Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Olney, Illinois

Olney’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Structural work and demolition inside Olney city limits

  • A permit is required for structural work when the roof or foundation lines are changed.
  • A demolition permit is required when a structure is torn down.
  • The official page does not say whether other work, such as new construction, repairs or accessory buildings, needs a permit. Those questions are open.

  “building permits are required for any structural work if the roof or foundation lines are changed.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Structures inside Olney city limits, under the city's adopted building codes

  • The city page says adopted in September 2020. The page does not give an exact day, so no effective date is recorded.
  • The page also lists the 2021 Illinois Energy Conservation Code, the 2018 International Existing Building Code, the 2018 International Fire Code, the 2018 NFPA 101, the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, the 2018 International Mechanical Code and the 2017 NFPA 70.

  “the city council adopted in september 2020 the 2018 international building code, 2018 international residential code”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Olney city limits. The city administers its own zoning ordinance, Title 17 (Zoning) of the City of Olney Municipal Code.

  • The existence of Title 17 is confirmed from city Board of Appeals minutes that cite it as the controlling zoning code. The Title 17 chapter text (districts and numeric limits) was not retrieved, so specific standards are not stated in this claim.

  “required in title 17 (zoning) of the city of olney municipal code”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Front yard setback on a residential lot on White Oak Road inside Olney city limits. The cited minutes do not name the zoning district.

  • The 25-foot figure is the front yard setback Title 17 required for that lot in a variance hearing. It is not confirmed here as the setback for every district.
  • A variance was granted to allow 17 feet. The minutes do not say whether the figure applies to all districts.

  front yard setback: 25 feet

  “the petitioner was requesting a variance in the front yard setback to allow for a 17-foot front yard setback rather than the 25-foot front 1 yard setback required in title 17 (zoning) of the city of olney municipal code.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Distance between an accessory building and the main building on a residential lot at 301 Larch Drive, inside Olney city limits

    “the petitioner also requested a variance in the distance an accessory building can be from a main building to allow for a 5-foot distance rather than the 10foot distance required in title 17 (zoning) of the city of olney municipal code.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and platting of land within Olney city limits, and within the city's extraterritorial area of jurisdiction

  • The jurisdiction extends to contiguous territory not more than 1.5 miles beyond the city limits, where the code allows.
  • The ordinance is adopted as the city's land subdivision ordinance, Title 16.

  “shall govern the subdivision and platting of lands lying within the corporate limits of the city of olney”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and demolition permits for land inside Olney city limits

  • Permits are obtained at City Hall, 300 S. Whittle, Olney, IL 62450.
  • The page gives a 4 to 5 working day approval time. It does not publish an application form, a checklist or fee amounts, so the process is only partly described.

  permit approval time: four to five working days

  “permits can be obtained at city hall, 300 s. whittle, olney, il 62450. four to five working days are needed to have a permit approved.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Olney or Richland County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from city permits in Olney city
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Olney city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Olney city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Olney city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Olney city limits

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.