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

Osage Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Permit-required residential structures on unincorporated land inside Osage Township.

  • The county brochure identifies the 2024 International Residential Codes and 2023 National Electrical Code as amended by the LaSalle County Board.
  • Commercial and multifamily structures are subject to the separately listed 2024 ICC codes and 2023 NEC.

  “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 on unincorporated land inside Osage Township that receive a county building permit.

  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from local county building-code inspections but remain subject to Illinois Department of Public Health plumbing inspections.
  • The county directs applicants to allow 48 hours for scheduling an inspection.

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

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy and use of a structure on unincorporated land inside Osage Township.

  • A final inspection must be completed and certified passing.
  • Health Department well-and-septic approval certification is required before issuance.

  “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 Osage Township; zoning is administered by LaSalle County rather than shown on the township's official page as a township ordinance.

  • The county ordinance applies to unincorporated areas; incorporated municipal land, if any, is outside this county-rule claim.

  “In April of 2006, LaSalle County adopted a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated areas of the county.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Osage Township, subject to the applicable county zoning map district.

  • The county ordinance lists A-1, AC, R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, and I-1 districts for the unincorporated county.
  • A parcel-specific county zoning map was not opened for an Osage Township parcel.

  “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:”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Osage Township.

  • The county health department applies current Illinois Department of Public Health standards when inspecting systems.

  “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 Osage Township.

  • A completed application, $230 fee, and onsite survey by Health Department personnel are required before the construction permit will issue.
  • If denied, the fee is returned to the applicant.

  private sewage disposal permit 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 Osage Township.

  • The Health Department must be notified before backfilling.
  • The inspection produces a statement whether the system and/or well meets current Illinois Department of Public Health standards.

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

• Well permitLimited

  County building-permit applications for structures using a well on unincorporated land inside Osage Township.

  • The building-permit application requires a copy of an approved well permit; the source does not establish a rule for every possible well project.

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

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Bona fide agricultural structures on unincorporated land inside Osage Township.

  • Structures require a building permit and zoning certificate.
  • Exemption is from county building-code inspections and building-code fees, not from setbacks or other applicable local, state, or federal regulation.
  • Bona fide agricultural use must produce gross income of $5,000 or more to the operator, and proof of preceding-calendar-year income is required.
  • A $25 agriculture-exempt fee applies.

  required gross agricultural income: >= 5000 USD (Proof of income from the preceding calendar year is required.) · agriculture-exempt fee: 25 USD (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 subdivision activity on unincorporated land inside Osage Township.

  • Applicants are directed to verify compliance with the county Subdivision Ordinance, county Zoning Ordinance, and Illinois Plat Act before subdividing.

  “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.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development on unincorporated land inside Osage Township that requires a county building permit, including floodplain compliance review.

  • County staff review building permits for compliance with the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance before issuance.

  “Building permits are reviewed for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, and Illinois Plat Act by department staff.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County building permits for unincorporated land inside Osage Township.

  • Fees are paid when the permit is issued and picked up.
  • Fees are nonrefundable.
  • For nonagricultural detached one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures, fees depend on square footage and required inspections; the fee schedule is in Article 6 of the county Building Permit Ordinance.

  “The fees will be in accordance with the schedules listed below. All fees are nonrefundable.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

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

  • Submit two copies of construction documents, a site diagram, an approved well permit, an approved septic permit, and stamped truss certificates if trusses are used.
  • Applications missing appropriate information and attachments are not accepted.
  • The county advises applying at least 30 days before anticipated construction.

  recommended lead time before anticipated building: >= 30 days (County guidance, not stated as a statutory deadline.)

  “Applications not including ALL appropriate information and attachments will not be accepted.”

Rules another office applies inside Osage Township

Osage Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings on land inside Osage Township if the parcel is in the county R-2 Single Family Residence District.

  • 10,000 square feet applies when served by public sanitary sewer and water.
  • One acre applies when served by private sanitary or private water systems.
  • Planned Unit Developments have no minimum lot area; other permitted or special uses generally require at least one acre.

  R-2 single-family lot area with public sanitary sewer and water: >= 10000 square feet · R-2 single-family lot area with private sanitary or private water: >= 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.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings on land inside Osage Township if the parcel is in the county R-3 General Residence District.

  • The provision separately gives 50 percent for two-family and multiple-family dwellings, 40 percent for mobile-home parks, and 60 percent for all others.

  R-3 single-family detached maximum zoning lot coverage: <= 40 percent

  “MAXIMUM ZONING LOT COVERAGE: The sum total of the ground area coverage by buildings and structures shall be as follows: 1. Single Family Detached Dwellings: Forty (40) percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings on land inside Osage Township if the parcel is in the county R-3 General Residence District.

  • The same provision limits listed two-family dwellings, mobile-home parks, and single-family attached dwellings to 36 feet subject to its stated width and unit-count conditions.

  R-3 single-family detached dwelling maximum height: <= 36 feet

  “MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS Single Family Detached Dwellings: Not to exceed thirty-six (36) feet in height.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Osage Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Osage Township.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Osage Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Osage Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Osage 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.