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

Rules another office applies inside Macon Township

Macon 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 adoptedNot adopted

  Building code adoption by Bureau County, which covers unincorporated Macon township (Macon township is not one of the listed municipalities with their own building codes)

  • Cities and villages with their own municipal zoning may have adopted building codes; this county statement does not cover them.
  • The county FAQ notes that public act 096-0704 (20 ilcs 3105/10.09-1) applies to newly constructed commercial buildings in non-building-code jurisdictions.

  “bureau county has not adopted a building code. however, a number of cities and villages with their own municipal zoning control within bureau county have adopted building codes.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction under the Bureau County zoning ordinance in unincorporated Macon township: the county runs zoning compliance inspections, which are not building inspections

  • Typically three zoning compliance inspections: stake-out stage, footings stage, and final inspection upon completion.
  • The county has not adopted a building code, so no county building-code inspection program is stated.
  • Commercial buildings in non-building-code jurisdictions require a qualified inspector's certificate before occupancy under 20 ILCS 3105/10.09-1.

  “typically, three zoning compliance inspections are conducted during the course of construction – an initial site inspection at the stake-out stage, a second inspection at the footings stage, and a final inspection upon completion of the project for issuance of an occupancy certificate. these inspections are not building inspections.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Construction under the Bureau County zoning ordinance in unincorporated Macon township

  • The occupancy certificate follows the final zoning inspection on completion of the project.
  • Article XI of the zoning ordinance (Permits and Certificate of Occupancy) was not opened; its conditions are not verified here.

  “typically, three zoning compliance inspections are conducted during the course of construction – an initial site inspection at the stake-out stage, a second inspection at the footings stage, and a final inspection upon completion of the project for issuance of an occupancy certificate.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Bureau County zoning district text (Article III) as published by the county; applies inside Macon township only if the county zoning ordinance governs there, which is not confirmed

  • Publication of district text is not a use permission; each district's rules were not read.

  “please follow each link below to view, download or print the selected section of the current bureau county zoning ordinance.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private septic systems inside Macon township: the Bureau County Health Department administers the septic rules, and the county page describes the service for all of Bureau County

  • Health Department evaluations and permits for septic systems; the page does not set out the technical standards or the state code, which were not verified.

  “please contact the bureau county health department for evaluations, permits, questions and concerns with wells and septic systems located in bureau county.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private septic systems inside Macon township, permitted by the Bureau County Health Department

  • Permit fees, application steps and timing were not stated on the cited page and were not verified.

  “health department staff permits and inspects food facilities, water wells, geothermal wells and septic systems”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private septic systems inside Macon township, inspected by the Bureau County Health Department

  • The cited page says the department inspects septic systems but does not state the inspection stages or timing; not verified.

  “health department staff permits and inspects food facilities, water wells, geothermal wells and septic systems”

• Well permitRequired

  Water wells drilled in Macon township, permitted by the Bureau County Health Department

  • Fees and well construction standards were not verified.

  “health department staff permits and inspects food facilities, water wells, geothermal wells and septic systems”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New dwelling construction in unincorporated Macon township under the Bureau County zoning ordinance
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in unincorporated Macon township
• Local zoning — Whether Macon township (Bureau County, IL) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Single Family Home district of the Bureau County zoning ordinance, as applied inside Macon township
• Minimum lot size — Lots in the R-1 Single Family Home district of the Bureau County zoning ordinance, as applied inside Macon 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.