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

Rules another office applies inside Breese Township

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

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Private sewage systems serving an owner’s personal single-family residence inside Breese Township.

  • The owner-builder exception applies only to a system serving the homeowner's own personal single-family residence.
  • A sewage permit remains required.

  “provided, however, that a home owner may install and/or service a private sewage disposal system which serves his own personal single family residence.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Breese Township, where Clinton County zoning jurisdiction applies.

  • Does not apply inside corporate limits of a municipality that has adopted its own zoning ordinance.

  “The Clinton County Zoning Ordinance became effective January, 1991 and applies to the unincorporated areas of the county as well as within villages that do not have their own zoning ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Breese Township subject to the Clinton County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The published schedule lists districts identified as A, A-R, A-R 10, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3-Overlay, C, and I.
  • Municipal zoning may apply inside municipal corporate limits.

  “Restrictions “A” “A-R” “A-R 10” “R-1” “R-2” “R-3” “R-3-Overlay” “C” “I””

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Each Clinton County zoning district on unincorporated land inside Breese Township.

  • The restriction is determined by the particular zoning district in which the lot or principal structure is located.
  • Municipal zoning may instead apply inside municipal corporate limits.

  “LOT SIZE, SETBACK AND HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS BY DISTRICT”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Each Clinton County zoning district on unincorporated land inside Breese Township.

  • The restriction is determined by the particular zoning district in which the lot or principal structure is located.
  • The schedule separately states special road-centerline and right-of-way setback conditions.

  “The above restrictions are for the particular district in which said lot/principal structure is located.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Each Clinton County zoning district on unincorporated land inside Breese Township.

  • The restriction is determined by the particular zoning district in which the lot or principal structure is located.

  “Every lot or the principal structure thereon (as the case may be) shall restrictions for the particular district in which said lot/principal structure is located. comply with the minimum lot size, minimum setbacks, and maximum height.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Breese Township.

  • The county code is administered by the Clinton County Health Department.

  “The Clinton County Private Sewage Code is under the control of the Health Department”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, replacement, or modification of a private sewage system inside Breese Township.

  • Completed application, supplementary documents, and fee are required before issuance.
  • Permit is valid for twelve months.
  • The permit must be obtained before County Zoning issues a building construction permit.

  permit validity: 12 months

  “A permit from the Clinton County Health Department is required to install, replace or modify a private sewage system prior to construction.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New private sewage-system installations inside Breese Township.

  • Inspection occurs during installation before the system is covered.
  • The system cannot be covered or operated until inspected and approved by the Health Department.

  “An onsite inspection is required for compliance with the Clinton County Private Sewage Code and State Private Sewage Disposal Act and Code prior to covering the system.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Breese Township.

  • A valid Health Department permit is required to construct, alter, or extend an individual domestic sewage-disposal system.
  • Untreated sewage or septic-tank effluent may not be discharged to a stream, ditch, ground surface, sink hole, or abandoned well.

  “It shall be unlawful to discharge untreated sewage or the effluent from any septic tank directly or indirectly to any stream, ditch, ground surface, sink hole or abandoned well”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction, modification, or sealing of private water wells inside Breese Township.

  • Well permits are valid for one year from issuance.
  • Water Well Contractors must be licensed and Closed Loop Well Contractors registered with IDPH.

  permit validity: 1 year

  “The Clinton County Health Department reviews well application plans and issues permits to construct, modify or seal private water wells and closed loop well systems.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A proposed private sewage system serving a home inside Breese Township where public or community sewer is available.

  • The Board of Health may refuse a private-sewage permit where public or community sewer is available.
  • A public sewer is deemed available if it adjoins or abuts the premises, or is within a practical connection distance.
  • For a single-family residence, reasonable distance is no more than 600 feet.
  • Annexation needed to connect to municipal sanitary sewer does not make that sewer unavailable.

  single-family reasonable sewer-availability distance: <= 600 feet

  “A reasonable distance for the purpose of this provision shall be deemed to be not greater than six hundred (600) feet for a single family residence”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals on unincorporated land inside Breese Township subject to Clinton County jurisdiction.

  • The County zoning office administers the Subdivision Ordinance.
  • Private sewage-system subdivision plats are reviewed and approved by the Health Department for private sewage disposal.

  “The zoning office also administers the Subdivision and Floodplain Ordinances.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in floodplains under Clinton County jurisdiction inside Breese Township.

  • Applies to persons, firms, corporations, and governmental bodies not exempted by law.
  • The proposed development must meet the ordinance requirements before the Floodplain Coordinator may issue a permit.

  “No person, firm, corporation, or governmental body not exempted by law shall commence any development in the floodplain without first obtaining a development permit from the Floodplain Coordinator.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Initial construction, alteration, or extension permits for individual sewage systems inside Breese Township.

  • Fee is collected when the permit application is submitted.
  • Fee is established by the Board of Health.

  individual sewage-system permit fee: 125 USD (initial construction permit, alteration, or extension)

  “There shall be a One Hundred Twenty Five Dollar ($125.00) fee charge for the initial construction permit, alteration or extension of an individual sewage system.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system permit applications inside Breese Township.

  • Application must be made to the Board of Health or authorized representative.
  • Application must include enough data to evaluate compliance.
  • The Health Department must act within 15 days of receipt.
  • Permit expires if construction has not begun within 12 months of issuance.

  application decision period: <= 15 days (after receipt of application)

  “Upon satisfactory review, a Construction Permit will be issued. Allow 15 days for sewage application review and processing.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Breese Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Breese Township.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Breese Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Completed residential construction inside Breese Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Unincorporated land inside Breese Township subject to Clinton County zoning.

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.