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

Wethersfield Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Owners or authorized agents constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • Agricultural buildings and structures are exempt from building-code regulations.
  • Failure to obtain a permit before work may result in a stop-work order and fines or penalties up to $500.

  maximum stated penalty: <= 500 USD (Potential ordinance penalty stated in the instructions.)

  “Any owner or authorized agent (contractor)who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change occupancy of a building/structure shall first obtain required building permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in the unincorporated portions of Wethersfield Township.

  • Agricultural buildings and structures are exempt from building-code regulations as stated in the county instructions.

  adopted code: International Building Code 2000 Edition

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • The person doing permitted work must notify the building official at least 24 hours before the work is ready for inspection.
  • Work may not proceed beyond the indicated point without building-official approval.
  • Required inspections include setback, footing/foundation, frame, and final inspections.

  advance inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “All construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Structures and buildings constructed in unincorporated Wethersfield Township, except qualifying agricultural structures and buildings.

  • Agricultural structures and buildings are exempt from occupancy permits but remain subject to floodplain regulations and road setbacks.
  • Final inspection approval is required before occupancy or use under the building instructions.

  “The Henry County Zoning Ordinance Article 20 Permits and International Building Code Chapter 1 require building permits, fees, minimum design standards with specifications and occupancy permits for all structures and buildings to be constructed in the unincorporated areas of Henry County except as exempted”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Wethersfield Township that is in unincorporated Henry County; the applicable zoning is administered by Henry County, not shown by the sources to be a township ordinance.

  • Does not establish rules for land within an incorporated municipality located in the township.
  • Henry County's department administers zoning in unincorporated areas of the county.

  “Henry County Zoning and Building Department is responsible for development and implementation of several land use management programs in the unincorporated areas of the county.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems associated with construction and development in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • The county instructions identify the Henry County Environmental Health Department as the regulator of private sewage disposal systems.

  “Henry County Environmental Health Department at 4424 US Hwy 34 Kewanee, IL (309-852-0197 or 792-4011) regulates private sewage disposal and water supply systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems for building projects in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • The permit must be obtained from the Henry County Health Department before starting the project.
  • The county building-permit application also requires the owner or contractor to obtain the Health Department well/septic permit.

  “PLEASE OBTAIN NECESSARY PRIVATE WATER WELL AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM PERMITS FROM THE HENRY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEFORE STARTING PROJECT (309-852-0197 OR 309-792-4011)”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water wells for building projects in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • A necessary private water-well permit must be obtained from the Henry County Health Department before starting the project.

  “PLEASE OBTAIN NECESSARY PRIVATE WATER WELL AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM PERMITS FROM THE HENRY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEFORE STARTING PROJECT”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Qualifying agricultural structures and buildings in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • The structure or building must qualify for the agricultural exemption.
  • It remains subject to floodplain regulations and Article 7 Section 7.6 road-setback requirements.
  • A qualifying structure is to be on or adjacent to a parcel of at least 10 acres, with the majority of the tract used for agricultural purposes.

  minimum qualifying parcel size: >= 10 acres (Majority of tract must be used for agricultural purposes.)

  “be located on or adjacent to a parcel 10 acres or more in size with the majority of the tract being utilized for agricultural purposes.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land in Wethersfield Township within Henry County's subdivision jurisdiction.

  • A preliminary plat is not required for minor subdivisions or land specifically exempted from the Illinois Plats Act.
  • The ordinance requires six copies at least three weeks before a regularly scheduled Planning Committee meeting.

  preliminary plat copies: 6 copies (Except as specifically provided; preliminary-plat exceptions apply.) · minimum pre-meeting filing period: >= 3 weeks (Regularly scheduled Planning Committee meeting)

  “Except as specifically provided below, every person who proposed to subdivide any land located within the subdivision jurisdiction of Henry County shall file six (6) copies of the preliminary plat of said subdivision at least three (3) weeks prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Committee.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction projects requiring driveway access in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • The permit must be from the highway authority with jurisdiction.
  • The driveway must be installed before starting the construction project.

  “Driveway access permits are required from highway authority with jurisdiction and must be installed prior to starting construction project.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Agricultural structures and buildings, and subdivision plats in flood-prone areas, inside unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • Agricultural structures and buildings must adhere to floodplain regulations despite the agricultural exemption.
  • For a subdivision plat in an area subject to flooding, the County Board may require appropriate protective measures under local, state, and federal floodplain-management regulations.

  “except that all agricultural structures and buildings shall adhere to floodplain regulations”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants in unincorporated Wethersfield Township.

  • The application must be properly completed, signed, and dated by the owner or contractor.
  • For new structures or additions, plot plans are required to show setback compliance and must be approved by the Health Department before issuance.
  • A fee prescribed by the County Board must accompany the application and construction documents.

  “a building permit fee made payable to henry county treasurer in amount as prescribed by the county board shall be submitted with the permit application and construction documents.”

Rules another office applies inside Wethersfield Township

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

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  A parcel inside unincorporated Wethersfield Township if it is classified R-5 Summer Home District under the Henry County Zoning Ordinance.

  • Campgrounds are a special use.
  • Travel-trailer or camping-trailer occupancy may not exceed 30 days in a calendar year.
  • The ordinance states that exceeding 30 days is a violation of the special use.

  maximum occupancy: <= 30 days per calendar year (R-5 campground special use)

  “Provided that the occupancy of any of the foregoing shall not be for a period of more than thirty (30) days in any calendar year and the occupancy of any of the foregoing for a period of more than thirty (30) days in any calendar year shall be a violation of the special use herein permitted.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  A parcel inside unincorporated Wethersfield Township if it is classified R-5 Summer Home District under the Henry County Zoning Ordinance.

  • Campgrounds are a special use.
  • Tents, travel trailers, and camping trailers may be used only subject to the R-5 special-use conditions.
  • Occupancy may not exceed 30 days in a calendar year.

  maximum occupancy: <= 30 days per calendar year (R-5 campground special use)

  “Campgrounds used for seasonal recreation and living purposes.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  A parcel inside unincorporated Wethersfield Township if it is classified R-5 Summer Home District under the Henry County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The R-5 district is designed for seasonal occupancy from April 15 through November 15.
  • The ordinance lists mobile homes and trailers as permitted R-5 uses.

  “The “R-5” Summer Home District is designed for seasonal occupancy restricted to the period between April 15 and November 15 of each year.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work on land inside Wethersfield Township.
• Building height — Building height inside Wethersfield Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Wethersfield Township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Wethersfield Township.
• Septic inspection — Private sewage disposal systems inside Wethersfield 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.