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

Rules another office applies inside Colfax Township

Colfax 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 land use in unincorporated Colfax township, via the county zoning use permit (not a township building permit)

  • Permit is a county zoning use permit; applies outside incorporated municipalities.
  • Construction may proceed only after the approved zoning use permit is issued.
  • Brochure states that permits are required for all construction and land use except that related to the agriculture exemption (see agricultural_exemption claim).
  • Fees apply with the application.

  “yes, a zoning use permit is required for any construction or land use in the country.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Inspections of construction in unincorporated Colfax township by the county zoning office, for zoning compliance only

  • Inspections check compliance with the approved zoning use permit and the county zoning ordinance; the brochure does not describe building-code inspections.
  • Septic inspections are separate (see septic_inspection claim).

  “zoning compliance inspections are conducted to assure compliance with an approved zupa and to ensure compliance with the zoning ordinance.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Zoning compliance certificates issued by the county for unincorporated Colfax township; whether a certificate is required before occupancy is not stated

  • The county issues zoning compliance certificates; the brochure does not say when they are required.
  • No building-code certificate of occupancy was located.

  “we issue zoning use permits and maintain permanent files, inspect construction and land use to ensure compliance with the county zoning ordinance, investigate alleged violations, and issue zoning compliance certificates.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Champaign County zoning districts (including AG-1, AG-2, R-1 and others) applied in unincorporated Colfax township

  • District map not opened; the ordinance table of contents lists 'zoning districts and map' in section 5.
  • Districts are applied where the county zoning ordinance governs, not where a township has its own ordinance.

  “ag-1 agriculture 1 acre 200 50 nr10 85 75 55 15 25 20% (5), (13), (14), (15)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 single family residence district, unincorporated Colfax township

  • Footnotes (5) and (8) referenced in the row were not read.
  • Applies only where R-1 zoning is mapped; the rural residential overlay (section 5.4) may add requirements.

  minimum lot area: >= 9000 sq ft (footnotes (5) and (8) not read) · minimum average lot width: >= 80 ft

  “r-1 single family residence 9,000 80 35 2 1/2 85 75 55 10 20 30% (5), (8)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AG-1 agriculture district, unincorporated Colfax township

    “ag-1 agriculture 1 acre 200 50 nr10 85 75 55 15 25 20% (5), (13), (14), (15)”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single family residence district, unincorporated Colfax township

  • Front setback is measured from the street centerline and varies by street class: 85 ft, 75 ft, or 55 ft (major, collector, minor). The ordinance defines minor streets as township roads and other local roads.
  • Column alignment inferred from the PDF table; verify against the printed schedule.
  • Footnotes (5), (8) not read; yard reduction only by Board action per section 4.3.3.

  front setback from street centerline (major street): >= 85 ft (column alignment inferred) · front setback from street centerline (collector street): >= 75 ft (column alignment inferred) · front setback from street centerline (minor street): >= 55 ft (column alignment inferred) · side yard: >= 10 ft · rear yard: >= 20 ft

  “r-1 single family residence 9,000 80 35 2 1/2 85 75 55 10 20 30% (5), (8)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AG-1 agriculture district, unincorporated Colfax township

    “ag-1 agriculture 1 acre 200 50 nr10 85 75 55 15 25 20% (5), (13), (14), (15)”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  AG-1 agriculture district, unincorporated Colfax township

  • Footnotes (5), (13), (14), (15) not read.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 20 percent

  “ag-1 agriculture 1 acre 200 50 nr10 85 75 55 15 25 20% (5), (13), (14), (15)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single family residence district, unincorporated Colfax township

    “r-1 single family residence 9,000 80 35 2 1/2 85 75 55 10 20 30% (5), (8)”

• Building heightSpecified

  AG-1 agriculture district, unincorporated Colfax township

  • Height exceptions in section 4.3.1 not fully read.
  • Footnotes (5), (13), (14), (15) not read.

  maximum height: <= 50 ft

  “ag-1 agriculture 1 acre 200 50 nr10 85 75 55 15 25 20% (5), (13), (14), (15)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single family residence district, unincorporated Colfax township

    “r-1 single family residence 9,000 80 35 2 1/2 85 75 55 10 20 30% (5), (8)”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  A second home or second dwelling on one property in unincorporated Colfax township, including a dwelling for elderly parents or guests

  • Each home must be on a separate zoning lot; creating a new zoning lot may require a map amendment or subdivision.
  • Stated in the county FAQ summary; the ordinance's full use table was not checked for exceptions.

  “no. second homes are not allowable on any land.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems in unincorporated Colfax township, administered by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District under the county forms

  • The page says the county forms apply to all areas of Champaign County other than Champaign and Urbana city limits.
  • The health district lists the Health Ordinance of Champaign County (No. 969) and the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code among its rules; those texts were not opened.

  “for all other areas of champaign county, please use the county forms.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or renovated private sewage disposal systems in unincorporated Colfax township

  • Work may begin only after the construction permit is issued.
  • Applications are processed within 15 days, per the page.
  • Permit fee is paid with the application.

  application processing time: 15 days

  “a homeowner or an illinois department of public health-licensed sewage contractor must obtain a construction permit from our office before any work is conducted.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of private sewage systems in unincorporated Colfax township

  • The district must receive at least 48 hours' notice before work on the sewage system starts.
  • Staff inspect the installation to determine that it follows code.

  minimum notice before starting work: >= 48 hours

  “after application approval, our office must be provided with a minimum of 48 hours' notice before starting work on a sewage system.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Construction and land use that falls under the county's agriculture exemption, unincorporated Colfax township

  • Exemption scope and conditions were not defined in the sources opened; the brochure only names it.
  • All other construction and land use still needs a zoning use permit.

  “permits are required for all construction and land use except that related to the “agriculture exemption”.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land in most of the unincorporated area of Colfax township

  • Plats are reviewed by the Environment and Land Use Committee and approved by the county board.
  • The Illinois Plat Act also applies; exemptions were not checked.
  • Application fees apply.

  “these regulations (and the illinois plat act) govern the division of land in most of the unincorporated area.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning use permit fees for construction in unincorporated Colfax township

  • Fee amounts were not read; the ordinance refers to a schedule in section 9.3.1.
  • Septic construction permit fees are set by the health district and are separate.

  “a fee shall be paid in accordance with the schedule specified herein by an applicant at the time the application is filed.”

• Permit processPartial

  County zoning use permit process for unincorporated Colfax township

  • Department office: Brookens Administrative Center, Urbana; phone (217) 384-3708; office hours Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
  • Step-by-step application requirements were not read.

  “zoning use permit applications, along with required fees, are accepted and processed.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction in unincorporated Colfax township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for new homes in unincorporated Colfax township
• Local zoning — Whether Colfax township itself adopted and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in unincorporated Colfax township
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of a recreational vehicle as a residence on private land in unincorporated Colfax 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.