Zoning, building permits and septic rules in East Grove Township, Illinois

East Grove Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction in unincorporated East Grove Township administered by Lee County.

  • The County Building and Zoning Office regulates unincorporated areas.
  • The online application requires a site plan; architectural plans are required, though an application may be submitted without uploading them.
  • Submission and an assigned permit number do not authorize work; an approved placard and letter are required before a project begins.

  “Permits Must Be Applied For Using This Portal”

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Commercial building-plan review for unincorporated land in East Grove Township administered by Lee County.

  • The County document states that this applies in the absence of a Lee County Building Code.
  • It lists the current IBC or IEBC, Energy Efficient Building Code or Illinois Stretch Energy Code, Illinois Accessibility Code, Illinois Plumbing Code, Fire Investigation Act rules, and current NEC for plan review.

  “In the absence of a Lee County Building Code, the most current International Building Code (IBC) or International Existing Building Code (IEBC); the Energy Efficient Building Code or the Illinois Stretch Energy Code; the Illinois Accessibility Code, the Illinois Plumbing Code, rules adopted in accordance with Section 9 of the Fire Investigation Act; and the most current National Electric Code (NEC) shall be used for the review of plans.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Commercial structures in R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, or I-3 zones in East Grove Township that were built after July 1, 2011, and structures built after that date subsequently converted to commercial use.

  • Inspection must be by an inspector qualified under Public Act 096-0704.
  • Inspection fees are separate from the building-permit fee.
  • Commercial buildings must be inspected and approved before a Letter of Occupancy is granted.

  “required to obtain a certificate of inspection”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Commercial buildings in unincorporated East Grove Township administered by Lee County.

  • All commercial buildings must first be inspected and approved.
  • The document calls the authorization a Letter of Occupancy.

  “All commercial buildings must be inspected and approved before a Letter of Occupancy is granted. NO BUILDING SHALL BE OCCUPIED UNTIL THE LETTER OF OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE LEE COUNTY ZONING OFFICE.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in East Grove Township subject to Lee County zoning administration; Lee County's official record identifies an East Grove Township parcel as Ag-I Agricultural District and before the county board for a setback variance.

  • This is county-administered zoning for unincorporated land, not an East Grove Township-adopted ordinance.
  • Incorporated municipal land, if any, may have its own zoning authority.

  “The parcel is located in East Grove Township.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  East Grove Township land subject to Lee County zoning; an official County record identifies at least an Ag-I Agricultural District parcel in the Township.

  • The official zoning classification map is maintained by the County Zoning Administrator and is the final authority on current zoning status.
  • Unmapped property or land disconnected from a municipality defaults to AG-1 rural/agricultural unless amended within 90 days after hearing and recommendation.

  “The boundaries of the underlying principal districts established are depicted upon the official zoning classification map of the county”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage-disposal systems serving construction in unincorporated East Grove Township.

  • Preliminary approval is required before the Zoning Office issues the building permit.

  “Prior to the Zoning Office issuing a building permit, the individual requesting the permit must receive preliminary approval from the Lee County Health Department for their private water well system and/or their private sewage disposal system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision activity in unincorporated East Grove Township administered by Lee County.

  • The County office records subdivision activity in unincorporated areas.
  • Published subdivision-petition fees are $750 for a preliminary plat and $500 for a final plat, each up to the first 10 lots plus $25 per lot thereafter.

  preliminary plat petition fee: 750 USD (Up to the first 10 lots; $25 per lot thereafter.) · final plat petition fee: 500 USD (Up to the first 10 lots; $25 per lot thereafter.)

  “The department records all zoning and subdivision activity on tracts of land in the county and is responsible for maintaining zoning maps for all areas in the unincorporated areas of the county.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development within the regulatory floodplain in unincorporated East Grove Township administered by Lee County.

  • No work may start until the application is approved and a permit issued.
  • The application covers structures, utilities, wells, septic, earth moving, grading/fill, road or trail construction, bridge/culvert work, and subdivision.
  • The permit may be revoked for false statements; revoked work must cease until reissued.
  • The applicant consents to inspections required to verify compliance.

  “No work of any kind may start until an application is approved and a permit is issued.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Lee County-administered building permits in unincorporated East Grove Township.

  • Fee schedule is Lee County Board Resolution No. 2024-04-004 dated April 18, 2024.
  • Minimum building-permit fee is $50.
  • Late fee is twice the permit cost when construction begins before permit issuance.
  • Fees are non-refundable; unclassified fees are set reasonably by the Zoning Administrator.

  minimum building permit fee: 50 USD (Any fee less than $50.) · floor area above ground fee: per 0.2 USD per square foot · garage/accessory building fee: per 0.15 USD per square foot

  “Lee County Board – April 18, 2024 Resolution No. #2024-04-004 Structures; Additions & Structural Alterations Fee Floor area above ground (Living area) $ .20/sq. ft. [...] Minimum building permit fee (Any fee less than $50.00) $ 50.00 [...] All fees paid are non-refundable. Fees not otherwise classified: If a fee is not specifically provided for in the building permit fees structure, a reasonable fee shall be set by the Lee County Zoning Administrator.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications in unincorporated East Grove Township administered by Lee County.

  • Permits must be applied for through the portal.
  • Applications require site-plan information and must be complete to submit.
  • The County says it will contact an approved applicant within 1–3 business days to arrange payment.

  approval contact time: 1-3 business days (If approved.)

  “You will be contacted within 1-3 business days”

Rules another office applies inside East Grove Township

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

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses subject to Lee County zoning in East Grove Township.

  • The County directs applicants to contact the Zoning Department to determine qualification.
  • The exemption is stated to arise under state law.

  “Certain agricultural uses are exempt from meeting local zoning requirements according to state law.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in East Grove Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in East Grove Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots in East Grove Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots in East Grove Township.
• Building height — Buildings in East Grove 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.