Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Carbondale, Illinois

Carbondale’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, addition, alteration, removal, demolition, or equipment installation for a building or structure inside Carbondale city limits.

  • A written application must first be filed with the city manager or designee and a formal permit obtained.

  “It shall be unlawful to construct, add to, alter, remove or demolish, or to commence the construction, addition, alteration, removal or demolition of a building or structure or install equipment for the operation of a building or structure without first filing with the city manager or his designee an application in writing and obtaining a formal permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Multi-family and commercial buildings within the jurisdiction of the City.

  • The code is adopted subject to portions specifically deleted, modified, or amended by the City.
  • The cited section excludes one- and two-family dwelling units.

  adopted code edition: 2018 (International Building Code for multi-family and commercial applications)

  “The International Code Council (“ICC”) international building code, 2018 edition (hereinafter referred to as “building code for multi-family and commercial applications”), is hereby adopted by reference, except for such portions as are specifically hereinafter deleted, modified or amended.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Carbondale city limits.

  • Zoning administration also extends into the stated extraterritorial area; this claim concerns city-limit land only.

  “The City of Carbondale enforces a zoning and subdivision ordinance within 1.5 miles outside of the City limits.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private individual sewage-disposal facilities proposed in subdivisions within Carbondale's zoning/subdivision jurisdiction, including city-limit land.

  • The City intends to discourage private individual facilities.
  • They may be permitted only when demonstrated to be in the public interest and must be designed for eventual incorporation into the comprehensive sewage system.

  “If it can be demonstrated that individual sewage disposal facilities are in the public interest, they may be permitted. However, the system shall be so designed that it shall be eventually incorporated into the comprehensive sewage system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  New lots in a subdivision within Carbondale's zoning/subdivision jurisdiction, including city-limit land, where a public collection system is within 1,000 feet.

  • The rule is limited to subdivisions and applies where the facility is within 1,000 feet of the public collection system.

  public collection system distance: <= 1000 feet (subdivision sanitary-sewer requirement)

  “In all cases where such facility is within one thousand feet (1,000') of the public collection system, the subdivider shall construct a sanitary sewer system which shall connect to the sewerage system of the city and provide a connection to each lot.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of property into new lots inside Carbondale city limits.

  • A subdivision plat must first be approved by City Council.
  • The City's stated subdivision jurisdiction extends within 1.5 miles of city limits.

  “The Subdivision Ordinance regulates the division of property into new lots. Within 1 1/2 miles of the City limits, dividing a parcel into smaller lots must first have a subdivision plat approved by the City Council.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Vacation rental units within Carbondale corporate limits.

  • A City Building and Neighborhood Services Division license must first be obtained.
  • The applicable zoning and vacation-rental standards govern the use.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to publicly or privately advertise, maintain or operate a vacation rental unit within the corporate limits of the City without first obtaining a license from the Building and Neighborhood Services Division as provided in this chapter.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  City building permits.

  • Unauthorized work has a higher minimum and rate.
  • The city manager may waive fees for qualifying school, nonprofit, and LEED work.

  standard building permit fee: 0.2 percent of estimated work cost (minimum fee $5) · minimum standard building permit fee: 5 USD

  “Fees for building permits to construct, add to or alter buildings or structures issued under this section shall be, based on the estimated cost of such work, two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) with a minimum fee of five dollars ($5.00);”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Carbondale or Jackson County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Carbondale city limits.
• Inspections — Construction inside Carbondale city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Carbondale city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential districts inside Carbondale city limits.
• Lot coverage — Zoned land inside Carbondale city limits.

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.