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

Rules another office applies inside Fountain Bluff Township

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

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  A homeowner installing a private sewage disposal system serving the homeowner's personal single-family residence inside Fountain Bluff Township.

  • The homeowner exception is limited to a system serving the homeowner's own personal single-family residence.
  • The system remains subject to the permit, performance, inspection, and written-approval requirements of the ordinance.

  “a home owner installing a private sewage disposal system to serve his own personal single family residence.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Fountain Bluff Township; the ordinance applies within Jackson County, Illinois.

  • The Jackson County Health Department is an agency of the Jackson County Board of Health.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or extend a private sewage disposal system within Jackson County unless he holds a valid permit issued by the Health Department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, or extension of a private sewage disposal system inside Fountain Bluff Township.

  • A permit may be issued only to a registered private-sewage contractor or a homeowner installing a system for the homeowner's personal single-family residence.
  • The Board of Health may refuse a permit when public or community sewerage is available under Section 2.5.
  • The permit is valid for six months; the Administrator may grant a written-request extension for unusual or extenuating circumstances.

  private sewage disposal permit fee: 230 USD (Returned if the permit is denied.) · permit validity: 6 months (Extension may be authorized after written request for unusual or extenuating circumstances.)

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or extend a private sewage disposal system within Jackson County unless he holds a valid permit issued by the Health Department.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  A private sewage disposal system installed inside Fountain Bluff Township.

  • A homeowner-installed system may not be covered or put in operation until inspected and written approval has issued.
  • The authorized representative may inspect during construction.
  • The installer must notify the Health Department no later than the day before work is scheduled to begin.
  • Except for emergency health and safety situations, owners or authorized occupants may refuse access; the Health Authority may seek an administrative search warrant.

  “shall not be covered or placed in operation unless specifically authorized by the Health Department until the said installation shall have been inspected and written approval of the said system shall have been issued”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Use of a private sewage disposal system inside Fountain Bluff Township.

  • The system must be permitted and comply with the Jackson County ordinance.
  • A system serving more than one property is prohibited unless common property is jointly owned by users, or the system is under public jurisdiction or managed by a maintenance district.
  • Discharge of domestic sewage or septic effluent to a stream, ditch, ground surface, or abandoned well is unlawful.

  “The use of a private sewage disposal system to serve more than one property is prohibited except where a common property is provided, under joint ownership of the users”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A proposed private sewage disposal system for property inside Fountain Bluff Township where public or community sewer is available.

  • The Board of Health or authorized representative may refuse the private-system permit where public or community sewerage is available.
  • A public sewer is available if it adjoins or abuts the premises, or if a practical, controlling-authority-permitted connection is within the specified reasonable distance.

  reasonable sewer distance for single-family residence: <= 300 feet (Connection must be practical and permitted by the controlling sewer authority.) · reasonable sewer distance for commercial establishment or multifamily dwelling: <= 1000 feet (Connection must be practical and permitted by the controlling sewer authority.)

  “The Board of Health or its Authorized Representative may refuse to grant a permit for the construction of a private sewage disposal system where public or community sewerage systems are available.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Any development in the floodplain inside Fountain Bluff Township that is under Jackson County floodplain jurisdiction.

  • The rule excludes persons, firms, corporations, or governmental bodies exempted by law.
  • The Chief County Assessment Officer shall not issue a permit if the development does not meet the ordinance requirements.
  • The application requires scaled site drawings, grade information, building locations and dimensions, lowest-floor elevation for covered buildings, and project-cost estimate.
  • Survey data may establish that land higher than the current base flood elevation and not filled after the first Flood Insurance Rate Map is not in the floodplain.

  “No person, firm, corporation, or governmental body not exempted by law shall commence any development in the floodplain without first obtaining a development permit from the Chief County Assessment Officer.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal permits inside Fountain Bluff Township.

  • This is the published fee for private sewage permits, not a general building-permit fee.
  • If a permit is denied, the permit fee shall be returned to the applicant.
  • A fee-waived permit may be issued to nonprofit organizations.

  private sewage permit fee: 230 USD (Collected when the application is submitted; returned if the permit is denied.)

  “There shall be a standard $230.00 permit fee charged for the issuance of a permit authorizing the construction, alteration or extension of any private sewage disposal system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General residential construction inside Fountain Bluff Township, excluding separate sewage and floodplain approvals.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Fountain Bluff Township.
• Inspections — General residential building inspections inside Fountain Bluff Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Fountain Bluff Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Fountain Bluff Township, Jackson County, Illinois.

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.