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

Rules another office applies inside Ashmore Township

Ashmore 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 permitNot required

  Building permits for zoning or permitting purposes on land in unincorporated Coles County outside the zoning jurisdiction of the six listed municipalities, including unincorporated Ashmore township land

  • The county page limits this statement to permits 'pertaining to zoning or permitting'.
  • The page also says all developments must still conform to state and federal laws.
  • Does not cover septic permits (Coles County Health Department) or subdivision and floodplain approvals.
  • Does not apply inside the Village of Ashmore or within the 1.5-mile area where the village may apply its own rules.

  “Thus, Coles County does not require building permits, engineering reports, property specifications, and other documents pertaining to zoning or permitting.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Commercial buildings in Coles County, including Ashmore township land; residential inspection not addressed by the county page

  • Commercial buildings must be inspected before first use under state law, per the county page.
  • Inspection forms are obtained from the Coles County assessment office.

  “Commercial buildings, according to state law, must be inspected before first use and those forms can be found in the Coles County Assessment Office.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Zoning-based minimum lot size for a home on private land in unincorporated Ashmore township outside the zoning jurisdiction of the Village of Ashmore (no zoning district applies)

  • Subdivision plats created under the county subdivision regulations have plat lot-width standards (Table 1 not opened), which are separate from zoning.
  • Septic site evaluation requirements may limit a usable lot size in practice.

  “Please be advised that there is no Coles County zoning pertaining to any parcel located outside the zoning jurisdictions of the municipalities of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt, and Ashmore.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots created by a subdivision plat in unincorporated Coles County, including unincorporated Ashmore township land; not a zoning setback

  • Applies only to subdivision plats under the county regulations.
  • Table 1 (minimum setbacks) referenced in the same section was not captured.
  • Setbacks are measured from the road right-of-way line to the front of the foundation.

  side and rear setback minimum on subdivision plat: >= 10 feet (Table 1 sets other minimum setbacks)

  “Side and rear setback lines shall be ten (10) feet as a minimum.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • None — Zoning setbacks for a home on private land in unincorporated Ashmore township outside the zoning jurisdiction of the Village of Ashmore (no zoning district applies)

    “Please be advised that there is no Coles County zoning pertaining to any parcel located outside the zoning jurisdictions of the municipalities of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt, and Ashmore.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems on land inside Ashmore township, Coles County (the county health department permits systems there)

  • The Coles County Health Department issues the permit for private sewage disposal systems within Coles County.
  • Applies to Ashmore township land; the Village of Ashmore has not been checked for its own sewer rules.

  “HEALTH AUTHORITY shall mean the Coles County Health Department or an authorized representative thereof.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Constructing, altering or extending a private sewage disposal system on land inside Ashmore township, Coles County

  • Permit must be issued by the Coles County Health Department before construction, alteration or extension.
  • Permits go to an Illinois licensed private sewage disposal installation contractor registered in Coles County, or to a homeowner installing their own system.
  • Applications must be made to the Coles County Health Department and the permit issues in the applicant's name, stating maximum permissible waste loading.
  • Per the same document, the permit to construct is valid for six months from issuance and is void if construction has not started.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or extend private sewage disposal systems within Coles County unless he holds a valid permit issued by the Health Authority”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems built on land inside Ashmore township, Coles County

  • Work may not start, and inspections are not made, until a permit has been submitted to the health department.
  • Backfilling any part of a system before inspection is prohibited; a covered portion must be uncovered for inspection, per the county health department.
  • The health department asks for at least 7 days' notice before starting a job.

  “Section 8.4 of the Coles County Private Sewage Disposal System Ordinance prohibits backfilling any portion of a private sewage disposal system prior to being inspected.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-sewer sanitation (private septic system) on land inside Ashmore township, Coles County

  • Allowed only with a valid health department permit and a system that meets the county ordinance.
  • Installation must be by a licensed contractor registered in the county or by the homeowner under permit.
  • Subject to the sewer-availability rule (300 feet for a single-family residence).

  “All private sewage disposal systems within the limits of Coles County shall be installed and/or maintained by Illinois Licensed Private Sewage Disposal System Installation Contractors registered in Coles County; provided however, that a homeowner may install and/or service a private sewage disposal system which serves his own personal residence”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New single-family home on private land inside Ashmore township, Coles County, that would otherwise use a private sewage disposal system

  • Health department may refuse a private system permit where public or community sewer is available.
  • A sewer is deemed available when a public sewer line is in place within an abutting street, alley, right-of-way or easement, or when a connection is practical and permitted by the controlling authority.
  • No county rule requiring a water-service connection was found; water is not covered.
  • The Village of Ashmore's own sewer-connection rules were not opened.

  reasonable distance to public sewer, single-family residence: <= 300 feet (commercial or multi-family use allows up to 1,000 feet)

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land into subdivisions in unincorporated Coles County, including unincorporated Ashmore township land

  • Does not apply to land inside a municipality's corporate boundary or area under a city or village's review control with its own adopted plan.
  • Minor subdivisions of not more than three lots need no new right-of-way, easements, access or variations and are processed for preliminary and final plat approval together.
  • Plat approval by the county planning and subdivision committee and county board.

  “The regulations prescribe procedures and present standards for the subdivision of land within the unincorporated areas of Coles County.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in mapped flood plain areas of Coles County, including any Ashmore township land that is in a flood plain

  • The county has flood plain ordinances per its zoning page; the ordinance text was not located.
  • Applicability to specific Ashmore township parcels needs the FEMA flood map and county flood ordinance.

  “Coles County does have ordinances which regulate the location, siting, and operations of certain developments, including those in a flood plain, subdivisions, regional pollution control facilities, entertainment, junkyards, and solar/wind commercial development.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for septic or building work in Ashmore township
• Building code adopted — Whether any residential or commercial building code is adopted for unincorporated Ashmore township land
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes on unincorporated Ashmore township land
• Local zoning — Whether Ashmore township (civil township, Coles County) has adopted and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Well permit — Private water well construction on land inside Ashmore 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.