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

Rules another office applies inside May Township

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

• Building permitRequired

  New construction in the unincorporated portion of May Township administered by the Lee County Building/Zoning Office.

  • A LESA report is required before a dwelling or development permit on a parcel excluding a legally platted subdivision.
  • A platted survey, site plan, well/septic preliminary approval where applicable, address, driveway-access permit, 9-1-1 sign permit, and drainage permit are listed prerequisites.

  “Fee will be charged to both owner and contractor if any construction begins prior to the building permit being issued”

• InspectionsLimited

  Commercial structures in R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, or I-3 zones inside unincorporated May Township.

  • Applies to structures built after July 1, 2011, or subsequently converted to commercial use.
  • Commercial buildings must be inspected and approved before the building permit will be approved.

  “Any structure built after July 1, 2011, in an R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, or I-3 zone, or a structure built after July 1, 2011, and subsequently converted to a commercial use, will be required to obtain a certificate of inspection signed by an inspector who is qualified under the terms of Public Act 096-0704.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside May Township subject to Lee County zoning.

  • District applicability must be determined from the county zoning map and parcel zoning.
  • The county page expressly limits its zoning-district statement to unincorporated county area.

  “The unincorporated area of the county is divided into districts or "zones". Certain types of uses are allowed in each of these zones.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential lots in the unincorporated portion of May Township, by applicable Lee County zoning district.

  • AG-1 requires 2 acres for residential lots, restricted use.
  • R-1 requires 2 acres; R-2, R-3, and R-4 require 1 acre; PUD requires 8,000 square feet.

  AG-1 residential minimum lot size: 2 acres (restricted use) · R-1 residential minimum lot size: 2 acres · R-2/R-3/R-4 residential minimum lot size: 1 acre

  “Minimum lot size, residential | 2 acres, R | 2 acres | 1 acre | 1 acre | 1 acre | | | | | | | | | 8,000 s/f | | | |”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in the unincorporated portion of May Township, by applicable Lee County zoning district.

  • For R-1, front yard is 25 feet and side/rear yards are 15 feet.
  • For R-2, R-3, and R-4, front yard is 25 feet and side/rear yards are 7 feet.
  • Restrictions and special-use markings in the table remain applicable.

  R-1 front yard: 25 ft (restricted use) · R-1 side and rear yard: 15 ft · R-2/R-3/R-4 front yard: 25 ft (R-2 and R-3 marked restricted use) · R-2/R-3/R-4 side and rear yard: 7 ft

  “Yard, front | | 25 ft, R | 25 ft, R | 25 ft | 25 ft | 25 ft, R | 25 ft, R | 25 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | | | | S | | R | Yard, side | | 15 ft | 7 ft | 7 ft | 7 ft | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | | | 7 ft | S | | R | Yard, rear | | 15 ft | 7 ft | 7 ft | 7 ft | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | 15 ft, R | | | 7 ft | S | | R |”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems installed inside May Township.

  • Systems must comply with Lee County and Illinois State Private Sewage Codes.
  • Permit fees are required.

  “Permits are issued and inspections are conducted of private sewage disposal systems installed in Lee County.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage installations, repairs, and additions inside May Township.

  • Applications and fees must be submitted before obtaining a Lee County Zoning Office building permit.
  • Permits are valid one year from approval; unused or old permits are voided.

  contractor installation permit fee: 125 USD · property-owner installation permit fee: 250 USD

  “A sewage permit is necessary on all new installations, repairs or additions to existing systems. The fee for the permit is $125.00 for contractor installation or $250.00 for property owner installation.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage systems installed by property owners inside May Township.

  • Property owners must request an inspection after the tank is set and first trench dug, before rock or pipe is placed.
  • Property owners must request final inspection before trenches are backfilled.
  • The department must be contacted at least two working days before an inspection appointment.

  “Property owners must request the Lee County Health Department to make a final inspection after the system is installed and before the trenches are backfilled.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Alternative private septic systems inside May Township.

  • The system must be adopted by IDPH and not violate County Code.
  • A septic permit is required before installation.
  • New alternative systems require inspection after installation and before backfill.

  “Any person wishing to install an alternative septic system must acquire a septic permit prior to the system installation.”

• Well permitRequired

  New wells installed inside May Township.

  • Systems must comply with Lee County codes, rules, and regulations.
  • Permit fees are required.
  • Abandoned wells must be sealed under the Illinois Water Well Construction Code and Lee County Code.

  “Permits are issued on all new wells which are installed in Lee County. All systems must be installed in accordance with specific Lee County Codes and Rules and Regulations. Fees are required for permits.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses in the unincorporated portion of May Township subject to Lee County zoning.

  • The exemption is according to state law.
  • Applicants must contact the Zoning Department to determine qualification.

  “Certain agricultural uses are exempt from meeting local zoning requirements according to state law. Contact the Zoning Department to determine if you qualify for this exemption.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New building-permit applicants in the unincorporated portion of May Township.

  • After the Zoning Office issues an address, the applicant must obtain driveway-access, 9-1-1 sign, and drainage permits from the Lee County Highway Engineer.
  • Before work within a road right-of-way, the permittee must contact and obtain approval from the highway authority with jurisdiction.

  “After the Zoning Office has issued an address, the individual requesting the permit must receive a driveway access permit, a 9-1-1 sign permit and drainage permit from the Lee County Highway Engineer”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development on a May Township parcel in the regulatory floodplain.

  • The project requires additional floodplain steps, typically including a Lee County Floodplain Permit, elevation survey, state applications, and a building permit if allowable.
  • Development is limited by applicable floodplain regulations.

  “Building/Developing in a Floodplain requires additional steps. Most require the minimum of the following: Lee County Floodplain Permit; Elevation Survey; State Application(s); Building Permit (If Project is Allowable).”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Private sewage permits inside May Township.

  • Fees are non-refundable.
  • The cited fees are for septic permits, not a complete county building-permit fee schedule.

  contractor-installed septic permit: 125 USD · property-owner-installed septic permit: 250 USD

  “The fee for the permit is $125.00 for contractor installation or $250.00 for property owner installation.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants in the unincorporated portion of May Township.

  • Applicant must obtain the building-permit application from the Lee County Zoning Office.
  • A platted survey, site plan, driveway location, and square-footage information are required.
  • Private well/septic preliminary approval is required where applicable.

  “Contact the Lee County Zoning Office, 112 E Second St, Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 288-3643, to obtain the Building Permit application. A platted survey of the parcel must be provided.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Building work inside May Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside May Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside May Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside May Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside May Township.

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.