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

Sullivant Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and projects increasing the square footage of existing buildings on unincorporated land inside Sullivant Township subject to the Ford County Zoning Ordinance.

  • A permit must be obtained before construction begins.
  • The county page separately states that agricultural-use buildings require a permit.

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

• InspectionsLimited

  Premises inside Sullivant Township for which a Ford County zoning construction permit has been issued.

  • Inspection is performed by the Zoning Enforcing Officer or a duly appointed assistant.
  • The ordinance describes inspections as necessary to ensure legal compliance; it does not publish a universal inspection-stage schedule.

  “Inspections shall be made by the Zoning Enforcing Officer or a duly appointed assistant.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building inside Sullivant Township that requires a Ford County building permit.

  • The certificate must be applied for together with the building-permit application.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for up to one year during alterations or partial occupancy, subject to restrictions protecting occupant safety.

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Sullivant Township, where Ford County's zoning ordinance applies; the source does not establish a separate Sullivant Township zoning ordinance.

  • The county ordinance applies to unincorporated county areas and to villages without their own zoning; incorporated Gibson City, Paxton, and Piper City are excluded by the county page.

  “The Zoning Ordinance applies to the unincorporated areas of the county, as well as villages that do not have their own zoning. Contact Gibson City, Paxton or Piper City for property located within those corporate boundaries.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Residential District parcels inside Sullivant Township, if the parcel is mapped R-1.

  • Specified public, semi-public, public-service, hospital, institutional, school, church, tower, elevator, and similar exceptions may exceed the general limits under the ordinance.

  maximum building height: 35 ft

  “A. 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.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel-trailer occupancy at conditional-use camps or campgrounds in AG-1 or CO-1 parcels inside Sullivant Township that are subject to the Ford County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The camp or campground must be commercial or governmental and be suitable for seasonal recreation or similar living purposes.
  • Occupancy may not be for an entire calendar year.
  • Mobile homes are excluded from this camp provision.

  “(provided that the occupancy of any of the foregoing shall not be for an entire calendar year)”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camps or campgrounds in AG-1 or CO-1 parcels inside Sullivant Township subject to the Ford County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The use is a conditional use.
  • The tract must be commercial or governmental and designed or used for seasonal recreation or similar living purposes.
  • Any tent, travel-trailer, or camping-trailer occupancy cannot be for an entire calendar year.

  “(b) 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)

  Manufactured homes on permanent foundations in R-1 Residential District parcels inside Sullivant Township subject to the Ford County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The manufactured home must be on a permanent foundation.
  • This claim is limited to R-1 parcels; actual parcel zoning must be confirmed from the official district map.

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system installation on land inside Sullivant Township, as part of the Ford County Health Department service area.

  • The official health-department page describes the program as serving Ford County residents.

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

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural-use buildings inside Sullivant Township subject to Ford County zoning.

  • Agricultural-use buildings still require a permit.
  • The exemption identified by the county page is a fee exemption, not a permit exemption.

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

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Planned-unit developments inside Sullivant Township subject to the Ford County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The site must contain at least 10 acres.
  • No permit is issued until the final plat is approved and recorded.
  • The final plan must follow the applicable procedures, standards, and requirements of the ordinance governing subdivision of land.

  minimum planned-unit-development site area: >= 10 acres

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

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Tourist-home short-term lodging in the R-3 Residential District inside Sullivant Township, if the parcel is mapped R-3.

  • A tourist home is listed as a conditional use only when located on an officially designated state or federal highway.

  “(c) tourist home when located on an officially designated state or federal highway.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Ford County construction permits for applicable construction inside Sullivant Township.

  • The stated square-foot fees apply to non-agricultural projects.
  • Agricultural-use buildings require a permit but have no fee.
  • A late application after construction of a foundation or erection of a structure doubles the construction-permit fee.

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

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Sullivant Township.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Sullivant Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Sullivant Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Sullivant Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Sullivant 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.