most county zoning districts in unincorporated Meriden township; the Land Use page does not name each district, and the R-2 and A-1 yard tables were not opened

  • Setbacks are measured from road centerlines, not from the right-of-way edge.
  • The sentence says 'most' zoning districts, so the district yard tables control where they differ.

  front setback from township road centerline: 70 feet (most zoning districts) · front setback from county road centerline: 85 feet (most zoning districts) · front setback from state or federal route centerline: 100 feet (most zoning districts) · side and rear 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.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Accessory buildings and structures in the R-2 single family residence district in unincorporated Meriden township

  • The same 15-foot limit applies to the R-3 general residential district.
  • Noncommercial radio and television towers, antennas, and hangar accessory buildings follow the residential height rules instead.

  maximum height of accessory building or structure in R-2: <= 15 feet (noncommercial radio and television towers and antennas and accessory buildings containing hangar space follow the residential height requirements)

  “in the r-2 single family residence district and the r-3 general residential district, no accessory building or structure shall exceed fifteen feet (15) feet in height.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Living or sleeping in a recreational vehicle on private land in unincorporated Meriden township

  • Not allowed in a subdivision, an unincorporated platted town, or on a parcel with an existing residence, unless otherwise permitted by the ordinance.
  • Otherwise permitted for living or sleeping purposes up to 180 days in a calendar year.

  RV living or sleeping period: <= 180 days per calendar year (not in subdivisions, unincorporated platted towns, or on a parcel 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.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township outside any incorporated municipality; the LaSalle County Health Department issues the approvals

  • Sewage systems must conform to the LaSalle County Health Department and Illinois Department of Public Health standards.

  “copy of approved septic permit from lasalle county health department”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction served by a septic system in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township outside any incorporated municipality

  • An approved septic permit from the county health department must be attached to the building permit application.
  • The plot plan must show the proposed sewage disposal system and well location.

  “copy of approved septic permit from lasalle county health department”

• Well permitRequired

  New construction with a private well in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township outside any incorporated municipality

  • An approved well permit from the county health department must be attached to the building permit application.

  “copy of approved well permit from lasalle county health department”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Bona fide agricultural buildings on unincorporated land in Meriden township

  • Agricultural buildings still need a building permit and zoning certificate.
  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from county building code inspections but not from building codes or state plumbing inspections.
  • The agricultural status must be confirmed; these structures must be used for bona fide agricultural purposes.

  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)

  Land splits and new lots in unincorporated Meriden township

  • Splits must comply with the county subdivision ordinance, the county zoning ordinance, and the Illinois Plat Act.
  • Contact the Land Use Department before subdividing.
  • Zoning sec. 4.3-8 requires each lot from a division to meet district bulk regulations; corner lots must be 25 feet wider than the minimum.

  “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.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process in unincorporated Meriden township

  • Apply at least 30 days before anticipated construction.
  • Application needs two copies of construction documents, a site diagram, and approved county health department well and septic permits; incomplete applications are not accepted.
  • Permit applications go to the Land Use Department office at 119 West Madison Street, Room 107, Ottawa.

  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 Meriden Township or LaSalle County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in unincorporated LaSalle County, including Meriden township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in unincorporated Meriden township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in unincorporated Meriden township
• Camping on your land — Tent or temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Meriden township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy in unincorporated Meriden 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.