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

Rules another office applies inside Union Township

Union 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

  Erection, reconstruction, or structural alteration, and use of buildings and premises in unincorporated Fulton County, including Union township land if county zoning governs

  • Whether Union township issues its own building permit was not verified.
  • Permit is issued under the county zoning ordinance, with a site sketch and attachments.

  “application is hereby made for a permit and a compliance certificate as required under the zoning ordinance of the county of fulton for the erection, reconstruction, or structural alteration, and use of buildings and premises”

• InspectionsRequired

  Completed construction in unincorporated Fulton County, including Union township land if county zoning governs

  • Applicant must notify the zoning officer on completion; the officer inspects the premises before issuing or refusing a zoning compliance certificate.
  • Building code inspections were not verified.

  “the applicant further agrees that upon completion of the construction he /she will notify the zoning officer who shall then inspect the premises and issue or refuse to issue a zoning compliance certificate”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Completed construction in unincorporated Fulton County, including Union township land if county zoning governs

  • The county issues a zoning compliance certificate after inspection; it is not called a certificate of occupancy.
  • Occupancy-specific rules were not verified.

  “the applicant further agrees that upon completion of the construction he /she will notify the zoning officer who shall then inspect the premises and issue or refuse to issue a zoning compliance certificate”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Fulton County zoning districts (AC, R1, R2, B, I) for unincorporated land; applies to Union township parcels only where county zoning governs the parcel

  • Only the district designations appear on the county zoning permit form; the district text and zoning map were not checked.
  • Union township parcels' district was not verified.

  “zoning district: (circle) ac r1 r2 b i flood plain: (circle) yes no”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal (septic) systems on land inside Union township, Fulton County, Illinois, administered by the Fulton County Health Department under the county private sewage ordinance

  • The ordinance adopts by reference the Illinois Department of Public Health Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code and the Private Sewage Mound Code.
  • The health officer may refuse a permit if a public or community sewage system under the jurisdiction of the Illinois EPA is within 200 feet of the property.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, renovate, alter, or extend a private sewage disposal system within the county unless he/she holds a valid permit issued by the fulton county health department”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing, renovating, altering, or extending a septic system on land inside Union township, Fulton County, Illinois

  • Permit must be obtained before any construction, renovation, alteration or extension of the system is initiated; the property owner is responsible for obtaining it.
  • Permit is valid for 1 calendar year from the date of issuance.
  • The licensed sewage contractor must ensure the permit is issued and its conditions followed.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, renovate, alter, or extend a private sewage disposal system within the county unless he/she holds a valid permit issued by the fulton county health department”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic system site before a permit is issued, for land inside Union township, Fulton County, Illinois

  • Inspection is a pre-permit site inspection by the health officer or designee; a permit issues only after inspection shows compliance.
  • Post-installation inspection requirements were not verified.

  “the health officer or his/her designate shall make an inspection of the proposed sewage system site to determine compliance with the provisions of this ordinance and the rules and regulations adopted by the board of health”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land in unincorporated Fulton County, including Union township land

  • Plat and subdivision plans are reviewed by the health department, and each lot must have room to maintain, repair and replace its septic system.
  • Subdivision ordinance text was not opened.

  “8) plat review and subdivision plan review: a) all lots must have an area available that will provide sufficient space to maintain, repair and replace the private sewage disposal system that is required on each lot per applicable”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning permit fees for residential construction in unincorporated Fulton County, including Union township land if county zoning governs

  • Fee schedule printed on the county form is dated 2/15/2012.
  • A newer 'Zoning Permit Fee Schedule Updated 9 1 2024' is posted on the county site but was not opened, so the current fee may differ.

  residential dwelling zoning permit base fee: 125 USD (plus 25 cents per square foot, per the 2012 schedule on the county form)

  “residential: dwellings, manufactured homes $125 base cost plus 25 cents per square foot”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for construction in unincorporated Fulton County, including Union township land if county zoning governs

  • Zoning permits are handled by the county zoning office; septic and well permits by the county health department.
  • Application includes a site sketch and attachments; the permit becomes void without a substantial start within one year, per the same form.

  “septic and well permits and evaluations may be obtained by contacting the fulton county health department, 700 e. oak street, canton, illinois 61520; division of environmental health”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Union township
• Building code adopted — Residential building code applicable inside Union township
• Local zoning — Zoning for land inside Union township limits, Fulton County, Illinois (whether the township itself adopted a zoning ordinance)
• Minimum dwelling size — R1 district (main single-family residential district) of the Fulton County zoning ordinance, if county zoning governs Union township land
• Minimum lot size — R1 district (main single-family residential district) of the Fulton County zoning ordinance, if county zoning governs Union township land

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.