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

Palmyra Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction governed by Lee County zoning on unincorporated land inside Palmyra Township.

  • A LESA report is required before a dwelling or development permit on a parcel excluding a legally platted subdivision.
  • A platted survey, site plan, septic/well preliminary approval when applicable, address, driveway-access permit, 9-1-1 sign permit, and drainage permit are prerequisites described by the County form.

  “Fee will be charged to both owner and contractor if any construction begins prior to the building permit being issued”

• InspectionsLimited

  Commercial structures governed by Lee County zoning on unincorporated land inside Palmyra Township.

  • Applies to a structure built after July 1, 2011 in R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, or I-3, or subsequently converted to commercial use.
  • The inspection certificate must be signed by an inspector qualified under Public Act 096-0704; local fire-department inspections also are required.

  “All commercial buildings must be inspected and approved before building permit will be approved.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Palmyra Township governed by Lee County zoning.

  • The County source directs users to the Lee County Zoning Code for permitted uses in the districts.

  “The unincorporated area of the county is divided into districts or "zones". Certain types of uses are allowed in each of these zones. The ordinance lists those uses.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural-zoned land governed by Lee County zoning inside Palmyra Township.

  • Township-road, county-highway, and state-highway setbacks are measured as stated by the County form.

  side and rear setback: 15 feet (Agricultural zoning.) · township-road setback: 60 feet from centerline (Agricultural zoning.) · county-highway setback: 75 feet from centerline (Agricultural zoning.) · state-highway setback: 50 feet from right-of-way line (Agricultural zoning.)

  “Agricultural Zoning 15’ from side & rear lot lines Township Road - 60’ from centerline of roadway County Highway - 75’from centerline of roadway State Highway - 50’ from right-of-way line”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential-zoned land governed by Lee County zoning inside Palmyra Township.

    “Residential Zoning 7’ from side & rear lot lines - 25’ from front property line set back”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems installed inside Palmyra Township.

  • Systems must comply with Lee County and Illinois State private sewage requirements.
  • County Board of Health determines requirements for systems serving fewer than 15 persons and determines system type and size based largely on soil investigations.

  “The type and size of the system to be used for the disposal of tank effluents shall be determined by the County Board of Health and shall be based largely upon the results of soil investigations performed by a soil classifier or an Illinois licensed Professional Engineer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Palmyra Township.

  • Lee County and Illinois State private sewage codes apply.
  • Permit fees are required.

  “No septic tank, privy vault, sink drain, or sewage disposal system shall be erected, constructed, or repaired in this county, except in accordance with this chapter, and it shall be unlawful to proceed with such work unless a permit has first been obtained from the County Board of Health; provided, however, that where the connection is to be made to a public sewer, arrangements shall be made with the municipality owning the sewer rather than the County Board of Health.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  A septic system installed by a property owner inside Palmyra Township.

  • The owner must pass the written open-book test with at least 75 percent; it may be taken twice at least 24 hours apart.
  • The County Health Department must inspect after tank placement and first-trench excavation before rock or pipe is placed, and conduct a final inspection before trenches are backfilled.

  minimum passing score: 75 percent (Written open-book test for property owners installing their own septic system.)

  “Request the Lee County Health Department to make a final inspection after the system is installed and before the trenches are backfilled.”

• Well permitRequired

  New, deepened, modified, or sealed private water wells inside Palmyra Township.

  • A permit to construct, deepen, or modify a water well is valid for 12 months; if construction has not started within that period, it is void.
  • Irrigation-well permits are required from the Lee County Health Department.

  permit validity: 12 months (Construction must start within the validity period.)

  “No water well or closed loop well shall be constructed, deepened, modified, or sealed except in accordance with this chapter, and it shall be unlawful to proceed with such work unless a permit has first been obtained from the health authority.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses on unincorporated land inside Palmyra Township governed by Lee County zoning.

  • The exemption is for certain agricultural uses under state law; applicants must contact the Zoning Department to determine qualification.

  “Certain agricultural uses are exempt from meeting local zoning requirements according to state law. Contact the Zoning Department to determine if you qualify for this exemption.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New building permit applicants on unincorporated land inside Palmyra Township.

  • A platted survey with driveway and dwelling location must first be provided for address establishment.
  • After address issuance, the applicant must obtain driveway-access, 9-1-1 sign, and drainage permits from the Lee County Highway Engineer.
  • Before work within a road right-of-way, the permittee must obtain approval from the highway authority with jurisdiction.

  “After the Zoning Office has issued an address, the individual requesting the permit must receive a driveway access permit, a 9-1-1 sign permit and drainage permit from the Lee County Highway Engineer, 1629Lee Center Road, Amboy, IL.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a special flood hazard area inside Palmyra Township.

  • The applicant must provide certified elevation information when there is uncertainty whether property is subject to the Special Flood Hazard Area Ordinance.
  • Development must be allowable; most projects require a Lee County floodplain permit, elevation survey, State application(s), and building permit.

  “Building/Developing in a Floodplain requires additional steps. Most require the minimum of the following:”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Lee County building and zoning permits for unincorporated land inside Palmyra Township.

  • All paid fees are non-refundable.
  • A reasonable fee is set by the Zoning Administrator if a fee is not otherwise classified.
  • Municipal, school, state, and federal governmental agencies need not pay a fee but must submit a permit application.

  minimum building permit fee: 50 USD (Any fee less than $50.) · temporary permit: 50 USD · preliminary plat fee: 750 USD (Up to the first 10 lots; $25 per lot thereafter.) · final plat fee: 500 USD (Up to the first 10 lots; $25 per lot thereafter.)

  “Minimum building permit fee (Any fee less than $50.00) $ 50.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Lee County building permits for unincorporated land inside Palmyra Township.

  • The County requests that requirements be followed in the listed order.
  • The form requires a site plan, survey, setbacks, driveway location, septic/well preliminary approval when applicable, address issuance, driveway access permit, 9-1-1 sign permit, and drainage permit.

  “To expedite the building permit process, as quickly as possible, please follow the requirements listed below in the order in which they are presented.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Palmyra Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Palmyra Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Dwellings and other buildings inside Palmyra Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Palmyra Township, Lee County, Illinois.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Palmyra 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.