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

Rules another office applies inside Arenzville Township

Arenzville 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

  New construction and projects on land in unincorporated Arenzville township (county zoning permit)

  • The county zoning officer reviews and issues building permits under the county zoning ordinance.
  • Applies to unincorporated land; village land not verified.

  “Failure to obtain a building permit before starting a project may result in a fine.”

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Solar energy systems on land in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • The county zoning ordinance refers to Cass County building and property maintenance codes, but the adopting ordinance and which codes were adopted were not located.
  • Only this solar provision was confirmed; general building-code adoption is unverified.

  “Roof or building mounted solar energy systems shall meet the requirements of all Cass County Building and Property Maintenance Codes.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Arenzville township that is outside village limits (unincorporated). County-administered zoning, not a township ordinance, applies there.

  • The county zoning department states the county ordinance applies to the unincorporated areas of the county as well as villages that do not have a zoning ordinance.
  • Whether Arenzville village has its own zoning ordinance was not verified; within village limits the county ordinance applies only if the village lacks one.

  “This applies to the unincorporated areas of the county as well as villages that do not have a zoning ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning districts applicable to unincorporated land in Arenzville township

  • The ordinance names residential, business, industrial and extraction districts (including R-2, R-3 and agricultural); the district map for Arenzville township was not located.
  • Village zoning districts within Arenzville village were not verified.

  “2. R-2 – Single-Family Residential District”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residences on land in the agricultural district in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • Applies to residences constructed in an agricultural district.

  minimum living area: >= 800 sq ft

  “The minimum living area of any residence constructed in an agricultural district must be at least eight hundred (800) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family residence or detached structure on land in the agricultural district in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • Applies to agricultural-district land; agricultural uses are otherwise exempt under 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 except for this and setback lines.

  minimum lot size: >= 3 acres

  “The minimum lot size permitted for the construction of a single-family residence or detached structure in an agricultural district is a minimum of three (3) acres.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Yards for single-family dwellings in the R-2 district in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • Front 25 feet, rear 30 feet, side 10% of lot width per the table column order; the district map was not checked.
  • Agricultural-district setback lines are set elsewhere in the ordinance and were not captured.

  front yard: 25 feet · rear yard: 30 feet

  “2) Minimum Yards: a) Front 25 feet b) Rear 30 feet c) Side 10% of lot width”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Building ground coverage on R-2 lots in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • 30% maximum ground coverage read from table column order; the district map was not checked.

  maximum ground coverage: <= 30 percent of lot

  “a) Maximum Ground Coverage 30% of lot area”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings on R-2 lots in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • Maximum height read from table column order; the district map was not checked.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “10,000 sq. ft. 75 feet 25 feet 30 feet 10% of lot 30% of lot 1,300 sq. ft. 35 feet”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems with no surface discharge (septic tanks, seepage fields) on land inside Arenzville township; the state rule applies there. Whether the Cass County Health Department acts as an IDPH agent for plan review in this area was not verified.

  • Local health agencies (about 90 in Illinois) may also review construction plans by local ordinance or as an agent of IDPH.

  “The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems that have no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields)”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of a septic or private sewage system on land inside Arenzville township

  • IDPH staff review and approve plans before construction; construction proceeds after approval.
  • Local health agency plan review may apply; the Cass County Health Department role was not verified.

  “Staff also review and approve plans for private sewage disposal systems and alternative private sewage disposal systems before construction.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Land used for agricultural purposes in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from county zoning and permits, except building or setback lines for agricultural buildings and minimum lot size for residences on agricultural land.
  • Non-agricultural uses and buildings remain subject to permit requirements.

  “the regulations of this ordinance shall not be construed to impose regulations or require permits with respect to land used for agricultural purposes, as herein defined”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permit application for projects on land in unincorporated Arenzville township

  • Applications are made to the county zoning enforcement officer; the county zoning page says the officer assists applicants.
  • Plat of survey by a registered land surveyor is required where applicable.

  “Applications for a permit shall be made in triplicate to the County Zoning Enforcement Officer on forms furnished by the County Zoning Enforcement Officer”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners building in Arenzville township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Arenzville township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Arenzville township
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in unincorporated Arenzville township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Arenzville 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.