Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Altamont, Illinois

Altamont’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction projects inside Altamont city limits.

  • A Certificate of Zoning Compliance and a Building Permit must be obtained before construction begins.
  • The form requires the property owner or duly authorized agent to apply and to include a legal description and site plan.

  “Prior to the start of a building project an “Application for Certificate of Zoning Compliance, Building/Construction Permit and Enterprise Zone Benefits” form must be completed.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Building sites subject to the city's zoning/building-compliance application procedure.

  • The identified inspection establishes zoning compliance within the designated zone area.
  • Before inspection, the applicant should mark the outside corners of the project with at least four stakes.

  “It is the zoning administrators duty and application requirement to inspect the building site to establish zoning compliances within the designated zone area.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Structures and land uses within Altamont city corporate limits.

  • The zoning code states that it is applicable within the corporate limits of the municipality.

  “The boundaries of the listed zoning districts are hereby established as shown on the zoning map of this municipality.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land within Altamont city limits.

  • The zoning code divides the city into districts and regulates permitted and special uses by district.

  “The boundaries of the listed zoning districts are hereby established as shown on the zoning map of this municipality.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Travel trailers and other recreational vehicles inside Altamont city limits.

  • The cited recreational-vehicle regulations do not apply to vehicles parked in a permitted travel-trailer park conforming to the city code.
  • Paragraphs (A), (C), and (D) do not apply on a permitted recreational-vehicle sales lot.

  “No travel trailer or other recreational vehicle shall be used as a dwelling.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home occupancy inside Altamont city limits.

  • Manufactured homes are prohibited in SR-1.
  • In SR-2, manufactured homes are allowed only by special-use permit.
  • In MH-1, manufactured homes and modular homes are permitted if they conform to all applicable Revised Code requirements.
  • Manufactured housing outside an approved mobile-home park must be on property owned by the housing-unit owner.

  “Manufactured homes and modular homes, provided said units conform to all applicable requirements of the Revised Code.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Use of an accessory structure as a dwelling inside Altamont city limits.

  “Use of any accessory structure as a dwelling is strictly prohibited throughout the City.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewerage systems inside Altamont city limits.

  • Allowed only when public sewerage is not reasonably accessible.
  • The private system must conform to the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act, Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code No. 4.002, pertinent current Illinois EPA regulations, and applicable city codes and regulations.

  “Whenever the public sewerage system is not reasonably accessible, a private sewerage system shall be installed and used.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Sewage service for development inside Altamont city limits.

  • Where public sewerage is not reasonably accessible, a private sewerage system must be installed and used.
  • A Certificate of Zoning Compliance may not issue until the Administrator, after consultation with the City Engineer, is satisfied that listed private-system requirements will be met.

  “Whenever the public sanitary sewerage system is reasonably accessible (that is, when the distance from the property in question to the nearest public sewer with available capacity does not exceed one hundred (100) feet, all sewage shall be discharged into such system whether or not a private sewerage system already exists or is more convenient.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Construction permit applicants inside Altamont city limits.

  • The applicant must submit the designated application before project start.
  • The property owner or authorized agent must apply and include a legal description and site plan.
  • If construction complies with zoning, permits are issued as applicable.

  “Application for permits must be made by the owner of the property on which the construction is to take place or his duly authorized agent. A legal description of the property and a site plan of the proposed construction must be included with this application.”

Rules another office applies inside Altamont

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Principal single-family building in the SR-1 Single-Family Residence District (Large Lot) inside Altamont city limits.

  • Only one principal single-family building may be on a lot in SR-1.

  minimum living area: >= 900 square feet

  “In the “SR-1” District, only one (1) principal building (single-family) shall be situated on any one (1) lot. The living area shall have a minimum of nine hundred (900) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Principal building in the SR-1 Single-Family Residence District (Large Lot) inside Altamont city limits.

  • Every principal building in SR-1 must conform to the listed lot and building requirements.

  minimum lot area: >= 10000 square feet · minimum lot width at established building line: >= 80 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 100 feet

  “Every principal building erected in the “SR-1” District shall conform to the following requirements:”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Principal building in the SR-1 Single-Family Residence District (Large Lot) inside Altamont city limits.

  maximum percent coverage per lot: <= 25 percent

  “(G) Maximum Percent Coverage Per Lot 25%”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual domestic sewage disposal systems inside Altamont city limits, which are within Effingham County.

  • The county code requires permits issued by the Health Department for construction, alteration, or extension of individual domestic sewage disposal systems.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or extend individual domestic sewage disposal systems within the county unless he or she holds a valid permit issued by the Health Department stating the name of such person for which the specific construction, alteration or extension is proposed.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, or extension of an individual domestic sewage disposal system inside Altamont city limits.

  • Applications must be made to the Health Department.
  • A permit is issued only to a homeowner and/or licensed private sewage disposal system installation contractor.
  • The Health Department may refuse a permit where sanitary sewer is available.
  • The permit is valid for six months; if construction has not started then, it is void.
  • Routine cleaning, septic-tank-cover replacement, and rodding inlet and outlets do not require a construction permit.

  initial construction, alteration, or extension permit fee: 100 USD (Collected by the Health Department when the application is submitted.)

  “Said permit to construct is valid for a period of six months from date of issuance. If construction has not started within this period, the permit is void.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Altamont or Effingham County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Altamont city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Altamont city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Altamont city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Altamont city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Altamont city limits.

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.