Bolthole Index

Ogle County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Stillman Valley

The Village of Stillman Valley, Illinois requires building permits for a variety of construction projects, including sheds, decks, electrical upgrades and driveways.1 Stillman Valley has village zoning; inside village limits, start building-permit inquiries at Village Hall rather than the county planning counter.23 Ogle County Health Department permits new septic installations and repairs, while Illinois regulates private sewage systems.45

At a glance

Building permits
Required for a variety of projects; confirm your project with Village Hall1
Zoning
Village district rules apply, including R-1, R-2 and Ag6
Septic
Plans need approval before construction; county health department permits installations and repairs74
Lot size
R-1 detached homes: minimum 12,500 square feet and 100 feet of width at the building line8
RV camping
Ag district camping provisions concern campgrounds and recreational camps or retreats9
Private wells
New private wells require permits through IDPH or local health departments10
Owner-builder plumbing
Conditional Illinois exemption for qualifying occupants; local plumbing permits can still apply1112

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Stillman Valley — Village Hall

Building-permit inquiries and routing questions about village zoning, floodplain requirements and utility connections

815.645.2200

120 North Walnut Street

Septic permits

Ogle County Health Department

Private sewage (septic) permits, installer/pumper licensing, and onsite inspections for new systems and repairs in Ogle County

(815) 562-6976

[email protected]

907 Pines Road, Oregon, Illinois 61061

Online permits →

Septic permits

Ogle County Health Department (private sewage program)

Describes how Ogle County permits, inspects and licenses private sewage systems

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Stillman Valley means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Stillman Valley, IL?

Stillman Valley requires building permits for projects including electrical upgrades, storage sheds, swimming pools, fences, signs, decks and driveways.1 The village directs applicants to call Village Hall to confirm whether a particular project needs a building permit.3 Do that before committing to a shed, deck or driveway design: the notice covers these smaller projects as well as other construction.1 We could not confirm the village’s current building-code edition, building-permit fees or required inspection stages; ask Village Hall for those project-specific requirements.3

Who handles building-permit inquiries in the Village of Stillman Valley?

Village Hall is the starting point for Stillman Valley building-permit questions, and the village publishes the phone number 815.645.2200 and street address 120 North Walnut Street.13 Ask Village Hall for the current application, required drawings, fee schedule and inspection contacts before submitting a project.3 The village’s published direction establishes where to begin, but we could not confirm a complete review timeline or inspection sequence.3 For property outside village limits, use the Ogle County guide: county zoning authority applies to unincorporated land rather than incorporated villages.14

Does the Village of Stillman Valley have zoning, lot minimums and setbacks?

Stillman Valley has district-specific zoning, including R-1 one-family dwelling, R-2 general residence and Ag agricultural districts.6 For an R-1 detached home, the minimum lot area is 12,500 square feet and minimum width at the established building line is 100 feet.8 R-1 front yards must be at least 30 feet; side yards must be at least 10 percent of lot width and no less than 6 feet.15 R-1 rear yards generally need 25 feet, with a reduced requirement for qualifying preexisting shallow lots.15 R-1 building coverage, including accessory buildings, cannot exceed 30 percent, while R-2 coverage cannot exceed 40 percent.1617 Confirm the parcel’s district before designing the footprint, because district standards differ.2

How do septic permits and private wells work inside the Village of Stillman Valley?

Private sewage plans serving Stillman Valley require review and approval before construction.7 Ogle County Health Department permits new septic installations and repairs and inspects an approved system before the work is covered.4 Contact the health department at (815) 562-6976 or [email protected] to discuss a proposed private system.18 The county program calls for a septic application with a site plan, elevations sheet and maintenance agreement.4 New private water wells also require permits through IDPH or local health departments.10 We could not confirm whether a particular village parcel must connect to public water or sewer; ask Village Hall about connections before arranging private-system design.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Stillman Valley?

Stillman Valley’s Ag district includes campground and recreational-camp or retreat provisions, including tent and RV camping; those provisions may require special-use approval.9 The campground provisions do not establish permission to live in an RV on an ordinary residential lot.9 In the village floodplain, an RV or travel trailer on site more than 180 days per year triggers flood-building protection requirements; that threshold is not a general occupancy allowance.19 An Ag district guest house is limited to 800 square feet and occasional guests, rather than permanent occupancy by others as a housekeeping unit.20 We could not confirm general residential RV occupancy, a distinct tiny-home allowance or a minimum dwelling floor area; take the proposed use and parcel address to Village Hall.13

Building a home in the Village of Stillman Valley: what should you do first?

Start with Village Hall: describe the proposed home, accessory structures and driveway, and request the current building-permit requirements.321 Next, establish the village zoning district and fit the proposed use and footprint to that district’s standards.2 Ask Village Hall about public utility connections; if a private sewage system is proposed, obtain plan approval before construction and arrange the county health department’s inspection before covering the system.1374 Check floodplain requirements before placing buildings or permanently installed manufactured homes, which require elevation and anchoring protections in the village floodplain.1922 A qualifying Illinois owner-occupant plumbing exemption does not remove every local plumbing-permit or inspection requirement.12

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Stillman Valley’s building-code edition, building-permit fees or occupancy-certificate triggers; request those details from Village Hall before budgeting construction.13
  • Stillman Valley’s Ag guest-house provision allows occasional guests, not permanent occupancy by others as a housekeeping unit.20
  • Floodplain manufactured-home protections do not establish a village-wide zoning allowance for manufactured homes.22

Sources

  1. Official Website for the Village of Stillman Valley, Illinois (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  2. Title 5B, Chapter 3, Sec. 5B-3-2 — R-1 one-family dwelling district (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  3. Official Website for the Village of Stillman Valley, Illinois (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  4. Ogle County Health Department (private sewage program) (oglecountyil.gov)
  5. Private Sewage Disposal (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  6. Title 5B, Chapter 3, Sec. 5B-3-2 — R-1 one-family dwelling district (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  7. Private Sewage Disposal (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  8. Title 5B, Chapter 3, Sec. 5B-3-2 — R-1 one-family dwelling district (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  9. Title 5B, Chapter 6, Sec. 5B-6-2 — Ag agricultural district; regulations (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  10. Private Water & Closed Loop Wells (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  11. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. 225 ILCS 320/18 — Local regulation; Department standards (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Stillman Valley — Village Hall (stillmanvalley.us)
  14. Planning & Zoning FAQs (2026 county census)
  15. Title 5B, Chapter 3, Sec. 5B-3-2 — R-1 one-family dwelling district (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  16. Title 5B, Chapter 3, Sec. 5B-3-2 — R-1 one-family dwelling district (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  17. Title 5B, Chapter 3, Sec. 5B-3-3 — R-2 general residence district (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  18. Ogle County Health Department (oglecountyil.gov)
  19. Title 7, Chapter 4, Sec. 7-4-2 — Flood damage prevention definitions (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  20. Title 5B, Chapter 6, Sec. 5B-6-2 — Ag agricultural district; regulations (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  21. Official Website for the Village of Stillman Valley, Illinois (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked
  22. Title 7, Chapter 4, Sec. 7-4-7 — Protecting buildings (Village of Stillman Valley), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Stillman Valley

Village of Stillman Valley’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction projects inside the Village of Stillman Valley, including electric upgrades, storage sheds, swimming pools, fences, signs, decks, driveways, and other listed projects.

    • The village instructs applicants to call Village Hall to confirm whether a particular project needs a permit.
    “Building Permits are required in the Village of Stillman Valley for a variety of construction projects, including electric upgrades, storage sheds, swimming pools (above-ground and below-ground), fences, signs, decks, driveways, and more. Please call Village Hall at (815) 645-2200 to confirm if your project needs or does not need a permit.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Stillman Valley village limits; the village's Title 5B contains and regulates R-1, R-2, and Ag zoning districts.

    • District-specific use and dimensional rules apply.
    “In the R-1 one-family dwelling district the following regulations shall apply:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Stillman Valley village limits.

    • The opened code sections publish regulations for at least R-1 one-family dwelling, R-2 general residence, and Ag agricultural districts.
    “In the R-1 one-family dwelling district the following regulations shall apply:”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 one-family dwelling district inside Stillman Valley village.

    • The lot must also have at least 100 feet of width at the established building line.

    minimum lot area: >= 12500 square feet · minimum lot width at established building line: >= 100 feet

    “Every single-family detached dwelling hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be on a lot having an area of not less than 12,500 square feet, and a width at the established building line of not less than 100 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Buildings in the R-2 general residence district inside Stillman Valley village.
      “No building hereafter erected or structurally altered in this R-2 general residence district shall have a total lot area of less than 12,500 square feet, nor have a total lot width of less than 100 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Dwellings in the R-1 one-family dwelling district inside Stillman Valley village.

    • Side yards are at least 10 percent of lot width but not less than six feet; rear yard is at least 25 feet, reduced to 20 percent of lot depth for qualifying preexisting lots less than 125 feet deep.

    front setback: >= 30 feet · minimum side setback: >= 6 feet (Also at least 10 percent of lot width.) · rear setback: >= 25 feet (For qualifying lots less than 125 feet deep existing at the effective date, 20 percent of total lot depth.)

    “Each lot upon which a dwelling is constructed shall have a front yard of not less than 30 feet. [...] there shall be a side yard on each side equal to not less than ten percent of the width of the lot, but not less than six feet. [...] Every lot or parcel of land upon which a building is constructed shall have a rear yard of not less than 25 feet; provided, however, that for lots which are less than 125 feet in depth, in existence at the time of the effective date hereof, the rear yard required shall be reduced to 20 percent of the total depth of such lot.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Buildings in the R-2 general residence district inside Stillman Valley village.
      “For multiple-family dwellings other than one-family row dwellings, there shall be a front yard of not less than 30 feet. [...] On interior lots there shall be a side yard on each side of the principal building of not less than five feet and a combined total of side yards of not less than 15 feet [...] there shall be a rear yard of not less than 25 feet for interior lots nor less than 15 feet for corner lots.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Zoning lots in the R-1 one-family dwelling district inside Stillman Valley village.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent (Includes accessory buildings.)

    “Not more than 30 percent of the area of the zoning lot may be occupied by buildings or structures, including accessory buildings.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in the R-2 general residence district inside Stillman Valley village.

    • No building may exceed three stories or 45 feet.

    maximum stories: <= 3 stories · maximum height: <= 45 feet

    “No building shall hereafter be erected or structurally altered to exceed three stories nor shall it exceed 45 feet in height.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Campgrounds and recreational-vehicle camping inside the Ag agricultural district.

    • Campgrounds and recreational camps or retreats may require a special-use permit; the Ag district separately lists areas for tent and recreational-vehicle camping as part of recreational camps or retreats.
    “Campgrounds; [...] Recreational camps or retreats which may include any of the following: dining hall, meeting hall, picnic sites, staff and guest lodging quarters, chapel (religious), areas for tent and recreational vehicle camping;”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes installed in the Stillman Valley floodplain.

    • A manufactured home installed on a new site or a new manufactured home on an existing site triggers flood-building protection requirements; permanently installed manufactured homes must be elevated to or above the flood protection elevation and anchored under the Illinois Mobile Home Tie-Down Act.
    • This claim does not establish a general village-wide manufactured-home zoning allowance.
    “Manufactured homes or travel trailers to be permanently installed on site shall be: (1) Elevated to or above the flood protection elevation in accordance with subsection 7-4-7 (b); and (2) Anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement by being tied down in accordance with the rules and regulations for the Illinois Mobile Home Tie-Down Act issued pursuant to 77 Ill. Adm. Code § 870.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Guest houses as accessory dwellings in the Ag agricultural district.

    • The guest house must be for occasional guests, not permanent occupancy by others as a housekeeping unit; it must be designed and constructed as one dwelling unit; it may not be separated from the zoning lot unless resulting lots meet district minimums; only one guest house is allowed per principal dwelling; and it may not exceed 800 square feet of total living area.

    guest-house maximum living area: <= 800 square feet

    “The guest house shall be used for an occasional housing of guests of the occupants of the principal building to which the guest house is accessory, and not for permanent occupancy by others as housekeeping units. [...] Not more than one guest house shall be allowed per principal dwelling to which it is incidental and accessory. [...] A guest house must not exceed 800 square feet in total living area.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    New subdivisions and related development inside Stillman Valley village, with the cited mandatory standards applying to proposals subject to the flood-damage-prevention chapter.

    • Proposals must include base-flood elevation and floodplain boundary data, floodway boundary when applicable, and a signed licensed-professional-engineer statement addressing surface-water drainage under the Plat Act.
    “New subdivisions, manufactured home parks, annexation agreements, planned unit developments, and additions to manufactured home parks and subdivisions shall meet the damage prevention and building protections standards of sections 7-4-6 and 7-4-7.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway construction inside Stillman Valley village limits.

    • The village's notice says permits are required for driveways; it directs applicants to confirm project-specific requirements with Village Hall.
    “Building Permits are required in the Village of Stillman Valley for a variety of construction projects, including electric upgrades, storage sheds, swimming pools (above-ground and below-ground), fences, signs, decks, driveways, and more.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Buildings and development in the floodplain inside Stillman Valley village limits.

    • The requirement applies to new buildings, certain alterations or additions, substantial improvements, repairs to substantially damaged buildings, new or relocated manufactured homes, and travel trailers or recreational vehicles on site more than 180 days per year.
    • Buildings must be protected below the flood protection elevation using one of the ordinance's specified methods.

    RV/travel-trailer floodplain duration trigger: > 180 days per year

    “In addition to the state permit and damage prevention requirements of section 7-4-6 , all buildings located in the floodplain shall be protected from flood damage below the flood protection elevation.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-permit inquiries and applications inside Stillman Valley village limits.

    • The village directs applicants to call Village Hall at 815-645-2200 to confirm whether a project needs a permit; the opened page does not publish a complete application package, review timeline, or inspection sequence.
    “Please call Village Hall at (815) 645-2200 to confirm if your project needs or does not need a permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Stillman Valley

Village of Stillman Valley does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicState

    Private sewage disposal systems serving land inside Stillman Valley village where municipal sewer is not used.

    • IDPH also states that local health agencies may review plans as agents of IDPH or under local ordinances; the applicable local agency for a specific parcel was not verified.
    “The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems that have no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields) as well as those that discharge treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to the ground surface (such as sand filters and aerobic treatment systems).”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction of a private sewage disposal system serving land inside Stillman Valley village.

    • Plans must be reviewed and approved before construction; a local health agency may perform the review as IDPH agent or under local ordinance.
    “Staff also review and approve plans for private sewage disposal systems and alternative private sewage disposal systems before construction.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction of a private water well serving land inside Stillman Valley village.

    • IDPH and local health departments review plans, issue permits, and inspect wells; community water wells are excluded from the private-water program.
    “To ensure the safety of these water supplies, the IDPH and local health departments review water well installation plans, issue permits for new well construction, and inspect wells.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Stillman Valley or Ogle County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders undertaking construction inside Stillman Valley village limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Stillman Valley village limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Stillman Valley village limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings or changed uses inside Stillman Valley village limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Stillman Valley village limits.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Stillman Valley publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Ogle County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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