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

Rules another office applies inside Cambridge Township

Cambridge 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

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, or occupancy change of a building or structure in the unincorporated portion of Cambridge Township.

  • Agricultural buildings and structures are exempt from building-code regulations.
  • A required permit must be obtained before work starts; failure can result in a stop-work order and possible fines and penalties up to $500.

  “Failure to secure building permit prior to starting work is an ordinance violation which may result in a stop work order (IBC 114) and perhaps fines and penalties up to $500 (IBC 113).”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in the unincorporated portion of Cambridge Township, where Henry County's unincorporated-area building program applies.

  • Agricultural buildings and structures are exempt from the building-code regulations.

  building code edition: International Building Code 2000 Edition (County instructions state it replaced the Uniform Building Code 1988 Edition on April 17, 2001.)

  “replaced the code with International Building Code 2000 Edition on April 17, 2001.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems for residents in Cambridge Township without public sewer access.

  • The health department's program covers Henry and Stark Counties and applies where public sewer is unavailable.

  “Our office regulates these systems to ensure: new installations meet code requirements and are properly installed, malfunctioning systems are repaired promptly to prevent contamination, and all repairs and new installations are permitted through our office.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage-system repairs and new installations in Cambridge Township when public sewer is unavailable.

  • The county health-department program states that all repairs and new installations are permitted through its office.

  “and all repairs and new installations are permitted through our office.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Human-occupancy uses relying on private sewage disposal in Cambridge Township.

  • Adequate sanitary disposal facilities are required.
  • When public sanitary sewer is available within 200 feet of the property line, a privy, septic tank, or other private means may not be maintained.

  public sewer availability distance: <= 200 feet (Measured from the property line.)

  “No privy, septic tank or private means of sewage disposal shall be maintained on property having a sanitary sewage system available;”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Properties inside Cambridge Township served by a publicly operated sanitary-waste collection and disposal system available within 200 feet of the property line.

  • Connections and discharges into the public system must comply with the health ordinance and the rules and regulations of the operating municipality.
  • The source does not establish a comparable public-water connection rule.

  public sewer availability distance: <= 200 feet (Measured from the property line.)

  “Where a publicly operated system for collection and disposal of sanitary wastes is available within two-hundred (200) feet of the property line, the utilization of such public sewage systems shall be considered the only safe and sanitary means of sewage and excreta disposal.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural buildings and structures in the unincorporated portion of Cambridge Township.

  • Agricultural buildings and structures remain subject to minimum road-right-of-way setback requirements under zoning.
  • The stated exemption is from building-code regulations.

  “Agricultural buildings/structures are exempt from building code regulations (see ag exemption).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision or re-division of unincorporated Cambridge Township land under Henry County's subdivision and health review programs.

  • If private sewage disposal is or will be used, each proposed lot must be suitable for an approved private sewage system before a plat, subdivision, or lot-boundary change may be approved and recorded.
  • For final plats with one to three lots without new streets or access easements, the fee is $50 plus $15 per lot.

  final plat fee for 1-3 lots: 50 USD (Plus $15 per lot; applies to plats without new streets or access easements requiring the listed reviews.)

  “No plat, subdivision, or any changes in lot boundaries shall be approved and recorded unless every proposed lot is considered suitable for an approved private sewage disposal system.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Henry County building-permit applicants for the unincorporated portion of Cambridge Township.

  • A plot plan is required only for new structures or additions to illustrate setback compliance.
  • The Henry County Health Department must approve the plot plan before the building permit can issue.
  • The application requires all parts to be completed before a permit issues.

  “Henry County Health Department must approve plot plan before building permit can be issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Local zoning — Whether Cambridge Township itself has adopted and administers a zoning ordinance.
• Building height — Building height limits inside Cambridge Township.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Cambridge Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Cambridge Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Cambridge 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.