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

Rules another office applies inside Drummer Township

Drummer 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 an existing building in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • The Ford County ordinance applies only to unincorporated county areas and villages without their own zoning; incorporated Gibson City, Paxton, and Piper City are directed to their own governments.
  • Permit must be issued before work starts.
  • Other approvals may be required from a township, highway department, health department, EPA, subdivision, association, or other governing body.

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

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings requiring a building permit in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • The certificate application for a new building or reconstruction/alteration is made with the building-permit application.
  • The certificate is issued after written request after completion in conformity with the regulations.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than one year during completion or partial occupancy, under restrictions adequate to protect occupants.

  temporary certificate maximum period: <= 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. certificate of occupancy for a new building or the reconstruction or alteration of an existing building shall be applied for coincident with the application for a building permit”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Inhabited trailers in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • Except where otherwise permitted, inhabited trailers must be in a trailer court with a conditional-use permit.
  • Trailer courts must conform to the ordinance’s stated lot, density, boundary, access, landscaping, and Illinois-regulation requirements.

  “except where otherwise permitted, all inhabited trailers shall be located in a trailer court which has received a conditional use permit”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camps or campgrounds in the AG-1 district in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • A camp or campground is a conditional use.
  • Occupancy of tents, travel trailers, or camping trailers may not be for an entire calendar year.
  • Permanent cabins must be for seasonal use only and comply with R-3 requirements.

  “(provided that the occupancy of any of the foregoing shall not be for an entire calendar year). any permanent structures such as cabins for seasonal use only shall comply with the requirements for the r-3 district.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in the AG-1 district in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • The listed use is limited to persons engaged in agricultural pursuits.
  • Manufactured homes must be on permanent foundations.
  • They are subject to state sewage-disposal and water-supply regulations and highway-setback requirements.

  “Manufactured homes on permanent foundations, modular homes and single family homes for persons engaged in agricultural pursuits, subject to sewage disposal and water supply regulations of the state and to highway setback requirements.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Use of an accessory building as a dwelling in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • This claim concerns accessory buildings; it does not determine whether a separately regulated principal or conditional residential use may be approved.

  “Accessory buildings may not be used for dwelling purposes.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system installation inside Drummer Township, as a Ford County resident service area.

  • The program concerns private sewage systems.
  • County zoning also requires water and sewage facilities to conform to Illinois Department of Public Health standards in the county zoning area.

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

• Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal in the AG-1 agricultural district in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • Facilities must conform to Illinois Department of Public Health standards.
  • The county ordinance separately requires an Illinois EPA permit for any sewer discharge into a stream, water course, or lagoon.

  “private and community sewage disposal, water supply and storage tanks.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Construction permits for agricultural-use buildings in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • Agricultural-use buildings still require a construction permit.
  • No construction-permit fee is charged for agricultural-use buildings under the cited statute.

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

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Planned unit developments and associated subdivision activity in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • The planned-unit-development site must contain at least 10 acres.
  • The final development plan must comply with the ordinance governing subdivision of land and be sealed by an Illinois-registered architect or engineer.
  • No permit issues until the final plat is approved and recorded.

  planned unit development minimum site area: >= 10 acres (Where a planned unit development is permitted.)

  “the site shall contain a minimum of 10 acres.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Drummer Township.
• Inspections — Building work in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.
• Local zoning — Whether Drummer Township itself has adopted and administers a zoning ordinance.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the unincorporated portion of Drummer Township subject to Ford County zoning.

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.