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

Rules another office applies inside Shirland Township

Shirland 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 code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction in unincorporated Winnebago County, which includes the unincorporated land inside Shirland township, under the county building division

  • The county page states its codes as of April 1, 2016; newer code editions may have been adopted and were not checked.
  • The list also includes the 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code.
  • Municipalities inside Shirland township's area, if any, are not covered by this county rule.

  International Building Code: 2015 edition · International Residential Code: 2015 edition · National Electrical Code: 2014 edition

  “winnebago county building division follows the below listed codes. 2015 international building code 2015 international residential code 2014 national electric code”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in unincorporated Winnebago County, which includes unincorporated land inside Shirland township, where the county's Unified Development Ordinance (zoning and subdivisions) applies because the township has not been shown to adopt its own zoning. This is a county rule, not a Shirland township ordinance.

  • The county planning and zoning staff provides zoning services for unincorporated land; if the property is within village or municipal limits, that governing municipality provides the zoning service instead (wincoil.gov planning page).
  • Shirland township's own zoning status is not established by an official township source; see the township-scoped local_zoning claim.
  • The county code page lists the UDO as the county ordinance; the full text was not opened on an official county page within the research budget.

  “county codes/ordinances: winnebago county unified development ordinance (zoning & subdivisions)”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions of land in unincorporated Winnebago County, which includes unincorporated land inside Shirland township

  • Covers large-scale subdivisions and smaller development such as garden sheds and fences, per the county planning page.
  • Subdivision rules sit in the county Unified Development Ordinance (zoning & subdivisions); its articles were not opened.
  • Land inside a village or municipality is governed by that municipality instead.

  “the planning & zoning staff provides planning, zoning and subdivision services and informs elected/appointed officials and citizens regarding all development in unincorporated winnebago county,”

• Permit processPartial

  County zoning map amendments (rezoning) for unincorporated land inside Shirland township

  • The county page describes rezoning and special use permits as zoning processes; the full procedure, fees and forms were not opened.
  • Other permit processes (building, septic, well) were not located on official pages.

  “zoning map amendment (rezoning): changes the zoning of the subject property.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New construction on private land inside Shirland township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Shirland township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Shirland township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new homes inside Shirland township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts that apply to unincorporated land inside Shirland 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.