Zoning, building permits and septic rules in South Rock Island Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside South Rock Island Township

South Rock Island 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

  Construction of structures in unincorporated Rock Island County, including inside South Rock Island township where the land is unincorporated

  • Agricultural structures can be exempt from fees but still require a permit.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • Applies only to unincorporated land; cities have their own departments.

  “require building permits, fees, minimum design standards with specifications and occupancy permits for all structures and buildings to be constructed in the unincorporated areas of rock island county except as exempted.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction in unincorporated Rock Island County (land inside South Rock Island township only where it is unincorporated)

  • The county page lists the codes 'being used (not inclusive of all federal and state of illinois requirements)', with local amendments.
  • A county permit application form for a new residence lists the 2012 International Residential Code, so the county's own materials are inconsistent on edition. Confirm with the Zoning & Building Safety office.
  • Parcels inside City of Rock Island follow city codes, not these.

  “2021 international residential code (see note 1)”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in unincorporated Rock Island County, including unincorporated land inside South Rock Island township

  • The county building department handles on-site inspections for permitted work.
  • Inspection frequency and stages were not located.

  “the building department is responsible for enforcement of the county's building codes, including reviewing plans for new and altered construction projects, issuing building permits and occupancy permits and on-site inspections.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Structures built in unincorporated Rock Island County, including unincorporated land inside South Rock Island township

  • The source says occupancy permits are required for all structures to be constructed in unincorporated areas except as exempted.
  • The county also refers to occupancy permits on its Building Safety page; the exact issuance steps were not opened.

  “require building permits, fees, minimum design standards with specifications and occupancy permits for all structures and buildings to be constructed in the unincorporated areas of rock island county except as exempted.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside South Rock Island township that is unincorporated Rock Island County. Parcels inside City of Rock Island limits follow city zoning, not this county ordinance.

  • The county page says the county zoning and building department only has authority over properties located in unincorporated Rock Island County and that all cities and villages have their own departments.
  • The county page names the Quad City unified ordinance and says zoning regulations sit in Title XV of the county code of ordinances. The ordinance text was not opened in this research pass.
  • The township's site says the township is in the city of Rock Island, so the city/county split inside the township must be confirmed per parcel.

  “in 2000 rock island county adopted the quad city unified ordinance.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Building sites in unincorporated Rock Island County; the county FAQ gives no single district figure

  • The county FAQ says minimum sizes vary depending on where the property is located.
  • The FAQ is not the ordinance; the district lot-size schedule was not opened.
  • Outlying areas may require a larger building site.

  minimum parcel size (smallest parcels): >= 20000 square feet (varies by location; FAQ wording 'may be') · minimum building site in extreme outlying areas: >= 40 acres (county may require; FAQ wording 'may require')

  “the smallest parcels may be 20,000 square feet (just shy of 1/2 acre). if you are looking at a property that is in the extreme outlying areas, rock island county may require a minimum of 40 acres for a building site.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural structures in unincorporated Rock Island County only; residential setbacks not located

  • Setbacks apply to agricultural structures and buildings, as the form states.
  • The form says yard requirements also follow the property's zoning classification; the district schedule was not opened.
  • Floodplain rules also apply in special flood hazard areas.

  primary structure front yard setback: >= 40 feet (from common right-of-way/property line boundary) · primary structure rear yard setback: >= 40 feet (from property line boundary) · primary structure side yard setback: >= 15 feet (from property line boundary) · accessory structure rear yard setback: >= 5 feet (from property line boundary) · accessory structure side yard setback: >= 5 feet (from property line boundary) · accessory structure front yard setback: >= 40 feet (from common right-of-way/property line boundary)

  “primary structure o front yard - minimum 40 feet back from common right-of-way/property line boundary. o rear yard - minimum 40 feet back from property line boundary. o side yard - minimum 15 feet back from property line boundary.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems in unincorporated Rock Island County, including unincorporated land inside South Rock Island township

  • The county building page says approval from the county health department's environmental health division is needed before a building permit for a septic system.
  • State private sewage rules were not verified from an official page in this pass.
  • Parcels inside City of Rock Island follow city rules.

  “approval from environmental health, a division of the rock island county health department for a septic system.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes needing septic in unincorporated Rock Island County, including unincorporated land inside South Rock Island township

  • Health-department approval for the septic system is a required step before the county building permit.
  • The form, fee, and separate permit issuance steps were not opened.

  “approval from environmental health, a division of the rock island county health department for a septic system.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural structures in unincorporated Rock Island County

  • Agricultural structure permits are issued free of charge but a permit is still required.
  • Applies to agricultural purposes as defined in the county form (principal activity on the land).

  “shall be issued free of any charge. however, a permit is still required.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in unincorporated Rock Island County

  • The county lists a subdivision resolution among codes in use; its text was not opened.
  • Parcels inside City of Rock Island follow city subdivision rules.

  “rock island county subdivision resolution rock island county zoning resolution rock island county stormwater ordinance”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New home building permits in unincorporated Rock Island County

  • Plans must include a site layout, two sets of blueprints, engineered truss drawings stamped by an Illinois-licensed engineer, and a contractor list, per the county page.
  • Septic approval from the county health department is needed first.
  • Applies only to unincorporated land.

  “what information do i need to obtain a building permit for my new home? the plans you submit should have enough detail to allow someone with absolutely no knowledge of your project to be able to go build your project.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in unincorporated Rock Island County
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts in unincorporated Rock Island County
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Rock Island County
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in unincorporated Rock Island County
• Building height — Building height in unincorporated Rock Island County

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.