Bolthole Index

Will County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in Troy Township, Illinois

For unincorporated Troy Township, Illinois, the building application route is Will County Land Use; confirm your project’s building permit requirements with its Building Division.1 Will County zoning applies to unincorporated township land, while incorporated areas use the applicable municipality’s zoning authority.2 Septic services remain with Will County Health Department under Illinois private-sewage regulation.3

At a glance

Building applications
County SmartGov process for unincorporated Troy Township; confirm the project’s building permit requirement1
Zoning
Will County on unincorporated land; applicable municipality in incorporated areas2
Septic permits
Will County Health Department; soil evaluation before a new-system permit43
Agricultural lots
A-1 minimum: 10 acres and 300 feet of frontage, with a farmstead-split exception5
Residential lots
R-1 minimum: 60,000 square feet and 165 feet of frontage; well and septic requirements can further limit development6
Mobile homes
A single mobile home is permitted on an A-1 lot of at least 10 acres in unincorporated Troy Township, subject to health rules7
Private wells
State or approved local health-department permit before construction, modification or sealing8

Who to call

Building permits

Will County Land Use Department — Building Division

Building application review and construction inspections for unincorporated Troy Township; confirm project-specific building permit requirements

815-727-8634

[email protected]

58 East Clinton Street Suite 100 Joliet, IL 60432

Zoning

Will County Land Use Department — Current Planning & Zoning

Zoning applications, map amendments, special use permits, variances, and zoning-compliance review of building permit applications for unincorporated Will County

815.740.8140

[email protected]

58 E. Clinton Street, Suite 100 Joliet, IL 60432

Septic permits

Will County Health Department — Private Sewage Program (Joliet Main Office)

Private sewage disposal (septic) system construction permits and inspections for Will County; also handles private well permits

815-727-8490

501 Ella Avenue Joliet, IL 60433

Also useful

Troy Township — Supervisor’s Department

Township contact for identifying the appropriate local office

815-744-1968

25448 W Seil Rd, Shorewood, IL 60404

Planning & zoning

Troy Township — Stormwater and Site Review

Township stormwater coordination with Will County Land Use

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Troy Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Troy Township, IL?

Unincorporated Troy Township uses Will County’s SmartGov land-use application process, which supports applications, documents, inspections, payments and permit information.1 We could not confirm a complete Troy Township building permit requirement for every project; ask the Will County Building Division about the proposed work and address.9 The Building Division reviews building applications and conducts the necessary construction inspection process under the county building ordinance.9 Illinois leaves private-project building permit administration to the applicable local government.10

Who handles building applications and zoning in Troy Township?

For unincorporated Troy Township, contact Will County Land Use’s Building Division for building application review and Current Planning & Zoning for zoning compliance.911 The zoning section reviews building permit applications for compliance with the zoning ordinance.11 Incorporated township parcels are governed by the applicable municipality’s zoning authority, so establish the parcel’s municipal status before choosing an application counter.2 Will County Health Department administers private sewage services inside Troy Township, separately from building and zoning review.3

Does Troy Township have zoning, lot-size and building limits?

Will County zoning applies to unincorporated Troy Township; incorporated areas with their own zoning ordinances are excluded.2 In the A-1 agricultural district, the minimum lot area is 10 acres and minimum frontage is 300 feet, with a farmstead-split exception to the area rule.5 In R-1, the minimum is 60,000 square feet and 165 feet of frontage; health-department requirements for wells and septic can further limit development.6 Both districts cap building coverage at 20%, with R-1 exclusions for household ground-mounted solar systems and beehives.1213 Ask Current Planning & Zoning to confirm the district, setbacks and proposed use for the parcel.11

How do septic permits and wells work in Troy Township?

Will County Health Department administers private sewage permitting and inspections inside Troy Township under Illinois regulation.3 A new onsite wastewater system needs a soil evaluation before the septic permit is issued, and the application fee is non-refundable if the applicant decides not to build the system.4 Illinois requires sewage-system plan approval before construction and notification to the state or local authority at least 48 hours before work begins.14 For a private well, obtain a permit from IDPH or an approved local health department before construction, deepening, modification or sealing.8 Contact the Health Department’s Joliet office for well inspections and septic-system services.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Troy Township?

We could not confirm a township-specific answer for private-land RV living, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy; ask Will County Current Planning & Zoning for unincorporated Troy Township and the applicable municipality for incorporated land.211 The confirmed mobile-home rule for unincorporated Troy Township permits a single mobile home on an A-1 lot of at least 10 acres, subject to applicable health regulations.7 Other listed mobile-home locations include approved mobile-home parks, residential leasehold parcels and C-6 caretaker or security locations with an approved special-use permit.7 Ask the zoning office how the proposed dwelling is classified before relying on a mobile-home provision for a tiny home.11

Building a home in Troy Township: what are the steps?

  1. Establish whether the Troy Township parcel is unincorporated or under a municipality’s zoning authority.2
  2. For unincorporated land, ask Current Planning & Zoning to review the zoning district, setbacks and proposed use.11
  3. If using septic, arrange the soil evaluation and obtain the Health Department’s septic permit before construction.4
  4. Confirm building application requirements with the Building Division, then use SmartGov for the unincorporated township application and inspection process.91
  5. Coordinate site drainage and roadway access with the county and township; the county’s site review includes coordination on access and drainage into township roadside ditches.16

What should you check before buying land in Troy Township?

Subdivision of unincorporated Troy Township land is regulated by Will County’s subdivision chapter, so ask about the proposed split before buying part of a larger tract.17 Troy Township’s stormwater plan identifies county site review outside municipal boundaries and county coordination with the township on roadway access and drainage outfalls.16 State-highway driveway work requires an IDOT permit before work begins.18 Illinois floodway permitting rules also cover identified floodways in Will County.19 For county rules beyond the township, consult the Will County guide.2

Watch-outs

  • A Troy Township mailing address does not settle zoning jurisdiction: county zoning covers unincorporated land, while incorporated areas use the applicable municipality’s authority.2
  • Illinois’ owner-occupant plumbing provisions do not establish a general exemption from local building permits or inspections.20
  • Meeting R-1 lot dimensions does not guarantee development potential; well and septic requirements can further limit the site.6

Sources

  1. Will County Development Services Division (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Will County Zoning Code § 155-1.40 Applicability and Jurisdiction (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Illinois Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Will County Health Department Board of Health packet — Private Sewage Disposal Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  5. Will County Zoning Code § 155-2.30 Lot and Building Regulations (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Will County Zoning Code § 155-3.30 Lot and Building Regulations (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Will County Zoning Code § 155-9.170 Mobile Homes (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Will County Land Use Department — Building Division (willcounty.gov)
  10. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Will County Land Use Department — Current Planning & Zoning (willcounty.gov)
  12. Will County Zoning Code § 155-2.30 Lot and Building Regulations (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Will County Zoning Code § 155-3.30 Lot and Building Regulations (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Will County Health Department — Private Sewage Program (Joliet Main Office) (willcountyhealth.org)
  16. Troy Township — Stormwater and Site Review (troytownship.com)
  17. Will County Subdivision Regulations § 154.004 Applicability (Troy Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Permit Program (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. 225 ILCS 320/18 — Local regulation; Department standards (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Troy Township

Rules another office applies inside Troy Township

Troy 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 zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Unincorporated land inside Troy Township; incorporated areas are governed by the applicable municipality's zoning authority.

    • The county zoning ordinance applies within unincorporated Will County.
    • Areas within incorporated limits of cities, villages, and towns that have zoning ordinances are excluded.
    • The Troy Township official plan identifies annexed areas under the authority of the annexing communities.
    “The regulations of this zoning ordinance apply to all development, public or private, within unincorporated Will County”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Unincorporated Troy Township A-1 agricultural district.

    • The ordinance notes an exception for farmstead split provisions.
    • Other health, resource, parking, and development factors may further limit development potential.

    minimum lot area: 10 acres (See farmstead split provisions of § 155-2.40(H).) · minimum lot frontage: 300 feet

    “L1 | Minimum Lot Area (acres) | 10[1] | 2.5 [...] L2 | Minimum Lot Frontage (feet) | 300 | 300 [...] [1] See the farmstead split provisions of § 155-2.40 (H) for exceptions to this minimum lot area regulation.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Unincorporated Troy Township A-1 agricultural district.

    • The table applies to principal and accessory uses unless otherwise expressly stated.

    maximum building coverage: 20 percent

    “B1 | Maximum Building Coverage (%) | 20 | 20”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Unincorporated Troy Township R-1 residential district.

    • The table identifies all other building height as regulated by the Will County Building Ordinance.
    • Accessory-building height does not apply to attached garages.

    accessory building maximum height: 25 feet (Does not apply to attached garages.) · maximum height for all other buildings: Per Will County Building Ordinance

    “Maximum Building Height (feet) [...] Accessory Buildings [6] | 25 | 25 | 25 [...] All Other | As regulated by Will County Building Ordinance [...] [6] Does not apply to attached garages.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Unincorporated Troy Township A-1 agricultural district.
      “Maximum Building Height (feet) [...] Accessory Buildings [3] [5] | 25 | 25 [...] All Other | Per Will Co. Building Ord. [...] [3] Does not apply to farm buildings. [...] [5] Does not apply to attached garages.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile/manufactured homes in unincorporated Troy Township.

    • Allowed in approved mobile-home parks, residential leasehold parcels, or C-6 caretaker/security locations with an approved special-use permit.
    • A single mobile home is permitted on an A-1 lot of at least ten acres.
    • Mobile homes remain subject to applicable health-code regulations.

    minimum A-1 lot area for a single mobile home: >= 10 acres

    “a single mobile home is permitted on a lot in the A-1 district with an area of at least ten acres.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage systems inside Troy Township, with Will County Health Department administration and Illinois Department of Public Health statewide regulation.

    • IDPH regulates private sewage installation and reviews plans.
    • Local health agencies may review plans by local ordinance or as IDPH agents.
    • Will County Health Department administers local inspections, permitting, and private sewage services.
    “There are about 90 local health agencies in Illinois that also review sewage disposal system construction plans”
  • Well permitLimited

    Individual water supplies serving property in Troy Township.

    • Individual water supplies may be permitted subject to all applicable state and county regulations.
    • Will County Health Department provides water-well inspections and testing.
    “Individual water supplies may be permitted subject to all applicable state and county regulations.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions in unincorporated Troy Township.

    • The county subdivision chapter applies to subdivisions made within the unincorporated area of Will County.
    • Incorporated municipalities are outside this specific county-subdivision applicability statement.
    “The regulations of this chapter apply to any subdivision of land made within the unincorporated area of the county”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Temporary uses in unincorporated Troy Township.

    • Access approval from the highway authority with jurisdiction over the subject road is required for all temporary uses.
    • The claim does not establish the general driveway-permit rule for every development type.
    “Access approval from the highway authority with jurisdiction over the subject road is required.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    County land-use permitting process for unincorporated Troy Township.

    • Applicants use the county's SmartGov portal to apply, submit documents, schedule inspections, pay fees, print permits, and view permit information.
    • The county page states that the listed ordinances and plans are administered by the Development Review Division.
    “contractors and applicants apply for permits, submit documents, schedule inspections, pay fees, print their permit”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — General building permits for land inside Troy Township.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Troy Township.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Troy Township, excluding incorporated municipalities where applicable.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Troy Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Troy Township.
4 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Troy Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Will County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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