Zoning, building permits and septic rules in North Okaw Township, Illinois

North Okaw Township’s own rules

• Building permitNot required

  Construction on parcels inside North Okaw Township that are outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt, and Ashmore.

  • This is only the Coles County rule for parcels outside the listed municipal zoning jurisdictions.
  • All developments must still conform to state and federal laws and legislation.
  • The listed municipalities have jurisdiction within one and one-half miles of their municipal boundary and should be contacted to determine whether development is subject to their ordinance.

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

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Parcels inside North Okaw Township that are outside the zoning jurisdictions of Mattoon, Charleston, Oakland, Lerna, Humboldt, and Ashmore.

  • This is the absence of Coles County zoning districts only.
  • Municipal zoning districts may apply within the listed municipalities' zoning jurisdictions, including their stated one-and-one-half-mile jurisdiction.

  “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.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision development inside North Okaw Township where Coles County subdivision regulations apply.

  • The county identifies subdivisions as a development type whose location, siting, and operations are regulated by county ordinances.
  • The scope and possible municipal jurisdiction must be determined parcel by parcel.

  “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 floodplain areas inside North Okaw Township where Coles County floodplain ordinances apply.

  • The county identifies floodplain development as subject to ordinances regulating location, siting, and operations.
  • The scope and possible municipal jurisdiction must be determined parcel by parcel.

  “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.”

Rules another office applies inside North Okaw Township

North Okaw Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• InspectionsLimited

  Commercial buildings inside North Okaw Township.

  • The inspection requirement stated by the county applies before first use of a commercial building.
  • The county page identifies this as a requirement of state law.

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside North Okaw Township, as part of Coles County.

  • A soil evaluation is the stated first step for a new sewage system.
  • System selection and location depend on soils, landscape features, drainage patterns, and lot boundaries.

  “The sewage program is responsible for approving plans for all private sewage disposal systems, conducting on site inspections, final inspections, and complaint investigations as they are received.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside North Okaw Township, as part of Coles County.

  • The program conducts on-site inspections, final inspections, and complaint investigations.
  • For a new system, the first stated step is a soil evaluation.

  “conducting on site inspections, final inspections, and complaint investigations as they are received.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside North Okaw Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside North Okaw Township, including any area subject to a municipality's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered occupied structures inside North Okaw Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside North Okaw Township, Coles County, Illinois.
• Septic permit — Construction, alteration, or extension of private sewage disposal systems inside North Okaw 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.