Bolthole Index

Lake County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Antioch, Illinois

The Village of Antioch, in Lake County, Illinois, runs its own zoning (Title 10 of the Village code) and adopts its own building code, so building permits inside village limits come from the village, not Lake County12. Septic systems and private wells on lots without public sewer or water go through the Lake County Health Department34.

At a glance

Zoning
Village zoning (Title 10) applies inside Antioch limits, not the county's15
Building code
2024 International Building Code adopted by the village2
Building permit
Issued by the village building department6
Estate district lots
5-acre minimum, 20-foot yards78
R-1 lots
12,000 sq ft minimum, 35-foot height limit910
Septic
Lake County Health Department where there is no public sewer3
Wells
Lake County Water Well Program permit4
RV and tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the village1

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Antioch Building & Code Enforcement

Building permits and code enforcement inside Antioch village limits

847-395-1000

Septic permits

Lake County Health Department — Onsite Wastewater Treatment System

Septic review, approval and construction inspections for properties without public sewer service

847-377-8020

healthehs@lakecountyil.gov

500 West Winchester Road, Libertyville, IL 60048

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Antioch, Illinois have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Village of Antioch zones the land inside its limits under Title 10 of the Village code, and Lake County's own zoning covers only unincorporated land15. The residential districts are estate, suburban estate, R-1, R-2, R-3 townhouse and multiple-family, a downtown form-based district and a traditional neighborhood district11.

Dimensions depend on the district. In the Estate district, the village's closest match to rural acreage, lots need at least 5 acres, and front, side, corner-side and rear yards are each 20 feet78. Estate-district impervious coverage is capped at 10% and buildings at 35 feet1213. In R-1, the minimum lot is 12,000 square feet, with a 30-foot front yard and a 25-foot rear yard914. R-1 buildings top out at 35 feet and impervious coverage at 40%1015.

We found no separate agricultural district in the residential chapter7. Check which district a specific parcel sits in with the Village Community Development Department before you make an offer.

Do you need a building permit in Antioch, and who issues it?

The Village of Antioch building department issues building permits inside village limits, and its website says a permit exists to confirm a project meets the village's adopted code6. Lake County's Planning, Building and Development office issues building permits only in unincorporated Lake County, so a lot inside Antioch does not go to the county counter16.

The village adopted the 2024 International Building Code, and where codes conflict the more restrictive one applies2. Illinois itself does not issue building permits for privately funded construction; any permit requirement is handled by the local government17.

The village states that permit fees are generally 2% of the project cost, with a $62.00 minimum, though other costs may apply6. Applications can be submitted in person or by email6. We could not confirm the exact permit-required list for a new house, the inspection schedule or the certificate of occupancy rules, so call the building department on 847-395-10006.

How do septic permits and wells work inside Antioch?

Septic systems are not a village permit. Where public sewers do not exist, the Lake County Health Department reviews the plans and issues the construction permit, in incorporated and unincorporated Lake County alike3. The process starts with a soil evaluation by a licensed soil classifier and a design by a licensed designer or engineer3. A licensed septic contractor then applies for the permit, which is valid for 120 days3. County staff inspect the work, and no part of the system may be backfilled before approval18.

We could not confirm whether the village requires a particular lot to connect to public sewer, so ask the village before assuming a septic system is an option on any lot inside Antioch.

New private wells also need a Lake County Water Well Program permit, inside or outside municipal limits4. Call the Lake County Health Department at 847-377-802019.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Antioch?

We could not confirm the Village of Antioch's rules for living in an RV, a tiny home or a manufactured home on a lot. The village code allows uses in its residential districts according to its use table, and we have not been able to read that table. Do not assume any of these is allowed or banned.

Lake County's rules for tents and camping apply only in unincorporated land and do not govern lots inside the village20. Illinois's campground statute licenses campgrounds and does not answer whether you may live in an RV on your own lot21. Ask the Village Community Development Department, at 847-395-1000, before buying a lot with the idea of living in a camper while you build6.

Building a home in Antioch: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district for the parcel with the Village Community Development Department, since lot size and setbacks differ by district11.
  2. Ask the village whether the lot must use public sewer. If there is no public sewer, start with a soil evaluation for a Lake County Health Department septic permit3.
  3. Apply to the village building department for a building permit, in person or by email6.
  4. Get a well permit from the Lake County Water Well Program if the lot has no public water4.
  5. Build to the village's adopted 2024 International Building Code2.
  6. Have the septic work inspected by county staff before any backfilling18.

What stays with Lake County, and what should you check before you buy in Antioch?

Lake County keeps septic permits, septic inspections and well permits for lots in Antioch3184. The county's building permits and zoning for open land are described on the Lake County page; those rules apply to unincorporated land and not to lots inside the village5.

Before you buy, confirm the zoning district, floodplain status and sewer availability with the village. Lake County's effective property tax rate is 2.7%, and its median property tax bill is $8,743 a year2223. Lake County's farmland value averages $15,913 per acre24. Soil ratings in Lake County are poor for conventional septic drain fields, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system25.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the Village of Antioch's rules on building-permit requirements for a new home, inspections, certificates of occupancy, driveways or floodplain development; call the village building department at 847-395-10006.
  • Illinois does not issue building permits for private construction, so the village is the only place to ask whether a permit is needed17.
  • Lake County's rules for unincorporated land, including its short-term rental ban in residential zones, do not automatically apply inside the village26.

Sources

  1. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  2. Antioch, IL Code Title 9 Chapter 1 Building Code (9-1-1 Adoption of codes) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  3. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Health Permit Applications and Forms, quoted and re-checked
  5. Unified Development Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Antioch Building & Code Enforcement (antioch.il.gov)
  7. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  8. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  9. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  10. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  11. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  12. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  13. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  14. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  15. Antioch, IL Code Chapter 6 Residential Districts (10-6-1 and 10-6-3) (Village of Antioch), quoted and re-checked
  16. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  17. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Septic System Construction Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  19. Lake County Health Department — Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (lakecountyil.gov)
  20. § 151.113 Accessory Uses, quoted and re-checked
  21. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  25. 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
  26. Short-Term Rentals Prohibited in Unincorporated Lake County Residential Zones, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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 Village of Antioch

Village of Antioch’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Antioch village limits

    • Adoption is by Section 9-1-1 of Title 9 Chapter 1.
    • If codes conflict with each other, with other village regulations, or with technical codes adopted by the Lake County board under state law, the more restrictive applies.
    • Amendments in Section 9-1-2 were not opened in this run.
    • Overview page marks ordinances as pending review for codification.

    building code edition: 2024 international building code

    “a. building: 2024 international building code, as published by the international code council, (hereinafter referred to as the "icc"), and abbreviated "ibc."”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Antioch village limits (Village of Antioch, Lake County, IL). Not the unincorporated county area.

    • Village zoning is Title 10 of the Village code, with Chapter 6 governing residential (R) districts.
    • Permitted and special uses in R districts are allowed in accordance with section 10-5-1, which was not opened in this run.
    • Rules for estate, suburban estate, R-1, R-2, R-3, traditional neighborhood and downtown form-based districts are in Title 10.
    “the various residential districts are intended to maintain and promote a variety of housing types within the village.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Antioch village limits

    • Districts named in Section 10-6-1 are estate, suburban estate, R-1, R-2, R-3 townhouse/multiple family, downtown form based code, and TND traditional neighborhood.
    • Chapter 3 zoning map and districts and business and manufacturing chapters were not opened.
    “the residential districts ("r districts") are primarily for residential land uses and for other selected uses that are deemed compatible with residential environments.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 single-family residential district lots inside Antioch village

    • Dimensional row from the Section 10-6-3 table for item 3 (R-1).
    • Section 10-6-1(c) says R-1 lots are intended for low density single-family detached housing with a minimum of 12,000 square feet.
    • Planned unit development, traditional neighborhood and downtown standards may differ.

    minimum lot size: >= 12000 square feet

    “3. r-1: r-1 r-1 minimum lot size 12,000 square feet lot width 75 feet front yard 30 feet side yard 10% of actual lot width corner side yard 15 feet rear yard 25 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Estate district lots inside Antioch village (the semi-rural large-lot district, the closest rural-residential district)
      “1. estate: estate estate minimum lot size 5 acres lot width 165 feet front yard 20 feet side yard 20 feet corner side yard 20 feet rear yard 20 feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Estate district lots inside Antioch village

    • Front, side, corner side and rear yards are each 20 feet, per the Section 10-6-3 table, estate row.
    • Accessory structure setbacks and fence rules (chapter 9) were not opened.

    front yard setback: >= 20 feet · side yard setback: >= 20 feet · corner side yard setback: >= 20 feet · rear yard setback: >= 20 feet

    “1. estate: estate estate minimum lot size 5 acres lot width 165 feet front yard 20 feet side yard 20 feet corner side yard 20 feet rear yard 20 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 single-family residential district lots inside Antioch village
      “3. r-1: r-1 r-1 minimum lot size 12,000 square feet lot width 75 feet front yard 30 feet side yard 10% of actual lot width corner side yard 15 feet rear yard 25 feet”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 single-family residential district inside Antioch village

    • Maximum impervious area coverage 40% per the Section 10-6-3 table, R-1 row.
    • Floor area ratio (far) 35% is in the same row.

    maximum impervious area coverage: <= 40 percent

    “floor area ratio (far) 35% maxim building height 35 feet maximum impervious area coverage 40%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 single-family residential district inside Antioch village

    • Maximum building height 35 feet per the Section 10-6-3 table, R-1 row.
    • The same row sets floor area ratio (far) 35%.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “floor area ratio (far) 35% maxim building height 35 feet maximum impervious area coverage 40%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — New home construction inside Antioch village
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Antioch village
  • Inspections — Construction inspections inside Antioch village
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Antioch village
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Antioch village
18 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Village of Antioch publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lake County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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