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

Rules another office applies inside Dix Township

Dix 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 permitRequired

  New construction and projects increasing the square footage of existing buildings on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • A permit must be obtained before construction begins.
  • Agricultural-use buildings also require a permit, but no fee is charged by statute.
  • A late application after foundation construction or erection doubles the stated construction-permit fee.

  construction permit fee up to 200 square feet: 20 USD (Non-agricultural projects.) · construction permit fee over 200 square feet: per 0.15 USD per square foot (Non-agricultural projects.)

  “Construction permits are required for all new construction and for all projects which increase the square footage of existing buildings on the property.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work receiving a Ford County zoning construction permit on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • The inspection is performed by the Zoning Enforcing Officer or a duly appointed assistant.

  “He shall examine premises for which permits have been issued, and shall make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with. [...] Inspections shall be made by the Zoning Enforcing Officer or a duly appointed assistant.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building requiring a building permit on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • Application for a certificate for a new building or reconstruction or alteration must be made together with the building-permit application.
  • After written request following completion in conformity with the regulations, the certificate is to issue within three days.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for up to one year during completion or partial occupancy, subject to safety restrictions.

  temporary certificate duration: <= 1 year (During completion of alterations or partial occupancy pending completion.)

  “No building requiring a building permit shall be occupied before a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Dix township subject to the Ford County Zoning Ordinance.

  • District-specific use and dimensional requirements apply according to the ordinance and zoning map.

  “(1) AG-1 Agricultural District [...] (3) R - 1 Residential District [...] (8) I - 1 Industrial District”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the R-1 Residential District on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • The table identifies water service for R-1 and marks septic tank in the sewer column.

  minimum lot area per family: 20000 square feet (R-1 single-family dwelling.) · minimum lot width: 100 feet (R-1.)

  “R – 1 100 20,000 20,000 N. A. N. A. Water **”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Development in the AG-1 Agricultural District on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • Yards are measured in feet.
  • Additional yard requirements and listed exceptions also apply.

  front yard: 50 feet (AG-1.) · side yard: 20 feet (AG-1.) · rear yard: 50 feet (AG-1.)

  “District Front Yard Side Yard Rear Yard AG-1 50 20 50”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Development in the R-1 Residential District on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

    “District Front Yard Side Yard Rear Yard [...] R - 1 30 10 30”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the R-1 Residential District on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • The ordinance provides specified exceptions for public, semi-public, public-service, hospital, institutional, school, church, tower, and elevator structures.

  maximum building height: 35 feet (R-1 District.)

  “Maximum height limits established for buildings and structures are as follows: (1) Thirty-five feet in the CO-1, R-1 and R-2 Districts.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on permanent foundations in the R-1 Residential District on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • This evidence establishes a permitted use in R-1 only; other districts and permit requirements may differ.

  “(k) Manufactured homes on permanent foundations and modular homes.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system installation inside Dix township, which is within Ford County.

  • The program concerns installation of sewage systems and is administered for Ford County residents.

  “Enforces regulations governing the installation and/or sealing of private well and installation of sewage systems.”

• Well permitRequired

  New private water-well construction inside Dix township.

  • IDPH administers the private-water program through agreements with local health departments.
  • The rule does not cover community water wells.

  “To ensure the safety of these water supplies, the IDPH and local health departments review water well installation plans, issue permits for new well construction, and inspect wells.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural-use buildings on unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • The exemption is from the construction-permit fee only; a permit remains required.
  • The source attributes the no-fee rule to statute.

  construction permit fee: 0 USD (Agricultural-use buildings.)

  “Agricultural use buildings require a permit; however, by statute no fee is charged.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Non-agricultural construction permits for unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • Agricultural-use buildings require a permit but are not charged a fee by statute.
  • If application is filed after foundation construction or erection, the fee is doubled.

  construction permit fee up to 200 square feet: 20 USD (Non-agricultural projects.) · construction permit fee over 200 square feet: per 0.15 USD per square foot (Non-agricultural projects.)

  “A fee of $20.00 for the first 200 square feet and fifteen cents ($.15) per square foot for structures over 200 sq ft is charged for all non-agricultural projects.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Construction-permit applications for unincorporated land inside Dix township.

  • Application may initially be requested by telephone but must later be in writing and mailed or brought to the Zoning Enforcing Officer at the courthouse.
  • The applicant may be an owner, lessee, agent, architect, engineer, or builder; a non-owner applicant must provide the required verified affidavit.
  • Drawings may be required by the Zoning Enforcing Officer.

  permit commencement deadline: <= 1 year (A permit expires if work has not commenced within one year after issuance.) · advance notice before starting work: >= 12 hours (Notice to the Zoning Enforcing Officer.)

  “It shall be unlawful to construct, alter, remove or to commence the construction, alteration, or removal of a building or structure without first filing with the Zoning Enforcing Officer an application in writing and obtaining a formal permit. They may be requested by telephone, the request later to be in written form and mailed or brought to the Zoning Enforcing Officer at the Courthouse.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction on unincorporated land inside Dix township.
• Building code adopted — Construction on unincorporated land inside Dix township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings on unincorporated land inside Dix township.
• Lot coverage — Lots on unincorporated land inside Dix township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside unincorporated Dix 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.