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

Rules another office applies inside Alden Township

Alden 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction subject to McHenry County's Building Code in the unincorporated portion of Alden Township.

  • The 2006-code ordinance remains applicable to permit applications filed before adoption of the 2021-code ordinance.

  adopted model code: International Building Code 2021 (with local amendments)

  “The County Board hereby adopts the International Building Code 2021 with local amendments as contained below and that Ordinance O-201609-10-031 adopting the International Building Code 2006 with local amendments be repealed except for its application to permit applications filed prior to the date of adoption of this ordinance.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction subject to McHenry County's Building Code in the unincorporated portion of Alden Township.

  • The permit holder or authorized agent must notify the building official at least one work day before required inspection and provide access and means for inspection.

  advance inspection notice: >= 1 work day

  “It shall be the duty of the holder of the building permit or their duly authorized agent to notify the building official when work is ready for inspection at least one work day before said inspection. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for inspections of such work that are required by this code.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings or structures subject to McHenry County's Building Code in the unincorporated portion of Alden Township.

  • A certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion must be issued before use or occupancy, including a change in use or occupancy classification.

  “A building or structure shall not be used or occupied, and a change in the existing use or occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall not be made, until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion therefor as provided herein.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the unincorporated portion of Alden Township that is subject to McHenry County's Unified Development Ordinance; this does not establish that Alden Township itself adopted or administers zoning.

  • Use is permitted, conditional, temporary, or prohibited according to its zoning district and the County's table.

  “Table 16.32-1: Zoning District Uses lists permitted, conditional, and temporary uses for the zoning districts of this Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated Alden Township parcels governed by McHenry County's zoning districts.

  • Permitted, conditional, temporary, and prohibited uses vary by district.

  “CHAPTER 16.32: ZONING DISTRICTS AND MAPS”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems in the unincorporated portion of Alden Township.

  • Systems must conform to the McHenry County Public Health Ordinance.

  “The provisions of the Public Health Ordinance as adopted by the McHenry County Department of Health shall apply to private sewage disposal systems and private and non-community water supplies for McHenry County.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural exempt structures in the unincorporated portion of Alden Township.

  • The structure must obtain an Agricultural Exempt Structure Construction Card.
  • It must comply with UDO building setbacks and all Stormwater Management Ordinance requirements.

  “Agricultural Exempt Structures as defined by the McHenry County Unified Development Ordinance provided they obtain an Agricultural Exempt Structure Construction Card and comply with the building setback requirements of the McHenry County Unified Development Ordinance and all requirements of the McHenry County Stormwater Management Ordinance.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Vacation rentals in zoning districts of unincorporated Alden Township.

  • A vacation rental is shown as permitted or conditional depending on the zoning district.
  • A conditional use must obtain conditional-use permit approval.

  “Vacation Rental | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | P/ C | | | | | | § 16.56.030VV.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications in the unincorporated portion of Alden Township.

  • The application must be written on a form furnished by the Department of Planning and Development.

  “To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the Department of Planning and Development for that purpose.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work on land inside Alden Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in unincorporated Alden Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots in unincorporated Alden Township.
• Setbacks — Structures in unincorporated Alden Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots in unincorporated Alden 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.