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

Rules another office applies inside Lyman Township

Lyman 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 Lyman Township subject to the Ford County ordinance.

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

  “Construction permits are required for all new construction”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction on unincorporated land inside Lyman Township subject to the Ford County ordinance.

  • 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

  Buildings requiring a building permit on unincorporated land inside Lyman Township subject to the Ford County ordinance.

  • The certificate must be applied for with the building-permit application.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than one year during completion or partial occupancy, subject to safety restrictions.

  “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 RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel-trailer occupancy in AG-1 campgrounds on unincorporated land inside Lyman Township subject to the Ford County ordinance.

  • Campgrounds are conditional uses.
  • Travel-trailer occupancy may not be for an entire calendar year.
  • The rule applies to the ordinance's defined travel trailers, which are no more than eight feet wide and 30 feet long.

  “The tracts may have located on them structures of a seasonal, temporary, or movable nature, such as a tent, travel trailer [...] but not mobile homes (provided that the occupancy of any of the foregoing shall not be for an entire calendar year).”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds in the AG-1 Agricultural District on unincorporated land inside Lyman Township, if mapped AG-1.

  • Campgrounds are conditional uses.
  • Camping structures are seasonal, temporary, or movable.
  • Occupancy may not be for an entire calendar year.
  • Permanent seasonal cabins must comply with R-3 requirements.

  “Camps or campgrounds, commercial or governmental tracts of land of a design or character suitable for, or used for seasonal recreation and other similar living purposes.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  AG-1 Agricultural District land inside Lyman Township, if mapped AG-1, for persons engaged in agricultural pursuits.

  • The home must be on a permanent foundation.
  • It is 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.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system installation for Ford County residents, including land inside Lyman Township.

  • The department describes its program as enforcing sewage-system-installation regulations.

  “Enforces regulations [...] installation of sewage systems.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private water and sewage facilities serving uses on unincorporated land inside Lyman Township subject to the Ford County ordinance.

  • Facilities must conform to Illinois Department of Public Health suggested standards.
  • New facilities and alterations must also conform to those standards.
  • A permit from the Environmental Protection Agency is required for sewer discharge into a stream, water course, or lagoon.

  “Every residential building, trade, business, or industry hereafter established and requiring water supply and sewage disposal facilities, shall provide such facilities conforming to the suggested standards of the Illinois Department of Public Health, and any new water supply and sewage disposal facilities or alterations to existing facilities shall conform also to such standards.”

• Well permitRequired

  New private water wells inside Lyman Township.

  • Community water wells are excepted from the state program description.
  • The program is conducted through agreements with local health departments.

  “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 Lyman Township subject to Ford County permitting.

  • An agricultural-use building still requires a permit.
  • No construction-permit fee is charged by statute for that building type.

  construction permit fee: 0 USD (Agricultural use buildings; permit still required)

  “Agricultural use buildings require a permit”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  CO-1 Conservation District land inside Lyman Township, if mapped CO-1.

  • A single-family dwelling is conditional and must be protected from flooding.
  • Specified recreational, motel, and resort uses are conditional and have stated acreage and flooding-protection conditions.

  “Single family dwelling if protected from flooding.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Non-agricultural construction permits on unincorporated land inside Lyman Township subject to Ford County permitting.

  • Agricultural-use buildings require a permit but have no fee by statute.
  • A late application after construction of a foundation or erection of a structure doubles the stated fee.

  base fee: 20 USD (First 200 square feet; non-agricultural projects) · additional fee: per 0.15 USD per square foot (Structures over 200 square feet; non-agricultural projects)

  “A fee of $20.00 for the first 200 square feet”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Construction permits on unincorporated land inside Lyman Township subject to the Ford County ordinance.

  • The officer approves compliant applications as soon as practicable and rejects noncompliant applications with findings.
  • The permit expires if work is not commenced within one year.
  • At least twelve hours' notice of work commencement is required.

  commencement notice: >= 12 hours (Notice to Zoning Enforcing Officer before starting permitted work) · permit commencement deadline: <= 1 year (Permit expires if no work is commenced)

  “If, after examination, he finds no objection to the same and it appears that the proposed work will be in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable thereto, he shall approve such application and issue a permit for the proposed work as soon as practicable.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Lyman Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Lyman Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Lyman Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Lyman Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Lyman 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.