Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Elwood, Illinois

Village of Elwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Elwood village limits, including new residential construction.

  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued and all fees are paid.
  • Contractors and subcontractors must be registered with the village, pay the registration fee, provide a certificate of insurance and comply with bond requirements (per the Building Permit Procedure).
  • Permits are valid for 6 months if no work is started and 12 months from issuance; extensions available on written request with a 25% fee of total permit costs.

  “no construction can be started before the permit is issued. no permits will be issued until all fees are paid.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building plans and construction inside Elwood village limits.

  • Permit procedure lists 2018/2017/2014/2015/2021 editions per code; the building-code chapter 153 amends the International codes and cites ord. 1043 (passed 4-15-2015), ord. 1088 (passed 3-7-2018) and ord. 1171 (passed 8-2-2023).
  • Chapter 153 replaces the International Plumbing Code references with the Illinois Plumbing Code.
  • Confirm current editions with the village building department before relying on a specific edition.

  “all building plans are reviewed under the following codes: 1. international building code 2. international residential code”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings inside Elwood village limits: final safety inspection before occupancy. Source assigns the inspection to the fire prevention bureau under the chapter 153 amendments.

  • Final safety inspections must be scheduled no less than 72 hours in advance.
  • General Permit Information: all inspections require a 24-hour notice; a reinspection fee applies if work is not complete or does not conform.
  • Inspection scheduling: [email protected] or 815-423-5011.

  final inspection scheduling notice: >= 72 hours

  “all buildings shall obtain a final safety inspection from the fire prevention bureau when work is completed and prior to occupancy. final safety inspections shall be scheduled no less than 72 hours in advance of the inspection.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Elwood village limits: the village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Code of Ordinances Chapter 162 (Zoning).

  • Zoning map is the official zoning map adopted by reference in § 162.041 and kept in the village clerk's office.
  • Districts established by § 162.040 (ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001) per the source's stated adoption date.
  • Code library states it is current through 2025 S-7; it is a third-party hosted copy and the official printed code should be consulted.

  “the location and boundaries of the districts established by this chapter are indicated upon the map entitled, "official zoning map, village of elwood, illinois"”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Elwood village limits.

  • Districts: A-1, GR, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5 (PUD), R-6 (PUD), C-1 to C-4, I-1 to I-4 (§ 162.040). Areas not on the map are deemed R-1 (§ 162.043(b)).

  “the village, for the purpose of this chapter is hereby divided into the following zoning districts.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-1 agricultural district (§ 162.055) inside Elwood village only; covers single-family detached dwellings and other structures occupied for residential purposes.

  • Measured as livable floor area, excluding basement or garage space.

  minimum livable floor area: >= 1200 square feet (exclusive of basement or garage space)

  “each single-family detached dwelling and any other structure occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes shall contain at least 1,200 square feet of livable floor area, exclusive of basement or garage space.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-1 agricultural district (§ 162.055) inside Elwood village only. Not the R-1 single-family district.

  • Applies to each structure of land containing a permitted or special use in A-1.
  • Minimum lot width 660 feet for each lot used for a permitted or special use (§ 162.055(f)(2)).

  minimum lot area: >= 10 acres · minimum lot width: >= 660 feet

  “(1) minimum lot area. a separate ground area of not less than ten acres shall be designated, provided and continuously maintained for each structure of land containing a permitted or special use. (2) minimum lot width. a minimum lot width of 660 feet shall be provided for each lot used for a permitted or special use.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-1 agricultural district (§ 162.055) inside Elwood village only.

  • Side and rear setbacks are both 50 feet; front setback is 75 feet from the front lot line.

  front yard setback: >= 75 feet · side yard setback: >= 50 feet · rear yard setback: >= 50 feet

  “(3) front yard. all structures shall be set back at least 75 feet from the front lot line. (4) side yard. all structures shall be set in a distance of not less than 50 feet. (5) rear yard. all structures shall be set in a distance of not less than 50 feet from the rear lot line.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-1 agricultural district (§ 162.055) inside Elwood village only.

  • Accessory structure height is measured above the principal structure as the source states.

  maximum principal structure height: <= 35 feet · maximum accessory structure height: <= 20 feet (above principal structure)

  “no principal structure shall exceed 35 feet in height, and no accessory structure shall exceed 20 feet in height above principal structure.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Farm buildings in the A-1 agricultural district inside Elwood village, exempt from the zoning chapter only.

  • Exemption does not cover residences or garages on a parcel over ten acres in size.
  • Applies only when used for the intended agricultural purposes; front yard requirements still apply.

  parcel size threshold for residences and garages: > 10 acres (residences and garages are not exempt)

  “farm buildings and structures, except for residences and garages on a parcel over ten acres in size, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter when used for the intended agricultural purposes. however, compliance shall be made with front yard requirements.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permits for new residential construction inside Elwood village.

  • Application requires two sets of plans signed and sealed by an Illinois-registered architect or structural engineer, a plat of survey, structural calculations if applicable, and fire sprinkler plans with hydraulic calculations.
  • Sprinkler plan item and contractor registration are listed in the procedure.

  “to obtain a building permit for new residential construction, the applicant must furnish:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Elwood or Will County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Elwood village.
• Certificate of occupancy — New buildings and changes of use inside Elwood village.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Elwood village, A-1 district and R-1 district.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Elwood village.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Elwood village.

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.