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

Rules another office applies inside Morgan Township

Morgan 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

  Residential and other construction on land inside Morgan township outside the six municipal zoning jurisdictions

  • The county page says all developments must still conform to state and federal laws and legislation.
  • Health-department permits for private sewage systems are separate (see septic_permit).

  “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 inside Morgan township; the county points to a state-law pre-use inspection

  • The county page limits this to commercial buildings; no residential building inspection requirement was located.
  • Inspection forms are available at 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

  Zoning districts for land inside Morgan township outside the six municipal zoning jurisdictions

  • No county zoning districts exist for unincorporated parcels; the only applicable districts are in the six municipalities.

  “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 in new subdivision plats in unincorporated Coles County, including those inside Morgan township

  • Front setbacks are measured from the road right-of-way line to the front of the foundation, with minimums set in Table 1 of the subdivision regulations (not opened).
  • Setbacks apply through plat approval, not as zoning on existing lots.

  side and rear setback minimum: >= 10 feet (subdivision lots under the county subdivision regulations)

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems on land inside Morgan township (inside Coles County)

  • The ordinance text applies 'within coles county'; the Coles County Health Department issues permits countywide.
  • Permits are issued only to Illinois-licensed installation contractors registered in Coles County, or to a homeowner installing their own system.

  “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

  Constructing, altering or extending a private sewage disposal system on land inside Morgan township

  • All applications are made to the Coles County Health Department on its forms, with a complete system plan, lot or legal description, and a signed home/property owner maintenance acknowledgment.
  • A soils evaluation is required; the permit application must include its paperwork.
  • The health department document states applications must be submitted for evaluation and approval a minimum of 7 days before starting a job.
  • The health department may refuse a septic permit where public sewer is available (see utility_connection).
  • The document is dated Nov 2023/2024; current fees and forms were not verified.

  permit validity period: 6 months (void if construction has not started within this period)

  “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 stating the name of such person for which the specific construction, alteration, or extension is proposed.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems built on land inside Morgan township

  • No work may start and no inspection is made until a permit has been submitted to the health department.
  • If any portion is covered before inspection, the owner must uncover it.

  “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 (non-municipal) sewage disposal on land inside Morgan township

  • A private sewage disposal system is lawful only with a valid Coles County Health Department permit.
  • Permits are issued only to a registered contractor or to the homeowner installing their own system; a soils evaluation is required.

  “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 stating the name of such person for which the specific construction, alteration, or extension is proposed.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New homes on land inside Morgan township that would otherwise use a private septic system

  • Sewer is deemed available when a public sewer line is in place within an adjoining street, alley, right-of-way or easement, or within a reasonable distance to which connection is practical and permitted by the controlling authority.
  • The health department may refuse a private septic permit when public or community sewer is available. No rule requiring a home to connect to public water was located.

  reasonable distance to public sewer, single-family residence: <= 300 feet (1,000 feet for a commercial establishment or multi-family dwelling)

  “the coles county health department may refuse to grant a permit for construction of a private sewage disposal system where public or community sewage systems are available.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Sewer (with conditions) — New subdivision plats in unincorporated Coles County, which includes land inside Morgan township

    “No plat of any new subdivision shall be approved by the County Board unless the same provides for and assures the construction by the developer of a sanitary sewer system adequate to serve the needs of the entire subdivision when the same is fully developed. The sanitary sewer system shall be connected to a State approved sewage disposal system. In no case shall effluent be allowed to flow into ditches of swales, highway or otherwise. The requirement for a sanitary sewer system is subject to exceptions below.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land into subdivisions within the unincorporated areas of Coles County, including Morgan township

  • Applies outside municipal boundaries and outside municipal review areas that have adopted a city plan (Illinois Municipal Code division 12 of article 11).
  • A minor subdivision is one of not more than three lots needing no new right-of-way, easement, access or variations.
  • Exemptions follow section 1(b) of the Plat Act; land-trust beneficiaries must disclose their interest.
  • Variances are granted only by county board resolution.
  • Regulations passed May 14, 1974; revised September 9, 1980, November 1992 and July 14, 1998. Contact the Coles County Regional Planning Commission at (217) 258-0521 or (217) 348-0521.

  “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 plains on land inside Morgan township outside the six municipal zoning jurisdictions

  • The county flood plain ordinance was referenced on the county page but its text and permit requirements were not located.
  • The subdivision regulations prohibit fill in floodplains that raises the 100-year flood stage more than one-tenth foot.
  • Flood plain development in the six municipal areas is governed by those municipalities.

  “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

  Permitting process for private sewage systems on land inside Morgan township; no building-permit process applies in the unincorporated county

  • The septic permit process is published (application to the Coles County Health Department, minimum 7 days' notice before starting a job).
  • No building-permit process was found because the county says it does not require building permits.

  “all applications for permits granted under provisions of this ordinance shall be made to the coles county health department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction on land inside Morgan township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for land inside Morgan township (Coles County, IL)
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes on land inside Morgan township
• Well permit — Private water well construction on land inside Morgan township
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural exemption for land inside Morgan 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.