Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Sand Prairie Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside Sand Prairie Township

Sand Prairie 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 other than commercial and industrial buildings in unincorporated Tazewell County, including unincorporated Sand Prairie township

  • Permit is issued by the Tazewell County Community Development Department.
  • Work started before a building permit or erosion permit may result in fines and a stop work order.
  • Failure to obtain a permit doubles the fee required.
  • Commercial and industrial structures are handled separately under the county's commercial permitting process.

  “prior to the issuance of a building permit by the tazewell county community development department for construction of all structures other than commercial and industrial”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowner doing their own residential work in unincorporated Sand Prairie township, as shown in county permit packet

  • The packet's owner-builder language covers plumbing: non-homeowners must provide a valid Illinois plumbing license.
  • The packet lets an owner list 'self' as the general contractor on the permit application.
  • Electrical and HVAC licensing rules are not stated in the packet and are not verified here.

  “*anyone other than the homeowner doing their own work must provide a copy of a valid state of illinois plumbing license*”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Sand Prairie township. This is Tazewell County's zoning code, not a Sand Prairie township ordinance; no township-adopted zoning ordinance was located.

  • The county zoning code applies in unincorporated areas of Tazewell County, which includes land in Sand Prairie township outside any incorporated municipality.
  • Not a township-adopted ordinance; the county zoning code is administered by the county Community Development Department.
  • Incorporated municipalities inside the township are governed by their own codes and are not covered here.

  “tazewell county zoning code adopted december – 1997 implemented january 1, 1998”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  County zoning districts applicable in unincorporated Sand Prairie township

  • The brochure names only the residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial districts in its setback table; the district map and full district list were not opened.
  • Other districts may exist in the county code.

  “rear & side yard setbacks principal structure accessory structure rear side rear side r-1 & r-2 20' 10' 5' 5' r-r 30' 30' 15' 15' a-1, a-2 & cons. 50' 30' 25' 15' c-1 & c-2 20' 10' 5' 5' i-1 & i-2 20' 15' 10' 10'”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 and R-2 residential districts in unincorporated Sand Prairie township; rear and side yards. The brochure does not define which district is the main single-family district, so confirm against the zoning code.

  • Figures are the county brochure's table, not the zoning code text.
  • Road setbacks (highway, major and minor road centerline or right-of-way, whichever is greater) appear separately in the same brochure and were not converted here.
  • Accessory structures have separate rear and side figures.

  principal structure rear yard setback: 20 feet · principal structure side yard setback: 10 feet · accessory structure rear yard setback: 5 feet · accessory structure side yard setback: 5 feet

  “rear & side yard setbacks principal structure accessory structure rear side rear side r-1 & r-2 20' 10' 5' 5'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 and A-2 agricultural districts (and the brochure's 'cons.' district) in unincorporated Sand Prairie township; rear and side yards

    “rear & side yard setbacks principal structure accessory structure rear side rear side r-1 & r-2 20' 10' 5' 5' r-r 30' 30' 15' 15' a-1, a-2 & cons. 50' 30' 25' 15'”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic approval for new dwellings in unincorporated Sand Prairie township, through the Tazewell County Health Department

  • The county packet names the Tazewell County Health Department (309-477-2223) as the septic approver.
  • The health department service area is not separately quoted; this applies because the county packet names it as the approver for Tazewell County residential permits.
  • Alternative for sewer-served property: a sanitary district hookup letter (see utility claim).

  “septic permit or written approval from the tazewell county health department (309-477-2223)”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residential construction on a septic system in unincorporated Sand Prairie township, where a septic system applies

  • Applies only when applicable, per the county brochure.
  • A copy of the septic permit must accompany the building permit application.
  • Properties under 2 acres must also show a replacement septic area on the site plan (county packet).

  “copy of septic permit from the tazewell county health department approving sewage disposal facility, when applicable.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New home in unincorporated Sand Prairie township, where a sanitary district serves the lot

  • Proof of septic approval OR a sanitary district letter stating the owner has applied for hookup is required, per county packet.
  • No water-connection requirement was found in the county packet.
  • The sanitary district serving the land is not identified; whether service is available is unverified.

  “or, an appropriate letter from the sanitary district stating that owners have applied for hookup.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or utilized driveway/entrance on a lot in unincorporated Sand Prairie township; the road authority is the township road commissioner for township roads

  • Road access permit comes from the township road commissioner, county highway or IDOT, depending on the road.
  • Sand Prairie township road commissioner is listed in the county directory as Wylie Coriell, 15425 Woodrow Rd., Green Valley, IL 61534, 309-696-2059.
  • Culvert size is set by the commissioner; no head walls on culvert ends and no sump pumps draining into the ditch are listed as permit conditions.

  “copy of access permit from township, state or county road official responsible for road jurisdiction. when installing a new driveway or utilizing an existing driveway.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permit fees for new dwellings in unincorporated Sand Prairie township

  • The brochure lists a fee schedule with no stated effective date; the 2025 upload date is the only date shown.
  • Failure to obtain a permit doubles the fee required.
  • A separate 911 addressing fee of $50.00 per unit applies and must be filed before permit issuance.
  • Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, deck, accessory structure and other fees are listed in the same brochure and are not all transcribed here.

  1 and 2 family dwelling permit fee, 200 square feet or less: 200 USD (per 2025 county brochure) · 1 and 2 family dwelling permit fee, 700 to 1,000 square feet: 400 USD (per 2025 county brochure) · 1 and 2 family dwelling permit fee, in excess of 4,000 square feet: per 50 USD (per 1,000 square feet or fraction thereof, per 2025 county brochure)

  “dwellings: 1 & 2 family - new, additions, alteration and repairs • 200 square feet or less $200.00 • 201 to 699 square feet $300.00 • 700 to 1,000 square feet $400.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Residential building permit process in unincorporated Sand Prairie township

  • The county publishes a submittal checklist and office hours, but the online application form was not opened.
  • Permits are issued between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, per the packet.
  • A 911 address application and fee must be filed before the building permit issues, about a ten-day wait.
  • The packet says a 48-hour review period does not guarantee a permit within 48 hours.

  “applications are accepted and permits issued between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. monday through friday.”

Still unanswered

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

• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in unincorporated Sand Prairie township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in unincorporated Sand Prairie township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Sand Prairie township, R-1, R-2, R-R and A-1/A-2 districts
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Sand Prairie township
• Building height — Maximum building height in unincorporated Sand Prairie 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.