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

Rules another office applies inside Belmont Township

Belmont 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

  Any building or structure, or alteration of an existing building or structure, on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • Construction cannot start before the permit issues.
  • Beginning construction without a permit is subject to a stated $1,000-per-day fine.

  fine for beginning construction without building permit: 1000 USD per day

  “Construction must not be started until permit is issued.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  County-permitted construction on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • The application identifies the International Building Code, National Electrical Code, and State Plumbing Code; it does not state editions on this page.

  “Iroquois County has adopted the International Building Code, National Electrical Code and State Plumbing Code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  County building-permit projects on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • Contact the appropriate building/construction, electrical, or plumbing inspector before construction.

  “Building code requires inspections for your permit. Please contact the appropriate inspector prior to any construction on your project-”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of a county-permitted building or structure on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • The county application calls the document a Certificate of Completion.
  • Moving in without it carries a stated $50-per-day fine.

  fine for moving in without Certificate of Completion: 50 USD per day

  “There will be a FINE of $50.00 per day for moving in without Certificate of Completion.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Belmont Township; the county ordinance, rather than a verified Belmont Township ordinance, applies there.

  • Does not establish zoning within incorporated municipalities located in or adjacent to the township.

  “The jurisdiction of this ordinance shall include all lands and waters within the unincorporated areas of Iroquois County.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Belmont Township; parcel classification requires the county zoning atlas.

  • District boundaries are shown on the Zoning Atlas of Iroquois County, Illinois.
  • Certified copy is on file in the County Clerk's office.

  “Boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on the map entitled "Zoning Atlas of Iroquois County, Illinois," and is a part of this ordinance.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  A-1 Agricultural District relative dwelling on a tract exceeding 75 acres inside Belmont Township, if mapped A-1.

  • This limitation appears in the A-1 provision for one single-family dwelling for relatives of the landowner on the same farmstead.
  • The tract must exceed 75 acres.

  maximum structure coverage of buildable lot area: <= 20 percent (One single-family dwelling for relatives of landowner on same A-1 farmstead tract exceeding 75 acres)

  “One single-family dwelling for relatives of the landowner when located on the same farmstead, and only if located on a tract exceeding 75 acres in size. [...] Structure must not exceed 20% of buildable lot area”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Wheeled vehicles designed for sleeping or camping on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • Temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer is required.
  • Travel trailers must be moved after 180 days.

  travel-trailer maximum stay: <= 180 days

  “temporary usage of lots of record, either with or without dwellings may be permitted for wheeled vehicles designed for sleeping or camping by temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Travel Trailers must be moved after one hundred and eighty (180) days.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary sleeping or camping in wheeled vehicles on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • Requires a temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer.
  • Travel trailers must move after 180 days.

  travel-trailer maximum stay: <= 180 days

  “temporary usage of lots of record, either with or without dwellings may be permitted for wheeled vehicles designed for sleeping or camping by temporary permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • Occupation as a dwelling is allowed only in a licensed and approved mobile-home park or where otherwise provided in the ordinance.
  • The mobile home must meet ANSI A119.1 specifications.

  “No mobile home shall be occupied as a dwelling except when such mobile home is located in a licensed and approved mobile home park or as otherwise herein provided.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage-system construction or repair inside Belmont Township, administered by the Iroquois County Public Health Department Division of Environmental Health.

  • The application requires compliance with the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code.

  “Iroquois County Public Health Department Division of Environmental Health APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT OR REPAIR A PRIVATE SEWAGE SYSTEM”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction or repair of a private sewage system inside Belmont Township.

  • Applicant certifies compliance with the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code.

  “APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT OR REPAIR A PRIVATE SEWAGE SYSTEM”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Private sewage systems inside Belmont Township.

  • The department may conduct necessary installation inspections.
  • The application also states periodic effluent sampling may be required.

  “a representative of the Iroquois County Public Health Department may conduct necessary inspections to ensure my system is installed in accordance with the IPSDLA&C.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction, modification, or abandonment of a water well inside Belmont Township.

  • The form provides for review by a local health department.
  • A person constructing or deepening a permitted well must give at least two days' notice before starting work.

  pre-work notification: >= 2 days (Constructing or deepening a permitted well)

  “State of Illinois Illinois Department of Public Health APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT, MODIFY OR ABANDON A WATER WELL”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of vacant or agricultural land in unincorporated Belmont Township.

  • Proposal must be furnished to the Soil and Water Conservation District.
  • That district has no more than 30 days to issue its written opinion.

  Soil and Water Conservation District response period: <= 30 days (After receipt of subdivision proposal)

  “who proposes to subdivide vacant or agricultural lands therein shall furnish a copy of such petition or proposal to the Soil and Water Conservation District.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Replacement, modification, or addition to structures within floodplains on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • Must meet FEMA or successor specifications concerning elevations and floodproofing.

  “replacement, modification, or addition to structures within flood plains must also meet specifications set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or its successors, pertaining to elevations and flood proofing.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building/construction/development permits on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.

  • Fee and plot plan must accompany the application.
  • Building plans must accompany the application, and permit will not issue without them.

  “Building Plans must accompany the Building Permit Application. Permit will not be issued without said documentation.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction and land uses on unincorporated land inside Belmont Township.
• Short-term rentals — Short-term rental use on unincorporated land inside Belmont 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.