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

Rules another office applies inside Rural Township

Rural 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 structures on land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County), including homes and accessory buildings

  • The county says the permit is an improvement location permit and covers any style of home, including frame, manufactured, modular or mobile homes, and accessory buildings.
  • Traditionally, no building permit is required for aluminum car ports or boat docks.
  • A sewer permit from the county health department must be obtained first, if applicable.
  • A permit is typically issued within 15 business days, and construction must begin within 1 year before the permit expires.
  • Construction without a permit is a petty offense with a fine up to $500, and each week the violation remains uncorrected is a separate offense.

  “no structure of any kind shall be placed, erected, altered, changed, or located on any land within the jurisdiction of shelby county, illinois, including any unincorporated villages, without an improvement location permit (building permit).”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Rural township, which is unincorporated Shelby County. The county zoning ordinance applies here because no township zoning ordinance was located. This is a county rule, not a township ordinance.

  • No Rural Township zoning ordinance was found. This county claim should be read as applying only if the township has not adopted its own zoning.
  • The county zoning ordinance text itself was not opened; the source is the county zoning office page.

  “the zoning office is responsible for the issuance of building permits and enforcement of ordinance in any unincorporated areas of shelby county”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residences built on land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The county page gives one residence minimum and does not split it by district.
  • A variance is available on hardship.

  minimum residence size: >= 900 sq ft

  “currently, the minimum requirement for a residence is 900 square feet.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Land zoned AG (agricultural) by Shelby County inside Rural township, if any

  • Figure comes from the county's zoning permit application form table.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft

  “minimum lot width minimum lot square footage agricultural - ag single family - r1 rural residential – rr business 40 30 25 15 20 35 10 20 100 900 40 30 25 6 20 35 3 20 60 900 40 30 25 20 40 35 3 20 300 900”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Land zoned R1 (single family) by Shelby County inside Rural township, if any

    “minimum lot width minimum lot square footage agricultural - ag single family - r1 rural residential – rr business 40 30 25 15 20 35 10 20 100 900 40 30 25 6 20 35 3 20 60 900 40 30 25 20 40 35 3 20 300 900”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Land zoned RR (rural residential) by Shelby County inside Rural township, if any

    “minimum lot width minimum lot square footage agricultural - ag single family - r1 rural residential – rr business 40 30 25 15 20 35 10 20 100 900 40 30 25 6 20 35 3 20 60 900 40 30 25 20 40 35 3 20 300 900”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Living in a recreational vehicle on land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • RVs may not be used as dwelling units except in locations lawfully established for that use, such as parks and campgrounds.
  • This is a county rule; no township rule was found.

  “recreational vehicles shall not be used as dwelling units except in locations lawfully established for such use, such as parks and campgrounds”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Occupying a tiny home as a residence on land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The county says the minimum residence size is 900 square feet.
  • The county says a variance can be requested if the rule creates a hardship.

  minimum residence size: >= 900 sq ft (county residence minimum; variance available on hardship)

  “currently, the minimum requirement for a residence is 900 square feet.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes placed on land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • Manufactured homes are listed among the home types that need a county improvement location (building) permit.
  • The county's 900 square foot minimum residence size is stated for residences in general.

  “examples: any style of home, regardless of construction type, such as frame, manufactured, modular, mobile, pole built, or shouse.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic and sewer permits for a home on land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County), through the Shelby County Health Department

  • The zoning office directs applicants to the county health department for a sewer permit, 'if applicable'. The health department's own rule text was not opened.
  • State rules from the Illinois Department of Public Health may also apply and were not verified.

  “once you’ve obtained a sewer permit from the shelby county health department (if applicable), you should apply for a building permit.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Sewer or septic permit for a new home inside Rural township, through the Shelby County Health Department

  • The county says the sewer permit applies 'if applicable', so whether a permit is needed depends on the site and system.
  • The sewer permit must be obtained before the building permit is applied for.

  “once you’ve obtained a sewer permit from the shelby county health department (if applicable), you should apply for a building permit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning and building permit fees for land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The fee list is as stated on the county zoning FAQ page. The linked fee schedule PDF was not opened.
  • The county says the fee is a minimal fee to offset the zoning office cost.

  new residence permit fee: 175 USD · residential addition permit fee: 125 USD · accessory building permit fee: 125 USD · new commercial building permit fee: 500 USD · commercial accessory building permit fee: 250 USD · commercial addition permit fee: 250 USD

  “new residence: $175 residential addition: $125 accessory building: $125 new commercial building: $500 commercial accessory building: $250 commercial addition: $250”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for land inside Rural township (unincorporated Shelby County)

  • The page gives the timing and sequence (health-department sewer permit first, if applicable). It does not give the full step-by-step application process.
  • The permit expires if construction does not begin within 1 year.

  typical permit issuance time: <= 15 business days (typical)

  “typically, a permit is issued within 15 business days.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home inside Rural township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Rural township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Rural township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Rural township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits inside Rural 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.