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

Rules another office applies inside Somer Township

Somer Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction and land use in unincorporated portions of Somer Township administered under the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance.

  • Inspection is for compliance with the County zoning ordinance; incorporated municipal areas may be subject to municipal administration instead.

  “The Department inspects construction and land use to ensure compliance with the County zoning ordinance, investigates alleged violations and issues zoning compliance certificates.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or altered uses and structures in unincorporated portions of Somer Township subject to the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance.

  • This is a zoning compliance certificate, rather than a building-code certificate of occupancy.
  • A zoning-use-permit application must be made before the certificate-related permit may issue.

  “It shall be unlawful to USE or occupy or permit the USE or occupancy of any land or STRUCTURE or part thereof hereafter created, CONSTRUCTED, erected, changed, moved, or wholly or partly ALTERED or enlarged in its USE or STRUCTURE until a Zoning Compliance Certificate shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Temporary manufactured-home placement on a lot in unincorporated Somer Township while the owner constructs a permanent dwelling.

  • Permission is part of the zoning-use permit for the permanent dwelling.
  • Permission expires upon expiration or revocation of that zoning-use permit.

  “The Zoning Administrator may permit the temporary placement of a MANUFACTURED HOME on a LOT for the use of the OWNER, while he is constructing a permanent DWELLING, when required by the OWNER. This permission shall be a part of the Zoning Use Permit for the permanent DWELLING and shall expire upon the expiration or revocation of the Zoning Use Permit.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  New or renovated private sewage disposal systems inside Somer Township, as part of Champaign County.

  • The page covers systems installed in Champaign County.
  • Systems within Champaign or Urbana city limits use C-U forms; all other county areas use County forms.

  “for new or renovated private sewage disposal systems installed in Champaign County, 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 permitRequired

  New or renovated private sewage disposal systems inside Somer Township.

  • Homeowner or Illinois Department of Public Health-licensed sewage contractor must obtain the permit before work.
  • Application, approval, the appropriate permit fee, and at least 48 hours' notice after approval are required.

  application processing time: <= 15 days · notice before work: >= 48 hours

  “An application must be submitted for approval along with the appropriate permit fee. Applications are processed within 15 days. After application approval, our office must be provided with a minimum of 48 hours' notice before starting work on a sewage system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or renovated private sewage disposal systems inside Somer Township.

  • Inspection determines whether the system was installed according to code.

  “Our staff will conduct inspections to determine that systems have been installed according to code.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water wells and closed-loop geothermal wells inside Somer Township, as part of Champaign County.

  • Construction or renovation must be by an Illinois Department of Public Health-licensed well contractor.
  • Application approval, appropriate permit fee, and at least 48 hours' notice before work are required.

  application processing time: <= 15 days · notice before work: >= 48 hours

  “Before work can begin on wells in Champaign County, a construction permit must be obtained from our office. Contractors must complete an application and submit it for approval along with the appropriate permit fee. Applications are processed within 15 days. After application approval, contractors must provide our office with a minimum of 48 hours' notice before starting work on a well.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural structures and uses subject to Champaign County zoning-use-permit fees in unincorporated Somer Township.

  • The cited exemption is from zoning-use-permit fees, not necessarily from zoning standards or other approvals.

  “USES and STRUCTURES Exempt from Zoning Use Permit Fees a. STRUCTURES and USES listed in Section 4.3.7. b. STRUCTURES and USES owned or operated by government bodies c. AGRICULTURE”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision in unincorporated portions of Somer Township administered by Champaign County.

  • The County Department of Planning and Zoning administers the County Subdivision Regulations.
  • Municipal subdivision requirements may independently apply to particular land.

  “The Champaign County Department of Planning and Zoning administers the following land use regulations: Zoning Ordinance Subdivision Regulations Special Flood Hazard Areas Ordinance Storm Water Management and Erosion Control Ordinance Nuisance Ordinance”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system and private-water-well permits inside Somer Township, as part of Champaign County.

  • Fee schedule is marked 01/25.
  • The sewage-system and well-permit requirements separately require the appropriate permit fee.

  private sewage system permit: 200 USD · private water well permit: 200 USD ($100 permit fee plus $100 inspection fee)

  “Private Sewage System Permit - $200 Variance - $200 Plat Review 1-10 lots $200 Each lot over 10 $15 WATER PROGRAM FEES Private Water Well Permit - $200 ($100 permit fee + $100 inspection fee)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system permitting inside Somer Township, as part of Champaign County.

  • Application and appropriate permit fee are required.
  • Application processing is within 15 days.
  • At least 48 hours' notice is required after approval and before work begins.

  application processing time: <= 15 days · notice before work: >= 48 hours

  “An application must be submitted for approval along with the appropriate permit fee. Applications are processed within 15 days. After application approval, our office must be provided with a minimum of 48 hours' notice before starting work on a sewage system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Somer Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Somer Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Somer Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Somer Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Somer 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.