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

Rules another office applies inside Henderson Township

Henderson 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

  Installation or servicing of a private sewage disposal system serving the owner's personal single-family residence inside Henderson Township, where the Knox County Health Ordinance applies.

  • This is a septic-system contractor-license exception, not a verified exemption from building, zoning, or other permits.
  • The ordinance does not apply in areas of Knox County having an Illinois Department of Public Health-approved private sewage disposal ordinance.
  • The system remains subject to the required permit and ordinance requirements.

  “provided, however, that a homeowner may install and/or service a private sewage disposal system which serves the homeowner’s personal single family residence.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Henderson Township, where the Knox County Health Ordinance applies.

  • The ordinance excludes areas having a private sewage disposal ordinance approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
  • The Knox County Health Department or its authorized representative administers the permit program.

  “This Ordinance is not in effect within those areas of Knox County that have a private sewage disposal ordinance approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health pursuant to the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act (225 ILCS 225/1).”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, or extension of a private sewage disposal system inside Henderson Township, where the Knox County Health Ordinance applies.

  • A valid permit from the Health Department or its authorized representative is required before construction, installation, or alteration.
  • The owner must apply before work begins; permit specifications may control maximum waste loading or minimum size, type, and location.
  • The ordinance excludes areas with an Illinois Department of Public Health-approved local private sewage ordinance.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter, or extend private sewage disposal systems within Knox County unless said person holds a valid permit issued by the Health Department or its authorized representative”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of a private sewage disposal system inside Henderson Township, where the Knox County Health Ordinance applies.

  • Inspection occurs after complete installation or a completed portion and before backfilling.
  • Covering work without Health Department authorization violates the ordinance and may require uncovering at the violator's cost.
  • The ordinance excludes areas with an Illinois Department of Public Health-approved local private sewage ordinance.

  “Before backfilling is started, but after complete installation of the private sewage disposal system or portion thereof, an inspection shall be made by the Health Department or its authorized representative to determine compliance with the provisions of this Ordinance.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision or re-division inside Henderson Township using private sewage disposal, where the Knox County Health Ordinance applies.

  • The Health Department reviews to confirm each proposed lot can contain an approved private sewage disposal system.
  • The provision covers division into two or more parts by mapping, platting, conveyance, or boundary rearrangement.
  • Additional drawings, soils information, lot-size, replacement-area, review, and fee requirements apply.
  • The ordinance excludes areas with an Illinois Department of Public Health-approved local private sewage ordinance.

  “the Knox County Health Department shall review the proposed development to ensure that each proposed lot shall be able to contain a private sewage disposal system approved under the provisions of this Ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal permits inside Henderson Township, where the Knox County Health Ordinance applies.

  • The $150 fee applies when the system is installed by an Illinois licensed private sewage disposal installation contractor.
  • The $250 fee applies when the property owner installs the system.
  • A denied-permit fee is returned; fees are non-refundable once a permit issues.
  • The ordinance excludes areas with an Illinois Department of Public Health-approved local private sewage ordinance.

  private sewage permit fee: 150 USD (System installed by an Illinois Licensed Private Sewage Disposal Installation Contractor.) · private sewage permit fee: 250 USD (Permit issued for property owner to install the system.)

  “Effective January 1, 2010 there shall be a fee of $150.00 charged for the permit required in this Article when the system is installed by an Illinois Licensed Private Sewage Disposal Installation Contractor. The fee shall be $250.00 when the permit is issued for the property owner to install the system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Henderson Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Henderson Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction inside Henderson Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Henderson Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Henderson Township, Knox 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.