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

Nixon Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings and structures inside Nixon Township to which DeWitt County zoning jurisdiction applies.

  • No permit is required for the four stated exceptions: specified remodeling, work not altering size/shape/dimension/height, listed public-utility installations, and qualifying public park uses.
  • County zoning jurisdiction includes lands and waters within the county and municipalities without their own zoning ordinance.

  “Hereafter, no building or structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed or structurally altered, nor shall work begin upon same until the required permit has been issued by the Administrator; except that, no permit shall be required for the following:”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Changes in occupancy or use inside Nixon Township subject to DeWitt County zoning.

  • Required for changes other than single-family dwellings.
  • Not required for agricultural land, listed utility facilities, and public-utility distributing equipment.

  “Hereafter, no change in the occupancy of land, or any change of use or occupancy in a new or existing building other than for single-family dwelling shall be made until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Administrator.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Nixon Township subject to DeWitt County zoning jurisdiction.

  • Exact parcel district must be determined from the county zoning map directory.
  • County jurisdiction includes municipalities only if they lack their own zoning ordinance.

  “the geographic area within the jurisdiction of this chapter is hereby divided into the following use districts”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures inside Nixon Township subject to DeWitt County zoning; Agricultural and primary single-family residential districts.

  • If not served by public sewer, the table requires at least the listed specifications and the County Board may require larger lots based on soil capabilities.
  • The exact zoning district for a Nixon Township parcel must be determined from the county zoning map.

  Agricultural District minimum lot area: 87120 sq ft · R-1 Low Density Single-Family minimum lot area: 12150 sq ft · R-2 High Density Single-Family minimum lot area: 7350 sq ft

  “It shall be unlawful to erect or alter any structure within the county or the incorporated municipalities affected by this chapter, unless the following minimum lot and yard areas and bulk controls are provided and maintained in connection with the structure.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures inside Nixon Township subject to DeWitt County zoning; Agricultural and primary single-family residential districts.

  • Front setbacks may be averaged where adjacent structures have different setbacks.
  • Buildings over two stories require five additional side-yard feet for each additional story.
  • Detached residential structures receive the stated rear/interior-line exception only if § 155.096(B)(5) is met.

  Agricultural District setbacks: front 50; rear 35; side 15 ft · R-1 setbacks: front 30; rear 20; side 10 ft · R-2 setbacks: front 20; rear 20; side 6 ft

  “R-1 | 12,150 | 35 | 90 | 90 | 30 | 20(c) | 10”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures inside Nixon Township subject to DeWitt County zoning; Agricultural and primary single-family residential districts.

  • Exceptions from building-height maximums may be granted as a special-use permit.
  • The Agricultural District table entry is None.

  Agricultural District maximum height: None · R-1 maximum height: 35 ft · R-2 maximum height: 35 ft

  “A | 87,120 | None | 240 | 240 | 50 | 35 | 15 RD-1(h) | 87,120 | 60 | 240 | 240 | 50(e) | 35 | 15 RD-2 | 87,120 | 35 | 240 | 240 | 50 | 35 | 15 RD-3 | 21,780 | 35 | 150 | 150 | 30 | 20 | 15 R-1 | 12,150 | 35 | 90 | 90 | 30 | 20(c) | 10 R-2 | 7,350 | 35 | 70 | 70 | 20 | 20(c) | 6”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable

  Permit fees for buildings intended for agricultural purposes or accessory buildings on an operating farm inside Nixon Township subject to county zoning.

  • The cited exemption is from permit fees; it does not itself establish exemption from every permit or land-use requirement.
  • County zoning jurisdiction must apply.

  “By state law, no fees are charged for permits for buildings intended to be used for agricultural purposes or for accessory buildings located on an operating farm.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning permits and applications inside Nixon Township where county zoning applies.

  • Fees are non-refundable.
  • Commercial/industrial fees include review and inspection fee after July 1, 2011.
  • Agricultural permit-fee exemption applies as stated by the code.

  single-family residential permit fee: 150 USD (Includes attached or detached garages, carports, decks, and porches.) · occupancy permit fee: 25 USD (Changes in land use other than agricultural, one-/two-family residence, public utility, or government purposes.)

  “Single-family residential uses [...] $150;”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning building or occupancy permit applications inside Nixon Township where county zoning applies.

  • Required exhibits may be waived by the Administrator.
  • Permit issues only if the project complies with the zoning chapter and other relevant county ordinances.

  “The jurisdiction of this chapter shall include all lands and waters within the county and within those municipalities not having in force their own zoning ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Nixon Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Nixon Township.
• Local zoning — Whether Nixon Township itself has adopted and administers a zoning ordinance.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Nixon Township.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Nixon 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.