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

Rules another office applies inside Buffalo Township

Buffalo 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

  New construction and land/building permits administered by Ogle County for unincorporated land inside Buffalo Township.

  • A zoning certificate must first be obtained from the Ogle County zoning administrator.
  • The Health Department guide states the zoning department needs a copy of the septic permit to issue the building permit.
  • Incorporated areas may administer their own permits.

  “Construction of any building, structure or addition thereto shall not be commenced; preliminary work shall not be done with respect to any other use of land; and no permits pertaining to the use of land or buildings shall be issued, by officer, employee, department, board or bureau of Ogle County, unless a zoning certificate has been obtained from the office of the zoning administrator.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A single-family dwelling on a lot divided and set aside from a farm in the AG-1 Agricultural District, if that county district applies to unincorporated land in Buffalo Township.

  • At least one of the ordinance's listed criteria must be met before a special-use permit is issued.
  • This does not establish that every parcel in Buffalo Township is AG-1.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (single-family dwelling on lot divided and set aside from a farm in AG-1) · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet (same use and district)

  “Single-family dwelling, when constructed on a lot divided and set aside from a "farm" as defined herein. Lot area shall be not less than one acre and the lot width shall be not less than one hundred fifty feet (150'). At least one of the following criteria must be met prior to issuance of a special use permit for a single-family dwelling in an AG-1 agricultural district:”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems serving homes inside Buffalo Township where city sewer is not connected.

  • Systems must comply with the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code and Ogle County Private Sewage Ordinance.
  • The local Health Department receives the signed maintenance agreement as a condition of permit issuance.

  “I understand that this signed form must be returned to the Ogle County Health Department as a condition of septic permit issuance.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private septic installation, repair, or alteration inside Buffalo Township.

  • The signed maintenance agreement must be returned to the Ogle County Health Department as a condition of septic permit issuance.
  • A septic system is needed for a new house if the home cannot connect to city sewer.

  “I understand that this signed form must be returned to the Ogle County Health Department as a condition of septic permit issuance.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private septic systems inside Buffalo Township installed, repaired, or altered after January 1, 2014.

  • Initial evaluation is within three years after installation.
  • After the initial evaluation, residential systems must be evaluated at least once every five years; nonresidential systems every three years.
  • If initial evaluation finds scum/solids greater than 33% of tank liquid capacity, pumping and maintenance must occur as soon as possible.

  initial evaluation: <= 3 years after installation · residential evaluation interval: <= 5 years (After the first evaluation) · nonresidential evaluation interval: <= 3 years (After the first evaluation)

  “After the first evaluation, the system shall be evaluated a minimum of once every 5 years if residential and every 3 years if nonresidential.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New homes inside Buffalo Township subject to Ogle County Health Department guidance.

  • A sanitary sewer is available when it is within 300 feet of a residential property, unless a physical barrier or local ordinance prevents connection.
  • Cities and towns may impose more stringent connection requirements, including up to 500 feet outside city limits or more.
  • The guide states that reasonable connection to a city water source must be made.

  sanitary sewer availability distance: <= 300 feet (unless a physical barrier or local ordinance prevents connection)

  “For building a house, you will need to have a source of water either from a private well or city water source. For wells, if there is reasonable connection to a city water source, it must be connected. Many cities and towns have more stringent requirements for connection, so again, it is important to check with them first.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Buildings or structures used exclusively for agricultural purposes in an agricultural district on unincorporated land inside Buffalo Township, if county agricultural zoning applies.

  • The only stated requirement is written notification to the zoning administrator.
  • The notification need only show building setback lines in relation to abutting public streets or highways.

  “In agricultural districts the only requirement shall be written notification and shall be submitted to the zoning administrator for a building or structure used or to be used exclusively for agricultural purposes as defined herein, and need only show the building setback lines in relation to abutting public streets or highways.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Floodplain development on unincorporated land inside Buffalo Township.

  • The rule applies unless the person or entity is exempted by law.
  • The planning and zoning administrator cannot issue the permit unless the proposal meets the division's requirements and all required federal, state, and local approvals have been obtained.
  • Land demonstrated by survey to be above base flood elevation and not filled after the site's first flood-insurance-rate map is not in the floodplain and is not subject to this division.

  “Any development located on land that can be shown by survey data to be higher than the current base flood elevation and which has not been filled after the date of the site's first flood insurance rate map is not in the floodplain and therefore not subject to the requirements of this division.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Buffalo Township.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Buffalo Township.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Buffalo Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Buffalo Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Buffalo Township, including any incorporated area.

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.