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

Rules another office applies inside Clement Township

Clement 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 structures and development on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • Agricultural structures are addressed by the agricultural-exemption provision.
  • The county code excludes municipal corporate limits where the municipality has adopted local zoning.

  “no land shall be developed, no new use or structure shall be established or erected, and no existing use or structure shall be enlarged, extended, altered, relocated or reconstructed until an initial certificate of zoning compliance has been issued.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work authorized by an initial zoning-compliance certificate on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • The administrator must determine by inspection that authorized work was completed in accordance with the approved plan.
  • Agricultural structures are subject to the stated agricultural-exemption conditions.

  “The Administrator shall not issue a final certificate of zoning compliance until he has determined, by inspection, that the work authorized by the initial certificate of zoning compliance has been completed in accordance with approved plan.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Structures and uses erected, enlarged, altered, relocated, or reconstructed after the effective date of the county zoning code on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • A final certificate of zoning compliance is required before the structure or use is used, occupied, or put into operation.
  • The agricultural-exemption cross-reference applies.

  “no structure or use, or part thereof, that has been erected, enlarged, altered, relocated, or reconstructed after the effective date of this Code shall be used, occupied or put into operation until a final certificate of zoning compliance has been issued.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Clement Township; Clinton County, rather than Clement Township, administers the applicable zoning code.

  • The county code does not apply within corporate limits of municipalities that have adopted local zoning codes.

  “This Code shall be applicable throughout Clinton County, except within the corporate limits of municipalities which have adopted local zoning codes.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential lots inside Clement Township that require a private sewage disposal system.

  • A larger area may be required because of drainage, soil conditions, or other potential health-problem conditions.
  • Lots recorded before the article's effective date receive special consideration.
  • A smaller area may receive a variance under the stated circumstances.
  • If zoning, subdivision, or other Clinton County laws require a larger lot, those provisions prevail.

  minimum lot area with private sewage disposal: >= 10000 square feet (A greater area may be required; variance conditions apply.) · minimum lot area with private water and private sewage disposal: >= 1 acre (A greater area may be required; variance conditions apply.)

  “Minimum lot size for a residential structure requiring a private sewage disposal system, shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet in area, and where a private water supply and a private sewage disposal system is proposed, shall be one (1) acre in size.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots and principal structures on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • The applicable measurements depend on the zoning district.
  • The schedule states a county-road centerline setback exception outside incorporated areas and a township-road setback.
  • Every lot must meet district requirements independently unless the code specifically provides otherwise.

  A District front setback: 50 feet (County-road and township-road qualifications stated in the schedule.) · A-R District front setback: 50 feet (County-road and township-road qualifications stated in the schedule.)

  “1. From front lot line: 50 ft. 50 ft. 50 ft.** 25 ft. 25 ft. None 50 ft.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal structures on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • Maximum height restrictions depend on the particular zoning district.
  • Code provisions contain stated exceptions to height limits.

  “(f) Maximum Structure Height None 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. None”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV dwelling occupancy on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • RV dwelling occupancy is allowed in lawfully established commercial campgrounds.
  • Temporary dwelling use requires approval of the Clinton County Board of Appeals and signature by the Zoning Administrator.
  • The temporary use conditions include Agricultural zoning.
  • Floodplain RV conditions prohibit permanent dwelling use and impose additional listed conditions.

  “Recreational vehicles, as defined herein, shall not be occupied for dwelling purposes except in lawfully established commercial campgrounds. The temporary use of a recreational vehicle for dwelling purposes may be permitted when an application for a permit has been approved by the Clinton County Board of Appeals and signed by the Zoning Administrator”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Use of an accessory structure as a dwelling on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  “Use of any accessory structure as a dwelling is strictly prohibited in every zoning district.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual domestic sewage disposal systems inside Clement Township, because the county rule applies within Clinton County.

  • The cited rule covers construction, alteration, or extension of an individual domestic sewage disposal system.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or extend individual domestic sewage disposal system within Clinton County, Illinois, unless he/she holds a valid permit issued by the Clinton County Health Department”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, or extension of individual domestic sewage disposal systems inside Clement Township.

  • The permit is valid for twelve months from issuance.
  • Applications must be made to the Board of Health or its authorized representative.
  • A permit may be issued only to a homeowner or licensed private sewage-disposal installation contractor.

  permit validity: 12 months

  “This permit shall be valid for a period of twelve (12) months from the date it is issued.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sanitary disposal for buildings and places where people live, work, or assemble on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • Sanitary disposal must comply with Clinton County Health regulations in County Code §18-1-1 et seq.

  “property owners of all buildings and places where people live, work, or assemble shall provide for the sanitary disposal of all sewage in accordance with the Clinton County Health regulations in Section 18-1-1 et seq. of the County Code.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction, modification, or deepening of a private water well or closed-loop well system inside Clement Township.

  • A permit is not required when the well serves a community public water system or functions as a monitoring well.
  • Applications must be in writing and signed by the licensed well contractor or registered closed-loop well contractor.
  • The permit is valid one year from issuance.

  permit validity: 1 year

  “No water well or closed loop well system shall be constructed, modified or deepened except in accordance with this Code, and it shall be unlawful to proceed with such work unless a permit has first been obtained from the Health Department.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Land and structures used or to be used for agricultural purposes on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • Agricultural structures must meet district building-setback requirements.
  • An initial certificate of zoning compliance is required for all structures in agricultural districts.
  • No fee is charged for that initial certificate in an agricultural district.
  • Other code provisions apply if land or structure ceases to be used solely for agricultural purposes.

  “said structures are required to meet building setback requirements applicable in the district in which the structure is to be built, and except that the initial certificate of zoning compliance (See Section 40-8-2 of the Zoning Code), shall be required of all structures in agricultural districts.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Proposed subdivisions inside Clement Township that are subject to private sewage disposal review.

  • Subdividers must furnish soil-absorption information or make changes requested by the Health Department so each lot can support an approved private sewage disposal system.
  • The county code specifies subdivision-plan review fees.

  subdivision plat review fee for 1-5 lots: 25 USD (Plus $10 per lot.) · subdivision plat review fee for 6 or more lots: 50 USD (Plus $10 per lot.)

  “The Health Department shall require subdividers to furnish information concerning soil absorption capacities, or require changes in a proposed subdivision plat, to reasonably ascertain that each lot of said proposed subdivision will be able to support the installation and subsequent use of an approved private sewage disposal system”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Buildings on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • The lot must abut a public road or have a permanent access easement to a public road or a private road that conforms to Subdivision Code standards.

  “No building shall be erected on any lot unless such lot abuts or has permanent easement of access to a public road or a private road that conforms to the standards set forth in the Subdivision Code.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning certificates and procedures for unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • Fees are non-refundable.
  • The schedule is not part of the zoning code and may change without an amendment.
  • School districts and other units of local government are not charged permit fees; hearing fees are assessed to all units of local government.

  residential zoning certificate fee: per 0.12 USD per square foot (Minimum $50; living area excludes basement and garage.) · mobile home zoning certificate fee: per 0.12 USD per square foot (Minimum $50.)

  “A. Residential $0.12 per sq. ft.; Min. fee $50.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Initial zoning-compliance certificates for development on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.

  • The administrator may consult technically qualified persons.
  • The proposed work must conform to applicable code provisions.
  • The initial certificate is valid one year and may be renewed for successive one-year periods upon written request and a good-faith effort to complete authorized work.

  initial certificate duration: 1 year (May be renewed under §40-8-4.)

  “The Administrator shall not issue an initial certificate of zoning compliance unless, following consultation with technically qualified persons as necessary, he determines that the proposed work conforms to the applicable provisions of this Code.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Clement Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots on unincorporated land inside Clement Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping other than RV dwelling use on unincorporated land inside Clement 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.