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

Rules another office applies inside Sublette Township

Sublette 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

  Construction of any structure other than a fence or pool on unincorporated land inside Sublette Township.

  • A site plan and architectural plans are required for the building-permit application.
  • A submission notification and assigned permit number do not authorize work; only an approved placard and approval letter authorize the project to begin.
  • Commercial plans must be sealed by an Illinois licensed design professional and are subject to plan review; third-party review may be required.

  “Permits, Forms and Procedures For Any Construction”

• InspectionsLimited

  Commercial buildings in R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, or I-3 zones on unincorporated land inside Sublette Township.

  • Applies to a structure built after July 1, 2011, or subsequently converted to commercial use.
  • Commercial buildings must be inspected and approved before the building permit is approved.
  • The applicant must obtain required local-fire-department inspections.

  “All commercial buildings must be inspected and approved”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Sublette Township, Lee County, Illinois.

  • This is Lee County zoning, not a zoning ordinance adopted by Sublette Township.
  • The county office directs persons building outside a city, village, or town with its own zoning regulations to contact the office before the project begins.

  “responsible for regulating activities in the unincorporated areas of the county”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County-zoned unincorporated land inside Sublette Township.

  • The county code identifies principal and overlay districts.
  • Parcel-specific classification must be checked against the official zoning classification map held by the Zoning Administrator.

  “AG-1 Rural/agricultural district. R-1 Rural residential district. R-2 Single-family residential district. R-3 Mixed residential dwelling district. R-4 Multi-family residential dwelling district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural and residential-zoned parcels on unincorporated land inside Sublette Township.

  • Agricultural-road setbacks vary by road authority.
  • The county document separately states commercial and industrial setbacks; this claim records agricultural and residential controls only.

  agricultural side and rear setback: 15 feet · agricultural township-road setback: 60 feet from centerline · agricultural county-highway setback: 75 feet from centerline · agricultural state-highway setback: 50 feet from right-of-way line · residential side and rear setback: 7 feet · residential front setback: 25 feet

  “Agricultural Zoning 15’ from side & rear lot lines”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems installed in Lee County, including systems on land inside Sublette Township.

  • Systems must comply with Lee County and Illinois State Private Sewage Codes.
  • Permit fees are required.

  “Permits are issued and inspections are conducted of private sewage disposal systems installed in Lee County. All systems must be installed in accordance with specific Lee County and Illinois State Private Sewage Codes.. Fees are required for permits.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems installed in Lee County, including systems on land inside Sublette Township.

  • The system must comply with specific Lee County and Illinois State Private Sewage Codes.
  • Fees are required for permits.

  “Permits are issued and inspections are conducted of private sewage disposal systems installed in Lee County. All systems must be installed in accordance with specific Lee County and Illinois State Private Sewage Codes.. Fees are required for permits.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  A septic system installed by its property owner in Lee County, including land inside Sublette Township.

  • The owner must pass the required written open-book test.
  • The owner must request an inspection after the tank is set and first trench dug, before rock or pipe is placed.
  • The owner must request a final inspection after installation and before trenches are backfilled.
  • The owner may be assisted by a licensed septic contractor.

  written test passing score: >= 75 percent · written test questions: 20-50 questions

  “Request the Lee County Health Department to make a final inspection”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal systems in Lee County, including land inside Sublette Township.

  • Private disposal systems require county permitting and inspection.
  • Systems must comply with Lee County and Illinois State Private Sewage Codes.
  • For owner installation, testing and specified pre-backfill inspections apply.

  “Permits are issued and inspections are conducted of private sewage disposal systems installed in Lee County. All systems must be installed in accordance with specific Lee County and Illinois State Private Sewage Codes.. Fees are required for permits.”

• Well permitRequired

  All new wells installed in Lee County, including land inside Sublette Township.

  • All systems must comply with specific Lee County codes and rules and regulations.
  • Permit fees are required.
  • Abandoned wells must be sealed in accordance with the Illinois Water Well Construction Code and Lee County Code.

  “Permits are issued on all new wells which are installed in Lee County. All systems must be installed in accordance with specific Lee County Codes and Rules and Regulations. Fees are required for permits.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A new dwelling or building project requiring a county building permit on unincorporated land inside Sublette Township.

  • After the zoning office issues an address, the applicant must obtain driveway-access, 9-1-1-sign, and drainage permits from the Lee County Highway Engineer.
  • Before work in a road right-of-way, including culverts or mailboxes, the permittee must obtain approval from the highway authority with jurisdiction.

  “the individual requesting the permit must receive a driveway access permit”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a floodplain under Lee County jurisdiction, including applicable land inside Sublette Township.

  • Applies unless the person, firm, corporation, or governmental body is exempted by law.
  • The Zoning Administrator may not issue the development permit when the proposed development fails to meet chapter requirements.
  • The application requires site drawings, grade changes, building locations and dimensions, lowest-floor elevation, and project-cost information.
  • The Administrator may not issue the permit until all other required federal, state, and local permits have been obtained.

  “shall commence any development in the floodplain without first obtaining a development permit”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for unincorporated land inside Sublette Township.

  • The application must be submitted through the county portal.
  • A site plan is required to submit the application.
  • Architectural plans are required, although an application may be submitted without uploading them.
  • Only an approved placard and approval letter permit construction to begin.

  “Permits Must Be Applied For Using This Portal”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Residential building construction inside Sublette Township.
• Building code adopted — Land inside Sublette Township, including incorporated areas where applicable.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Sublette Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Sublette Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Sublette 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.