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

Waterford Township’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction permitted under the Fulton County zoning ordinance in Waterford Township.

  • Inspection occurs for premises for which permits have been issued, to check compliance with law.

  “The Officer shall examine the premises for which permits have been issued, and shall make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building in Waterford Township that requires a building permit under the Fulton County zoning ordinance.

  • A certificate is issued after request to the Zoning Enforcement Officer and completion in conformity with the regulations.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than one year during completion of alterations or partial occupancy.

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in Waterford Township mapped under Fulton County's zoning ordinance; the ordinance is administered by Fulton County rather than shown as a township ordinance.

  • Parcel district must be determined from the County District Map.

  “Waterford……………………………………………………………………………..26”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land in Waterford Township shown on the Waterford zoning-map sheet of the Fulton County zoning ordinance.

  • The ordinance's District Map and all notations and references are part of the ordinance; actual district requires parcel-map review.

  districts: AC, R-1, R-2, B, I

  “Fulton County is divided into five specific zoning districts: Agriculture/Conservation………………………………………………………………..AC Residential……………………………………………………………………………….R-l Residential……………………………………………………………………………….R-2 Business…………………………………………………………………………………..B Industrial…………………………………………………………………………………..I”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Waterford Township parcels mapped AC, R-1, or R-2 under the Fulton County zoning ordinance.

  • Lots of record with insufficient area/width may be used only on receipt of a Zoning Board of Appeals variance and written permission from the Fulton County Health Department.
  • AC may reduce to 20,000 square feet with public water, or 15,000 square feet with public water and sewer plus written Health Department permission.

  AC minimum lot area: >= 43560 square feet (Subject to stated public-utility reductions.) · R-1 minimum lot area: >= 5000 square feet · R-2 minimum lot area: >= 5000 square feet

  “AC 150 43560 R-1 50 5000 R-2 50 5000 B NONE NONE I NONE NONE”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Waterford Township parcels mapped AC, R-1, or R-2 under the Fulton County zoning ordinance.

  • Corner lots and lots fronting two nonintersecting streets require a front yard on both streets.
  • A public alley may count for one-half of its width toward a required yard.

  AC yards, front/side/rear: 50/20/50 feet · R-1 yards, front/side/rear: 25/10/25 feet · R-2 yards, front/side/rear: 25/10/25 feet

  “AC 50’ 20’ 50’ R-1 25’ 10’ 25’ R-2 25’ 10’ 25’ B NONE NONE NONE I 25’ NONE 25’”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured/mobile homes in Waterford Township parcels mapped under the Fulton County zoning ordinance.

  • Homes must be built after June 15, 1976 and bear the HUD Seal of Approval.
  • Homes must have specified skirting, certified anchors, and satisfactory water, sewer, and electrical connections.
  • District width/area rules apply; the regulations do not apply to mobile-home parks unless required by an individual park owner.

  AC minimum living area: >= 500 square feet (No minimum manufactured width.) · R-1 minimum manufactured width: >= 24 feet · R-2 minimum manufactured width: >= 14 feet

  “Homes must be built after June 15, 1976 and bear the HUD Seal of Approval.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in floodplain lands under Fulton County jurisdiction within Waterford Township.

  • The requirement does not apply to a person, firm, corporation, or governmental body exempted by law.
  • The Zoning Officer cannot issue the permit unless the development meets the ordinance.
  • Application materials include scaled site drawings, grades, building dimensions, lowest-floor elevation when applicable, and project cost estimate.

  “No person, firm, corporation, or governmental body not exempted by law shall commence any development in the floodplain without first obtaining a development permit from the Fulton County Zoning Officer.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning permits for Waterford Township parcels mapped R-1, R-2, or AC.

  • The published schedule states that AC accessory structures primarily used for agricultural purposes have no fee.
  • Other permit categories and district rates are separately listed in the schedule.

  dwelling and manufactured-home base fee: 125 USD (Plus $0.25 per square foot.) · mobile-home fee: 500 USD

  “Residential: dwellings, manufactured homes $125 base cost plus 25 cents per square foot Mobile homes $500.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Fulton County zoning-permit applications for construction in Waterford Township.

  • Applicant must provide required application information and attachments.
  • Upon construction completion, the applicant must notify the Zoning Officer; the officer will inspect and issue or refuse a zoning compliance certificate.
  • Unless a substantial start is made within one year, or no work begins, the permit becomes null and void.

  “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.”

Rules another office applies inside Waterford Township

Waterford Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Private sewage-disposal systems serving land in Waterford Township.

  • Local health agencies may review construction plans as agents of IDPH or under local authority.
  • The cited state rule covers systems without surface discharge and systems discharging treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to ground surface.

  maximum treated-effluent discharge regulated by cited program: <= 1500 gallons per day (Systems discharging to ground surface, such as sand filters and aerobic treatment systems.)

  “The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems that have no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields) as well as those that discharge treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to the ground surface (such as sand filters and aerobic treatment systems).”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of private sewage-disposal systems in Waterford Township.

  • Local health agencies may review plans as agents of IDPH or under local authority.
  • The cited state program covers systems without surface discharge and systems discharging treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to ground surface.

  “Staff also review and approve plans for private sewage disposal systems and alternative private sewage disposal systems before construction.”

• Well permitRequired

  New private water-well construction in Waterford Township.

  • Community water wells are excepted from the cited program.
  • IDPH and local health departments review plans, issue permits, and inspect 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.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Waterford Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Waterford Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal dwelling size in Waterford Township.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Waterford Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in Waterford 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.