Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Looking Glass Township, Illinois

Looking Glass Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Looking Glass Township, where Clinton County administers the applicable zoning ordinance; this is not evidence that the township itself adopted a zoning ordinance.

  • The county ordinance applies to unincorporated areas and villages without their own zoning ordinance; incorporated areas with their own zoning are excluded.

  “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.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Manufactured residences on unincorporated land inside Looking Glass Township subject to county zoning.

  • The county zoning ordinance applies to unincorporated areas and villages without their own zoning ordinance.
  • The identified minimum applies to the county-code definition of a manufactured residence, not all single-family dwellings or all zoning districts.

  minimum living area: >= 900 square feet (Manufactured residence; garages, carports, porches, and attachments are excluded from the stated average width/length calculation.)

  “a manufactured residence must have a minimum of 3/12 pitch roof, six (6) inch minimum eave overhand, and must have a living area of not less than nine hundred (900) square feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured residences on unincorporated land inside Looking Glass Township subject to county zoning.

  • The county zoning ordinance applies only to unincorporated areas and villages without their own zoning ordinance.
  • A manufactured residence must have all wheels and towing devices removed, a minimum 3/12 roof pitch, a six-inch minimum eave overhang, and at least 900 square feet of living area.
  • It must meet adopted federal and/or local building codes.

  minimum living area: >= 900 square feet (Manufactured residence.)

  “a manufactured residence must have a minimum of 3/12 pitch roof, six (6) inch minimum eave overhand, and must have a living area of not less than nine hundred (900) square feet.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals on unincorporated land inside Looking Glass Township subject to county administration.

  • The county zoning office administers the Subdivision Ordinances.
  • Private sewage disposal subdivision plats are also reviewed and approved by the Health Department for use of private sewage disposal systems.

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

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in floodplain areas on unincorporated land inside Looking Glass Township subject to county floodplain administration.

  • The county zoning office administers the Floodplain Ordinance.
  • Failure to obtain a floodplain development permit or comply with permit or variance conditions is a code violation.

  “Failure to obtain a permit for development in the floodplain or failure to comply with the conditions of a permit or a variance shall be deemed to be a violation of this Code.”

Rules another office applies inside Looking Glass Township

Looking Glass 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

  Installation of a private sewage disposal system inside Looking Glass Township.

  • A sewage permit is required before construction.
  • The property owner may install only a private sewage disposal system; otherwise installation is limited to licensed private sewage disposal installation contractors.
  • The Health Department must receive a completed application, supplementary documents, and fee before issuing the permit.

  “Only Licensed Private Sewage Disposal Installation Contractors or the property owner may install a private sewage disposal system.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Looking Glass Township.

  • The Health Department controls the Clinton County Private Sewage Code.
  • This finding concerns private sewage systems, not public sewer service.

  “The Clinton County Private Sewage Code is under the control of the Health Department to prevent the transmission of disease organisms, environmental contamination, and nuisances resulting from the improper handling, storage, transportation and disposal of sewage from private sewage disposal systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

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

  • A completed application, supplementary documents, and fee are required before issuance.
  • Permits are valid for twelve months.
  • The sewage permit must be obtained before County Zoning issues a building construction permit.

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage-system installation inside Looking Glass Township.

  • Inspection occurs during installation and before the system is covered.
  • The purpose is to ensure Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code requirements are met.

  “An inspection of the sewage system is conducted during installation prior to covering to ensure Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code requirements are being met.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal for homes inside Looking Glass Township.

  • Construction, alteration, or extension requires a Health Department permit.
  • The Health Department may refuse a private-sewage permit where public or community sewage systems are available.
  • A single-family public-sewer connection is deemed reasonably available within 600 feet when practical and permitted by the controlling authority.

  single-family reasonable sewer distance: <= 600 feet (Where a connection is practical and permitted by the sewer’s controlling authority.)

  “The Board of Health or its Authorized Representative may refuse to grant a permit for the construction of a private sewage disposal system where public or community sewage systems are available.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction, modification, or sealing of private water wells and closed-loop well systems inside Looking Glass Township.

  • The Health Department reviews applications and issues permits.
  • Well permits are valid for one year from issuance.
  • Water-well contractors must be licensed and closed-loop contractors must be registered with IDPH.

  well permit validity: 1 year (From the date of issuance.)

  “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.”

• Permit processPartial

  Private sewage-system permits inside Looking Glass Township.

  • The application, supplementary documents, and fee must be received before issuance.
  • Permit validity is twelve months.
  • The sewage permit must precede a County Zoning building construction permit.

  sewage permit validity: 12 months (Must be obtained before County Zoning issues a building construction permit.)

  “The Health Department must receive a completed application, supplementary documents and fee prior to issuing a sewage permit. Sewage permits are valid for twelve months and must be obtained before County Zoning issues a building construction permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Looking Glass Township.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Looking Glass Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Looking Glass Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Looking Glass Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Looking Glass 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.