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

Rules another office applies inside Watson Township

Watson 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 and certificate of occupancy permits in unincorporated Effingham County, which would include Watson township outside municipal extraterritorial jurisdiction. The letter does not name Watson township.

  • Adjacent municipalities may enforce zoning/permits within 1.5 miles
  • Permits/approvals required for work in county and township rights-of-way
  • Septic permit from County Health Department still applies

  “this letter states zoning does not currently exist in effingham county; therefore, building permits or 'certificate of occupancy' permits in unincorporated areas of effingham county are not required.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Unincorporated land in Effingham County, which would include Watson township outside any municipality's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction. The county letter does not name Watson township; no township zoning ordinance was found.

  • Zoning may exist in incorporated areas and within one and one-half mile of incorporated areas that enforce extra-territorial jurisdiction (e.g. Effingham and Teutopolis)
  • Contact the adjacent municipality to verify it has no jurisdiction at the project location
  • Building set back along most county and state highways is 90 feet from centerline; 40 feet from township road centerline is only recommended
  • Permits/approvals required for work in county and township rights-of-way
  • Height restrictions around Effingham County Memorial Airport

  “this letter states zoning does not currently exist in effingham county; therefore, building permits or 'certificate of occupancy' permits in unincorporated areas of effingham county are not required.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems in Effingham County, including inside Watson township (county code applies 'within the county'; township not named).

  • Permit issued by Effingham County Health Department; $100 fee for initial construction, alteration or extension
  • Minimum one-acre lot for a residential structure on private sewage unless subdivision ordinance requires more
  • Health department may refuse permit where public sewer is available (200 ft single-family; 1,000 ft commercial, subdivision or multi-family)
  • Permit valid six months; homeowner may install own system for personal single-family residence
  • Adopts Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code (225 ILCS 225)

  permit fee: 100 USD

  “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”

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.