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

Rules another office applies inside Haw Creek Township

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Haw Creek township outside the incorporated areas named on the county zoning page; the Knox County zoning resolution is the zoning rule the county administers there. The county page does not name Haw Creek township itself.

  • The county page lists Abingdon, East Galesburg, City of Galesburg, Knoxville, Maquon, St Augustine, Victoria and Wataga as areas with their own zoning; those areas are excluded.
  • Whether Haw Creek township has adopted township zoning of its own was not verified; see local-zoning-township-unknown.
  • The county zoning department states it does not review or enforce subdivision covenants, restrictions, or municipal ordinances.

  “the knox county zoning department is responsible for regulating construction activities in the unincorporated areas of knox county.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Knox County zoning districts applying in unincorporated areas, including Haw Creek township outside listed municipalities

  • The setback table on the zoning permits page names seven districts: C conservation, A agricultural, R rural residential, B local business, B2 highway business, M restricted industrial, M2 heavy industrial.
  • The full zoning map is an online parcel map; the zoning resolution text (amended April 2025) was not retrieved, so district definitions are incomplete.

  “knox county setback per zoning districts front/rear each side c conservation *50/50 20/20 a agricultural *50/50 20/20 r rural residential *30/30 10/10”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural (A) zoning district in unincorporated Knox County, including Haw Creek township land outside the listed municipalities

  • Front/rear setback 50 (unit not printed on page; assumed feet); side setback 20.
  • The page footnote states: * the front setback may be subject to additional feet per the zoning resolution, see the zoning officer for complete details.
  • Listed as a county zoning district, not a township district.

  front/rear setback: 50 (front setback may be subject to additional feet per zoning resolution) · side setback (each side): 20

  “knox county setback per zoning districts front/rear each side c conservation *50/50 20/20 a agricultural *50/50 20/20 r rural residential *30/30 10/10”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Rural residential (R) zoning district in unincorporated Knox County, including Haw Creek township land outside the listed municipalities; the main single-family residential district on the county table

    “knox county setback per zoning districts front/rear each side c conservation *50/50 20/20 a agricultural *50/50 20/20 r rural residential *30/30 10/10”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  A mobile home placed on land in unincorporated Knox County under a county building permit (Haw Creek township outside listed municipalities)

  • Affidavit must be submitted with the building permit application.
  • Home must be at least 24 feet wide.
  • Home must be no older than 10 years old from the current year.
  • All towing devices, hitches, axles and wheels must be removed.
  • Home must be placed on a permanent foundation and anchored per manufacturer requirements.
  • Home must be completely enclosed or skirted underneath.

  minimum width: >= 24 feet · maximum age: <= 10 years (measured from the current year)

  “an affidavit shall be submitted with the building permit application showing compliance with the following standards:”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Construction permit applications to the Knox County Zoning Department for land in unincorporated Knox County, including Haw Creek township outside listed municipalities

  • Fee is non-refundable.
  • The county's farm-buildings application page says fees will be charged unless the structure is for 100% farm use only; that page was not opened.

  application fee: 25 USD (non-refundable; applies to all construction applications)

  “a non-refundable $25.00 application fee for all construction applications is required.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process through the Knox County Zoning Department in unincorporated Knox County

  • Download the application for the building type (new home, farm buildings, miscellaneous structure, wind or solar).
  • Application must be signed by the landowner or lessee/contract buyer; all documentation is required.
  • Contact the zoning department before the project begins; the county issues permits based on county zoning regulations only.
  • Process steps beyond the application and fee (review timelines, inspections) were not published on the page opened.

  “all applications must be signed by the landowner or lessee/contract buyer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Haw Creek township
• Building code adopted — Whether a residential building code is adopted for Haw Creek township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in Haw Creek township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Haw Creek township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the Knox County agricultural (A) and rural residential (R) districts

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.