Bolthole Index

Woodford County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and septic in Roanoke Township, Illinois

Unincorporated Roanoke Township, Illinois requires a Woodford County zoning permit for construction unless the zoning ordinance provides an exemption.1 Woodford County has not adopted a building code, but Illinois baseline building-code requirements still apply.23 Private septic and well permits come from the Woodford County Health Department.45

At a glance

Building approval
County zoning permit required for unincorporated construction unless exempt1
Zoning
County zoning applies to unincorporated township land6
Septic permits
Woodford County Health Department; published fee $2257
Minimum home size
800 square feet of habitable floor area per dwelling unit in unincorporated areas8
Agriculture District lots
2 acres minimum, except by special use permit9
Private wells
County Health Department permit; published fee $1005
Farm buildings
Qualifying agricultural and operating-farm accessory buildings have no zoning permit fee10

Who to call

Building permits

Woodford County Building and Zoning Department

Zoning permits, plat approval, variances, special uses, rezoning, floodplain administration, stormwater matters and rural addressing in unincorporated Woodford County

309-467-3023

[email protected]

115 N Main Street Room 100 Eureka, IL 61530

Septic permits

Woodford County Health Department

Plan review, permits and inspections for private septic and well systems in Woodford County

309-467-3064

[email protected]

1831 S Main Street Eureka, IL 61530

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 Roanoke 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 Roanoke Township, IL?

For unincorporated Roanoke Township, Woodford County uses a zoning permit/building permit process covering permanent, temporary and movable structures or uses unless exempted by the zoning ordinance.1 The county has not adopted a building code; that statement does not remove zoning, septic or floodplain requirements.2 Illinois also imposes statewide baseline building-code requirements, including in jurisdictions without locally adopted codes.3

The incorporated Village of Roanoke uses a separate municipal code, so establish whether the parcel is unincorporated before applying these township answers.6 For land elsewhere outside incorporated limits, see the Woodford County guide.6

Who handles building approvals in Roanoke Township?

Woodford County Building and Zoning Department issues zoning permits and processes plat approvals, variances, special uses and rezoning for unincorporated Roanoke Township.116 Call 309-467-3023 or email [email protected] for the county zoning office.11

For an unincorporated township zoning application, prepare the structure dimensions, location, intended use, construction cost and an elevation drawing or similar picture.12 A dwelling application cannot be processed until septic and soil erosion permits have been acquired.12 Private septic and well plan review remains with the Woodford County Health Department rather than the zoning counter.13

Does Roanoke Township have zoning, lot-size and small-home rules?

Unincorporated Roanoke Township follows Woodford County zoning, with district boundaries established by the official zoning map.614 In the Agriculture District, the minimum lot size is 2 acres except as provided by special use permit; residential and agricultural structures may cover at most 8% of the lot.915 In the Residential Single-Family District, minimum lot size depends on private sewage standards and Health Department review, except as provided by special use permit.16

Every dwelling unit in unincorporated Roanoke Township needs at least 800 square feet of habitable floor area, so a smaller tiny dwelling would not meet that dimensional standard.8 Ask Building and Zoning to identify the parcel district and applicable setbacks before choosing a house location.11

How do septic and well permits work in Roanoke Township?

The Woodford County Health Department reviews plans and issues permits for private septic systems and private wells in Roanoke Township, and inspects new or repaired systems.13 The published septic permit fee is $225, and the well permit fee is $100.7 Septic application review may take 2–7 working days, and final inspection must be requested at least 48 hours in advance.1718

Woodford County soil data rates only 5.7% of soils as not limited for a conventional septic drain field; that countywide rating makes site evaluation important but does not mean septic is impossible on a particular township lot.19 Ask the Health Department about the proposed water and sewage layout before committing to a home site.13

Can you live in an RV or manufactured home in Roanoke Township?

We could not confirm permission to occupy an RV or camp temporarily on private land in unincorporated Roanoke Township; ask Woodford County Building and Zoning about the proposed use before relying on an RV during construction.11 The township dwelling-size rule requires 800 square feet of habitable floor area per dwelling unit, which also matters when considering a tiny home.8

For manufactured-home treatment as a single-family detached dwelling in unincorporated Roanoke Township, the unit must be at least 24 feet wide, more than 35 feet long, installed on a permanent foundation, and have qualifying exterior siding and a pitched roof.20 Manufactured/mobile residences must meet HUD construction and safety standards.20 Ask the zoning office to confirm the district and proposed placement.11

Building a home in Roanoke Township: what comes first?

Start by confirming that the Roanoke Township parcel is unincorporated and identifying the county zoning district; the Village of Roanoke has a separate municipal code.614 Next, arrange Health Department review of the private septic and well plans, and obtain the septic and soil erosion permits needed before a dwelling zoning application can be processed.1312

Submit the zoning application with dimensions, location, use, construction cost and an elevation drawing.12 Obtain a floodplain development permit before starting regulated floodplain development.21 Check road access and any proposed land division: township tracts must abut a public or private road, and county plat procedures can also require municipal approval in an extraterritorial subdivision-control area.2223

Watch-outs

  • An agricultural-building zoning permit fee exemption in unincorporated Roanoke Township does not eliminate other applicable approvals.10
  • We could not confirm a general certificate-of-occupancy requirement for unincorporated Roanoke Township; ask Woodford County Building and Zoning what approval is needed before moving in.11
  • Woodford County Health Department handles private well permits, so arrange water-system approval as well as sewage-system approval.5

Sources

  1. Woodford County Zoning Department FAQ (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Building and Zoning (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Building Codes and Regulations (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Program, quoted and re-checked
  5. Well & Septic Information, quoted and re-checked
  6. Building and Zoning (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Well & Septic Information, quoted and re-checked
  8. woodford-county.org (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. woodford-county.org (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 154 - Zoning Ordinance (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Woodford County Building and Zoning Department (woodford-county.org)
  12. Woodford County Zoning Department FAQ (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Woodford County Health Department (woodford-county.org)
  14. Chapter 154 - Zoning Ordinance (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. woodford-county.org (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. woodford-county.org (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Septic Program, quoted and re-checked
  18. Septic Program, quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Chapter 154 - Zoning Ordinance (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. woodford-county.org (Roanoke Township), quoted and re-checked
  23. Chapter 153 - Land Subdivision Ordinance of Woodford County (Roanoke Township), 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 Roanoke Township

Rules another office applies inside Roanoke Township

Roanoke 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 and other structures in the unincorporated portion of Roanoke Township.

    • The county uses a zoning permit/building permit process; permit requirements apply to permanent, temporary, and movable buildings, structures, signs, or uses unless exempted by the Zoning Ordinance.
    • Dwellings cannot be processed until a septic permit and soil erosion permit are acquired.
    “unless and until a zoning permit is obtained”
  • Building code adoptedNot adopted (with conditions)

    Unincorporated land inside Roanoke Township.

    • The county page states that Woodford County is a non-building-code jurisdiction; zoning, floodplain, septic, subdivision, and other applicable requirements still apply.
    • This claim does not determine the separate building-code status of incorporated Village of Roanoke.
    “Woodford County is a non-building code jurisdiction, no building code is adopted.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Unincorporated land inside Roanoke Township, Woodford County, Illinois.

    • The county page expressly limits these functions to unincorporated areas; incorporated Village of Roanoke uses its own municipal code.
    “in the unincorporated areas of Woodford County”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Unincorporated Roanoke Township under the Woodford County zoning map and ordinance.

    • The official zoning map is adopted by reference and district boundaries are maintained by the county.
    • District-specific rules differ; examples include AG Agriculture, Conservation, R-1 Residential Single-Family, R-2 Residential Multi-Family, I-1 Light Industrial, I-2 Heavy Industrial, and General Commercial.
    “The County is hereby divided into districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, which together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this ordinance.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Every dwelling unit in unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • The requirement is stated as a minimum habitable floor area per dwelling unit.

    minimum habitable floor area: >= 800 square feet

    “The minimum habitable floor area shall be 800 square feet per dwelling unit.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    County Agriculture (AG) District in unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • A special use permit is an exception to the two-acre minimum.

    minimum lot size: >= 2 acres (special use permit)

    “Except as provided by special use permit, all uses and structures in the Agriculture District shall have a minimum lot size of two (2) acres.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — County R-1 Residential Single-Family District in unincorporated Roanoke Township.
      “Woodford County Health Department review”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    County Agriculture (AG) District in unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 8 percent

    “The maximum allowable coverage of any lot in this district, by residential and agricultural structures, is limited to eight percent (8%) of the total lot size.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured/mobile single-family residences in unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • The home must comply with HUD/National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.
    • To be treated as a single-family detached dwelling, the unit must be at least 24 feet wide, more than 35 feet long, installed on a permanent foundation, have brick, wood, or cosmetically equivalent exterior siding, and have a pitched roof.
    • The ordinance states these standards apply uniformly and local governments may not impose additional construction requirements.

    minimum width for single-family-dwelling treatment: >= 24 feet · minimum length for single-family-dwelling treatment: > 35 feet

    “The construction of a manufactured/mobile type of single-family residence is regulated by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and must comply with the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. Manufactured/mobile type homes may be used with or without a permanent foundation. These standards apply uniformly across the country and it is illegal for state or local unit of government to impose additional construction requirements. Manufactured/mobile type units will have a red metal tag permanently affixed to the rear of each towable unit. Manufactured/mobile type units shall be treated as a single family detached dwelling if a minimum of twenty-four feet in width and more than thirty-five feet in length, installed on a permanent foundation, and shall have brick, wood or cosmetically equivalent exterior siding and a pitched roof.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Zoning permits for agricultural buildings and accessory buildings on an operating farm in unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • The exemption concerns permit fees; it does not eliminate all zoning, septic, floodplain, erosion, or other applicable requirements.
    “No fees shall be charged for permits for buildings intended to be used for agricultural purposes or for accessory buildings located on an operating farm.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land in unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • Preliminary and final plat procedures apply.
    • If within a city or village's extraterritorial subdivision-control area, that municipality's approval must also be sought.
    • Final plat approval is by the County Board following Plat Officer and committee recommendation.
    “This Ordinance shall apply to any division of land made within the borders of Woodford County which does not fall within any city, village or incorporated town”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New structures and newly created lots in unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • Each tract must abut a public or private road.
    • Each tract must have at least 20 feet of direct access abutment.
    • A lot or parcel under six acres needs 20 feet of road frontage; a lot or parcel of six acres or more needs 60 feet.
    • Subdivision entrances must comply with applicable access requirements and may require review by the County Highway Department or township road commissioner.

    direct access abutment: >= 20 feet · road frontage for lot under 6 acres: >= 20 feet · road frontage for lot 6 acres or more: >= 60 feet

    “No structure shall be constructed or erected on a lot or tract of land or moved to a lot or tract of land which does not abut a Public or Private Road. Each Tract shall have a minimum of 20 ft. direct abutment of access to a Public or Private Road. A minimum of twenty (20) foot of road frontage for each lot or parcel less than Six (6) acres and sixty (60) foot for each lot or parcel that is Six (6) acres or more in size shall be provided for any lot created.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in the floodplain within unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • The permit application must include scaled site drawings, existing grade elevations, proposed building dimensions, lowest-floor elevation, and project cost.
    • Development above the base-flood elevation may be outside the ordinance; development below the base-flood elevation and hydraulically connected may be regulated even if not shown on the current FEMA map.
    • Other local, state, and federal permits may also be required.
    “No person, firm, corporation, or governmental body not exempted by law shall commence any development in the floodplain without first obtaining a development permit”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning permit applications for unincorporated Roanoke Township.

    • Applications are handled by the Zoning office at the Woodford County Courthouse, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Information includes dimensions, location, use, construction cost, and an elevation drawing or similar picture.
    • Dwelling applications cannot be processed until a septic permit and soil erosion permit are acquired.
    “You may stop in and fill out an application during these times.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings in unincorporated Roanoke Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Roanoke Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Roanoke Township.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Roanoke Township.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation and private onsite sewage disposal in Roanoke Township.
3 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 Roanoke Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Woodford County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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