Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Otter Creek Township, Illinois

Otter Creek Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Qualifying construction in unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • The structure must be 200 square feet or larger or have a side 20 feet or greater.
  • Structures inside a corporate city/village boundary are excluded.

  area threshold: >= 200 square feet · side threshold: >= 20 feet

  “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 (with conditions)

  Residential structures requiring building permits in unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • The cited county program excludes structures inside a corporate city/village boundary.
  • Residential structures must require a building permit.

  residential codes: International Residential Codes 2024 and National Electrical Code 2023, as amended by the LaSalle County Board

  “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 receiving a county building permit in unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • Applies only to structures receiving building permits.

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

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy and use of structures in unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township that are subject to the county program.

  • The permit is issued after final inspection passes.
  • Health Department well and septic approval certification is required.

  “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. These permits are generated and issued by the building code inspectors after a final inspection is completed and is certified as “passing”.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township subject to the LaSalle County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The ordinance applies outside limits of cities, villages, and incorporated towns that have municipal zoning ordinances.

  “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:”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the A-1 Agriculture district on unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • Front setback varies by road class: township, county, or state/federal road.
  • Variation in districts occurs with the use of the structure and adjacent zoning districts.
  • All structure fronts, sides, and rears must be flagged/staked for review; otherwise the initial inspection cannot be completed and the permit will not issue.

  front setback: 70, 85, or 100 feet (Township, county, or state/federal road respectively) · rear setback: 10 feet · side setback: 10 feet

  “A-1 Agriculture 70, 85, 100 * 10 10 [...] * 70 feet from a Twp Road, 85 feet from a County Road, 100 feet from a State or Federal Road”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational-vehicle living or sleeping use on unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • Use may not exceed 180 days in a calendar year.
  • It may not be used for living or sleeping in a subdivision, unincorporated platted town, or on a parcel with an existing residence, unless otherwise permitted by the ordinance.

  maximum occupancy period: <= 180 days per calendar year

  “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.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • A property with a two-family or multifamily dwelling cannot have an accessory dwelling unit.
  • The unit must meet building-code and Health Department well/septic requirements.
  • Maximum two bedrooms, one ADU per lot or parcel, owner occupancy, two additional parking spaces, and a recorded owner-occupancy deed restriction apply.
  • A detached ADU must have a permanent foundation, may not exceed 35 feet high, must meet principal-structure side and rear setbacks, and has a maximum 900-square-foot footprint.

  maximum bedrooms: <= 2 bedrooms · maximum detached ADU height: <= 35 feet · maximum ADU footprint: <= 900 square feet

  “The accessory dwelling unit shall be limited to no more than 2 bedrooms. [...] Only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot or parcel. [...] A detached accessory dwelling unit shall be no more than thirty-five (35) feet in height. [...] The maximum square footage of the footprint of an accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 900 square-feet.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual sewage disposal systems inside Otter Creek Township.

  • Applies to installations and repairs of individual sewage disposal systems.

  “The program requires that all installations and/or repairs of individual sewage disposal systems be permitted and inspected by an Environmental Health Practitioner.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation or repair of an individual sewage disposal system inside Otter Creek Township.

  “The program requires that all installations and/or repairs of individual sewage disposal systems be permitted and inspected by an Environmental Health Practitioner.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation or repair of an individual sewage disposal system inside Otter Creek Township.

  “The program requires that all installations and/or repairs of individual sewage disposal systems be permitted and inspected by an Environmental Health Practitioner.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction of a new well inside Otter Creek Township.

  “Prior to the construction of a new well, a permit from the Health Department is required to ensure the protection of groundwater.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Bona fide agricultural structures on unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • The structure still requires a building permit and zoning certificate.
  • It is exempt only from county building-code inspections and building-code fees, not setbacks or other local, state, or federal requirements.
  • The agricultural operation must produce gross income of $5,000 or more to the operator, and prior-calendar-year income proof is required.

  minimum agricultural gross income: >= 5000 USD (Proof from the preceding calendar year is required) · agricultural exemption fee: 25 USD (For all bona fide agriculture structures)

  “Buildings, accessory structures and structures that are used for Bona Fide Agricultural Uses require a building permit and zoning certificate. 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.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County building-permit applications for qualifying construction in unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • Fees are paid when the permit is issued and picked up.
  • Fees are nonrefundable.
  • One- and two-family dwelling fees depend on square footage and inspections required; the inspector calculates the price after plan review.

  bona fide agricultural application fee: 25 USD (Compliance permit, not a building permit fee)

  “For nonagricultural detached one and two family dwellings not more than three stories in height and/or their accessory structures, fees are based on square footage of structure and the number of inspections required.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building-permit applications for qualifying construction in unincorporated land inside Otter Creek Township.

  • Applications lacking all appropriate information and attachments are not accepted.
  • Required attachments include construction documents, a site diagram, and approved well and septic permits where applicable.
  • Application should be made at least 30 days before anticipated building.

  recommended advance application time: >= 30 days

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

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Otter Creek Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Otter Creek Township, LaSalle County, Illinois.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Otter Creek Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Otter Creek Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Otter Creek 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.