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

Rules another office applies inside Mattoon Township

Mattoon 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 land in Mattoon township outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt and Ashmore, as to zoning or permitting documents

  • The county statement is limited to documents 'pertaining to zoning or permitting'; it does not address septic permits, which are separately required.
  • All developments must still conform to state and federal laws and legislation.
  • Parcels within one and one-half miles of Mattoon's boundary may be subject to Mattoon's rules.

  “thus, coles county does not require building permits, engineering reports, property specifications, and other documents pertaining to zoning or permitting.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Commercial buildings on land in Mattoon township outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt and Ashmore

  • Inspection is required before first use for commercial buildings under state law; the county page does not state a residential inspection requirement.
  • Forms are available 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.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Land in Mattoon township outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt and Ashmore: no county zoning districts are published (there is no county zoning for these parcels)

  • The statement is the county's own and does not name Mattoon township; no township-adopted zoning districts were located in official sources.
  • Parcels within one and one-half miles of Mattoon's boundary may be subject to Mattoon's rules; the county page says to contact the municipality.

  “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.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Land in Mattoon township outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt and Ashmore: no county-imposed minimum dwelling size (there is no county zoning for these parcels)

  • The statement is the county's own and does not name Mattoon township; no township-adopted zoning ordinance was located in official sources.
  • Parcels within one and one-half miles of Mattoon's boundary may be subject to Mattoon's rules; the county page says to contact the municipality.
  • State and federal law and county health (septic) rules still apply.

  “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.”

• SetbacksNone

  Land in Mattoon township outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt and Ashmore: no county-imposed setbacks (there is no county zoning for these parcels)

  • The statement is the county's own and does not name Mattoon township; no township-adopted zoning ordinance was located in official sources.
  • Parcels within one and one-half miles of Mattoon's boundary may be subject to Mattoon's rules; the county page says to contact the municipality.
  • State and federal law and county health (septic) rules still apply.

  “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.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Land in Mattoon township outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt and Ashmore: no county-imposed lot coverage limit (there is no county zoning for these parcels)

  • The statement is the county's own and does not name Mattoon township; no township-adopted zoning ordinance was located in official sources.
  • Parcels within one and one-half miles of Mattoon's boundary may be subject to Mattoon's rules; the county page says to contact the municipality.
  • State and federal law and county health (septic) rules still apply.

  “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.”

• Building heightNone

  Land in Mattoon township outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt and Ashmore: no county-imposed building height limit (there is no county zoning for these parcels)

  • The statement is the county's own and does not name Mattoon township; no township-adopted zoning ordinance was located in official sources.
  • Parcels within one and one-half miles of Mattoon's boundary may be subject to Mattoon's rules; the county page says to contact the municipality.
  • State and federal law and county health (septic) rules still apply.

  “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 Mattoon township, administered by the Coles County Health Department (Environmental Health Division, Charleston)

  • Applies to private sewage disposal systems built, altered or extended in Coles County, including unincorporated land in Mattoon township.
  • Coles County Health Department, 825 Eighteenth Street, Charleston, Illinois, is the permitting office named in the requirements document.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter, or extend a private sewage disposal system within coles county unless he holds a valid permit issued by the coles county health department”

• Septic permitRequired

  New, altered or extended private sewage disposal systems on land inside Mattoon township

  • A permit must be issued by the Coles County Health Department before construction, alteration or extension.
  • Permits are issued only to an Illinois licensed private sewage disposal installation contractor registered in Coles County, or to a homeowner installing his own system.
  • Applications must include a complete plan and a signed home/property owner maintenance acknowledgment.

  “a permit shall only be issued to an illinois licensed private sewage disposal installation contractor who is registered in coles county or to a homeowner installing his own private sewage disposal system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems built on land inside Mattoon township, before any buried portion is covered

  • Section 8.4 of the Coles County private sewage disposal system ordinance prohibits backfilling before inspection; uncovered portions must be exposed if covered.
  • Work may not start, and no inspections are made, until a permit has been submitted to the health department.
  • Document is dated 2023/2024 and no effective date is stated.

  “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

  Private (off-grid) sanitation on land inside Mattoon township

  • Private sewage disposal is allowed only with a valid Coles County Health Department permit and to the county ordinance standards.
  • Installation must follow the county inspection and backfill rules.
  • Septic and health rules apply; no separate Mattoon township sanitation ordinance was located.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter, or extend a private sewage disposal system within coles county unless he holds a valid permit issued by the coles county health department”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions of land in Mattoon township

  • The county page confirms a county subdivision ordinance exists; its standards were not opened.
  • Parcels within one and one-half miles of Mattoon's boundary may be subject to Mattoon's subdivision rules instead.

  “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.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in a flood plain on land in Mattoon township

  • The county page says Coles County has ordinances regulating development in a flood plain; the ordinance text was not opened, so permit thresholds are not stated.
  • Other county-regulated developments on the same page include subdivisions and junkyards.

  “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.”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic permit process on land inside Mattoon township; no building-permit process is published by the county

  • Applications go to the Coles County Health Department and must be submitted at least 7 days before starting a job.
  • The county page states no county building permits are required for zoning or permitting, so the process is partial.

  permit application lead time: >= 7 days

  “permit applications are required to be submitted to this office for evaluation and approval a minimum of 7 days prior to starting a job.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential construction in Mattoon township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for land in Mattoon township outside municipal zoning jurisdictions
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for buildings in Mattoon township outside municipal zoning jurisdictions
• Local zoning — Whether Mattoon township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Well permit — Private water well permits for land inside Mattoon 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.