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

Rules another office applies inside Ottawa Township

Ottawa 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

  Buildings, accessory structures, decks, relocations and significant use changes in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated land in Ottawa township

  • A county building permit is required only for structures meeting the brochure thresholds; structures under 200 s.f. with no side of 20 feet or greater are listed as not requiring permits.
  • Any structure inside a corporate city/village boundary is listed as not requiring a county permit.
  • Construction beginning before the permit is issued is subject to a penalty of double the permit fee.
  • Agricultural buildings require a building permit and zoning certificate but may be exempt from county building code inspections and fees (see agricultural exemption claim).
  • Permit also requires copies of an approved well permit and septic permit from the LaSalle County Health Department.

  “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 (with conditions)

  Building construction requiring a county building permit in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • For one and two family dwellings: 2024 and 2023 national electric code as amended by the LaSalle County Board, per the brochure.
  • Non-residential, multi-family and commercial structures: International Building Code 2024, International Fire Code 2024, International Mechanical Code 2024, International Fuel Gas Code 2024, International Existing Building Code 2024, International Energy Code 2024, and National Electrical Code 2023 as amended by the county board.
  • Structures inside a corporate city/village boundary are outside the county permit ordinance.

  “residential structures that require building permits are subject to the international residential codes”

• InspectionsRequired

  Structures receiving a county building permit in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • Inspections are scheduled by calling 847-510-4104; allow 48 hours for scheduling.
  • Agricultural structures declared bona fide agriculture are exempt from county building code inspections.

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

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy or use of a new or altered structure in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • Occupancy permits are issued by the building code inspectors after a final passing inspection.
  • The owner must certify to the building inspectors that the LaSalle County Health Department has approved the well and septic; no occupancy permit is issued without it.
  • Moving furniture or personal items into a structure counts as occupancy.

  “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 Ottawa township, where the LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance is the zoning rule because no township-adopted zoning ordinance was found. This is the county's ordinance, not a township ordinance.

  • The county zoning ordinance applies to unincorporated land; land inside an incorporated city is not covered by this county claim.
  • Ordinance section 6.1 adopts the zoning district map of each township of the county by reference.

  “the unincorporated area of the county is hereby divided into the following districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • Districts: A-1, A-C, R-R (named R-1 in sec. 6.0), R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, I-1 (per the ordinance's district list).
  • District maps are adopted by township and were not opened.

  “the unincorporated area of the county is hereby divided into the following districts”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in all non-A-1 zoning districts in unincorporated LaSalle County (for example rural and single family residence districts), including unincorporated Ottawa township, when served by septic or well

  • Land Use Department guidance: lots served by septic and well must be at least one acre in districts other than A-1.
  • Subdivision ordinance also requires 1 acre and 150 feet of road frontage for lots on individual well and septic systems (county guidance).
  • Source is the Land Use Department's general guidance, not the ordinance text for each district; the RR and R-2 dimensional sections were not read.

  minimum lot area, septic or well served, non-A-1 districts: >= 1 acres (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 — A-1 agriculture district lots in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal structures in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township, measured from the centerline of the road

  • Front setbacks depend on the road: township road 70 ft, county road 85 ft, state or federal road 100 ft, measured from the road centerline.
  • The front setback is at least 30 feet from the edge of the right-of-way or roadway easement.
  • Side and rear yards are 10 feet in the A-C yard table and measured from the property line; the A-1 and residence side and rear values were not read in full.
  • Setbacks are also enforced through the county setback ordinance adopted in 1966 (per the brochure).

  front setback from township road centerline: >= 70 feet (85 ft county road; 100 ft state or federal road) · minimum distance from road right-of-way edge: >= 30 feet

  “70 feet from a twp road, 85 feet from a county road, 100 feet from a state or federal road”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-1 agriculture district (agricultural/rural) lots in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • On lots of one acre or more, there is no height limit for non-dwelling buildings.
  • On lots under one acre, and for any building used as a dwelling, the limit applies.

  maximum building height, dwelling units: <= 36 feet (no limit for non-dwelling buildings on lots of one acre or more)

  “and on all buildings used as dwelling units the building height shall not exceed thirty-six (36) feet in height”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Single family detached dwellings in the RR rural residence district (sec. 8.1) in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

    “single family detached dwellings shall not exceed thirty-six (36) feet in height”

  • Specified — Single family detached dwellings in the R-2 single family residence district (sec. 8.2) in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

    “all single family detached dwellings shall not exceed thirty-six (36) feet in height”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Living or sleeping in a recreational vehicle on private land in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • Recreational vehicle is defined in the ordinance as a vehicle built on a single chassis and 400 square feet or less in size.
  • Living or sleeping in an RV is not allowed on a parcel with an existing residence, or in a subdivision or unincorporated platted town, unless the ordinance otherwise permits it.
  • Limit is 180 days in a calendar year.

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

  “may be used for living or sleeping purposes for a period not exceeding 180 days in a calendar year”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on residential or agricultural lots in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • May be attached or detached on a permanent foundation.
  • Not allowed on a property that already contains a two-family or multifamily dwelling.
  • Limited to 2 bedrooms and may not exceed the size and scope of the principal residence.
  • Must meet building code and county health department well and septic requirements.
  • A deed restriction must be recorded requiring at least one structure on the property to remain owner-occupied.
  • Listed as a permitted or special use in the captured R-2 and R-3 district lists. The 900 sq ft cap appears in the same section but the full sentence was not captured.

  maximum bedrooms: <= 2 bedrooms

  “the accessory dwelling unit shall be limited to no more than 2 bedrooms”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage (septic) systems on land inside Ottawa township, administered by the LaSalle County Health Department under the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code

  • The LaSalle County Health Department (815-433-3366) is the contact for septic and well questions in the brochure.
  • The county zoning ordinance also requires accessory dwellings to meet county health department well and septic requirements.

  “private sewage disposal licensing act and code water well construction code for more information contact the lasalle county health department at 815-433-3366”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic systems for buildings in LaSalle County, including land inside Ottawa township

  • An approved septic permit from the LaSalle County Health Department must be attached to the county building permit application.
  • The health department sewage permit fee is $230 per the county fees page; the fee-page date was not confirmed.

  sewage construction and modification permit fee: 230 USD

  “construction and modification permits sewage $230 water well permits $100”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water wells for buildings in LaSalle County, including land inside Ottawa township

  • An approved well permit from the LaSalle County Health Department must be attached to the county building permit application.
  • Well permit fee is $100 per the county fees page; the fee-page date was not confirmed.
  • The health department water sample and final inspection are described on the county health page, which was not opened.

  water well permit fee: 100 USD

  “construction and modification permits sewage $230 water well permits $100”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Buildings used for bona fide agricultural purposes in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • Still requires a building permit and zoning certificate.
  • Requires proof of gross agricultural income of $5,000 or more from the prior calendar year and a sworn affidavit.
  • $25 agriculture compliance fee; not a building permit fee.
  • Agricultural structures are not exempt from setbacks or other local, state or federal rules.

  agriculture compliance 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)

  Creating or splitting parcels in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • New parcels must comply with the zoning ordinance, the subdivision ordinance, and the Illinois Plat Act.
  • Subdivision ordinance allows a limited number of small splits without a subdivision process; other splits require a subdivision, an exemption, or a variance.
  • Farmstead split and special-use options exist for lots under 35 acres in A-1.

  “all new parcels must comply with the lasalle county zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, and the illinois plat act”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Building permits in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township, for land in a floodplain

  • The county floodplain ordinance must be met before a building permit issues.
  • The permit form has a floodplain compliance check.
  • The floodplain ordinance text was not opened, so the flood-zone trigger and any elevation or fill rules are not stated here.

  “subdivision ordinance floodplain ordinance mobile home park ordinance setback ordinance zoning ordinance”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County building permit fees for buildings in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • Building fee is based on square footage and the number of inspections required.
  • Fees are paid when the permit is issued; the inspector sets the amount after plan review.
  • Construction started before a permit is issued is subject to a penalty of double the permit fee.
  • Health department fees for sewage ($230) and water well ($100) are on the county fees page.

  “the fee schedule can be found in the lasalle county building permit ordinance”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township

  • Submit at least 30 days before building.
  • Submit two copies of construction documents, a site diagram, and approved well and septic permits.
  • Applications missing required attachments are not accepted.
  • Setbacks must be flagged or staked before inspection, or the permit is not issued.
  • Inspection scheduling requires 48 hours' notice.

  “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 Ottawa Township or LaSalle County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in unincorporated LaSalle County
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated LaSalle County, including unincorporated Ottawa township
• Tiny homes — Occupancy of a tiny home on private land in unincorporated LaSalle County
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection in LaSalle County, including land inside Ottawa 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.