Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Fountain Creek Township, Illinois

Fountain Creek Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction in Fountain Creek township subject to Iroquois County Planning & Zoning administration.

  • The county page states a $1,000-per-day fine for beginning construction without a permit.

  fine for beginning construction without permit: 1000 USD per day

  “Be aware the county has established a fine of $1,000 per day for beginning construction without a permit”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in Fountain Creek township subject to Iroquois County Planning & Zoning administration.

  • 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-”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in Fountain Creek township that is within unincorporated Iroquois County; the operative zoning ordinance is administered by Iroquois County, not shown by the opened sources to be a township ordinance.

  • The county ordinance expressly applies only in unincorporated Iroquois County; incorporated municipal land is outside its stated jurisdiction.

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated Fountain Creek township, subject to the County Zoning Atlas; the opened record does not identify which district contains a particular parcel.

  • District boundaries are established by the Zoning Atlas, which is on file with the County Clerk.

  “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.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family lots in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area where either public water or public sewer service is unavailable.

  • Lot width and area must also be sufficient for on-site sewage disposal where public sewerage is unavailable.
  • Applies when either public water or public sewerage is unavailable.

  minimum single-family lot width: >= 100 feet (Where either public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable.) · minimum single-family lot area: >= 20000 square feet (Where either public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable.)

  “In any district where either a public water service or public sewerage service is unavailable, the width and area for single-family lots shall be no less than 100 feet and no less than 20,000 square feet, respectively.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Permitted and conditional uses in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

  • Public utilities are exempt.
  • The requirements do not pertain to agricultural uses described in Section 3.4, 1, b-1; agricultural structures must comply.

  township land-access road setback: >= 80 feet from center of road (Land Access Township thoroughfare.) · county collector setback: >= 80 feet from center of road (Major or minor collector county thoroughfare.) · area-service state-road setback: >= 50 feet (Area Service State thoroughfare.) · interstate or major-state-road setback: >= 100 feet (Interstate or Major State thoroughfare.)

  “Setback Requirements - All permitted and conditional uses (public utilities exempt) shall maintain a minimum setback in accord with the associated thoroughfare classification. These setback requirements shall not pertain to agricultural uses as described in Section 3.4, 1, b-1. Agricultural structures shall comply with setback requirements.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Wheeled vehicles designed for sleeping or camping on lots in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

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

  maximum travel-trailer duration: <= 180 days (Must be moved after this period.)

  “However, 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 lots in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

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

  travel trailer duration: <= 180 days (Must be moved after this period.)

  “However, 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.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory buildings proposed as dwellings in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

  • An accessory building cannot be used for dwelling purposes unless authorized by temporary permit and its conditions.

  “No garage or other accessory building, mobile home, basement, partial or temporary structure whether of a fixed or portable construction shall be erected or moved onto a lot and used for any dwelling purposes unless authorized by the issuance of a temporary permit by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and satisfying all of the conditions thereof.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage disposal for permitted development in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area where public sewerage is unavailable.

  • The sewage-disposal plan must receive Health Department approval and written certification of satisfactory, adequate, and safe disposal.
  • Lot dimensions must be sufficient for an on-site system designed to applicable local or Illinois State Board of Health standards.

  “In a district where public sewerage service is not available, the width and area of all lots shall be sufficient to permit the use of an on- site sewage disposal system designed in accordance with the local or Illinois State Board of Health standards.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New permitted development in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area where municipal sewerage or municipal water service is unavailable.

  • If municipal sewerage is unavailable, the sewage-disposal plan must be approved by the Health Department.
  • If municipal water service is unavailable, the water-supply plan must be approved by the Health Department.
  • The source does not state a mandatory public-utility connection distance or availability threshold.

  “Proposed sewage disposal plan, if municipal sewerage service is not available. This plan shall be approved by the Health Department who shall certify in writing that satisfactory, adequate, and safe sewage disposal is possible on the site as proposed by the plan, in accordance with applicable local, county, and state Board of Health restrictions. Proposed water supply plan, if municipal water service is not available. This plan shall be approved by the Health Department who shall certify in writing that an adequate and safe supply of water will be provided.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision or division of property in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

  • The Illinois Plat Act applies where rezoning results from or results in property division.
  • A person proposing to subdivide vacant or agricultural land must furnish a copy to the Soil and Water Conservation District, which has up to 30 days to issue an opinion.

  Soil and Water Conservation District opinion period: <= 30 days (From receipt of the petition or proposal.)

  “Any person who petitions the county agency in the district for variation, amendment, or other relief from the county's Zoning Ordinance or 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.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways shown in permit applications for Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

  • A permit application must include a survey showing existing and proposed driveways and existing highway-access restrictions.

  “Plat of survey prepared by a registered land surveyor showing the location, boundaries, dimensions, elevations, uses, and size of the following: subject site, existing and proposed structures; existing and proposed easements, streets, and other public ways; off-street parking, loading areas and driveways; existing highway access restrictions; existing and proposed street, side and rear yards.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in flood plains in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

  • Flood-plain regulations in County Code Sections 18-41 onward govern; the more restrictive regulation controls on conflict.
  • Property within 500 feet of a 100-year flood plain must submit the specified topographic map with a permit application.

  floodplain proximity requiring topographical map: <= 500 feet (Within 500 feet of a 100 year flood plain.)

  “Flood Plain regulations are found beginning at Section 18-41 of the Iroquois County Code. The more restrictive regulation applies in the event of conflict between the Iroquois Zoning Ordinance and the flood plain regulations starting at Section 18-41.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Permit applications under the county zoning ordinance in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

  • The Zoning Enforcement Officer may request a topographical map and it must be submitted for property within 500 feet of a 100-year flood plain.
  • A permit for work or use change not substantially started within 90 days requires a new permit.

  new permit threshold after authorized work/change: > 90 days (If not substantially started.)

  “Applications for a permit shall be made to the County Zoning Enforcement Officer on forms furnished by the County Zoning Enforcement Officer and shall include the following where applicable:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences in Fountain Creek township.
• Building code adopted — Construction in Fountain Creek township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Construction and occupancy in Fountain Creek township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.
• Lot coverage — Lots in Fountain Creek township's unincorporated area.

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.