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

Olney Township’s own rules

• Driveway accessRequired

  New entrances on township highways in Olney township's road district

  • The memo says there are nine township road districts and does not map which one covers Olney township, so the road district is not verified.
  • Requests go to the appropriate township highway commissioner.

  “requests for new entrances or extensions to entrances on township highways should be made to the appropriate township highway commissioner.”

Rules another office applies inside Olney Township

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

• Local zoningAbsent

  Unincorporated land inside Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits. This is a county-level statement; no zoning ordinance adopted by Olney township was found.

  • Land inside the City of Olney limits is not covered; the City of Olney's own zoning applies there.
  • The county memo says the incorporated municipalities, including the City of Olney, can by statute extend their zoning 1.5 miles outside their corporate limits, so land near the city may be under city zoning.
  • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and other county ordinances still apply.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits

  • The county has no zoning, so it publishes no zoning districts. Land inside the City of Olney limits has its own zoning map, not reviewed.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits. No single-family district exists because the county has no zoning.

  • Septic and sanitation rules still apply (IDPH).

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits. No single-family district exists because the county has no zoning.

  • Septic lot-size needs under IDPH rules still apply.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits. No district exists because the county has no zoning.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Building heightNone

  Building height in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits. No district exists because the county has no zoning.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  Long-term RV occupancy on private land in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits

  • Septic and sanitation rules still apply (IDPH).
  • The county has a trailer park operation ordinance, which regulates trailer parks, not single RVs on private land.
  • Land inside the City of Olney limits is not covered.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits

  • Septic and sanitation rules still apply (IDPH).
  • Land inside the City of Olney limits is not covered.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny home occupancy on private land in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits

  • Septic and sanitation rules still apply (IDPH).
  • Land inside the City of Olney limits is not covered.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured home occupancy on private land in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits

  • Septic and sanitation rules still apply (IDPH).
  • The county has a trailer park operation ordinance, which regulates trailer parks; a home placed in a trailer park is under that ordinance, not checked.

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings on private land in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits

  • Septic and sanitation rules still apply (IDPH).

  “richland county, illinois does not have a zoning ordinance for the unincorporated portions of the county.”

• Who permits septicState

  Private sewage disposal systems with no surface discharge (septic tanks, seepage fields) on land inside Olney township

  • About 90 local health agencies in Illinois also review construction plans, either under a local ordinance or as an agent of IDPH. The local agency serving Richland County and Olney township was not identified.

  “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)”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage disposal systems with no surface discharge inside Olney township

  • Plan review and approval happen before construction. The local agency that approves plans for Richland County was not identified.
  • Permit specifics, fees and forms were not verified.

  “staff also review and approve plans for private sewage disposal systems and alternative private sewage disposal systems before construction.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division in unincorporated Olney township, outside the City of Olney limits

  • The county memo names a sub-division ordinance. Its text was not opened, so thresholds and procedures are not verified.
  • Land inside the City of Olney limits is not covered.

  “richland county does have a solar farm development ordinance, a floodplain construction ordinance, a setback line ordinance, a sub-division ordinance, and a trailer park operation ordinance.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in mapped flood hazard zones in unincorporated Olney township

  • The county memo says a floodplain construction ordinance exists and that flood hazard zones are on the county GIS (richlandil.wthgis.com). The ordinance text was not opened, so permit steps and fees are not verified.
  • Applies only inside mapped flood hazard zones.

  “richland county does have a solar farm development ordinance, a floodplain construction ordinance, a setback line ordinance, a sub-division ordinance, and a trailer park operation ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New construction inside Olney township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for land inside Olney township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for land inside Olney township
• Inspections — Building inspections for land inside Olney township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for land inside Olney 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.