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

Rules another office applies inside Foster Township

Foster 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

  An owner performing roofing work on the owner's property inside Foster Township where the county booklet governs the permit application.

  • The exemption stated is from the roofing-contractor licensing requirement, not from building permits or building-code compliance.

  “An owner of property, who performs the work himself, is exempt from the licensing requirement.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  A house with a door opening leading to a deck on county-administered property inside Foster Township.

  • The deck must be constructed and approved before the certificate of occupancy is received.

  “Any house that is constructed with an opening for a door that leads to a deck; the deck must be constructed and approved. The opening cannot be put in with no deck. This is required to receive the certificate of occupancy.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  The identified Foster Township parcel at 1705 Seiler Road, Alton, in county zoning administration.

  • The action concerns approximately 80 acres of a dual-zoned parcel and a requested change from R-1 to A; it does not establish district assignments for all township land.

  “John Barry Julian and Gayvonna Francine Julian, owners of record, requesting a zoning map amendment to rezone approximately 80 acres of a dual-zoned lot from “R-1” Single-Family Residential District to “A” Agricultural District. This is located in Foster Township at 1705 Seiler Road, Alton, Illinois, County Board District #7, PIN# 20-1-02-18-00-000-003;”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Foster Township.

  • Local health agencies may also review construction plans under local authority or as an IDPH agent.
  • The stated IDPH coverage includes systems without surface discharge and systems discharging treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to ground surface.

  surface-discharge threshold: <= 1500 gallons per day (Treated effluent discharged to ground surface.)

  “The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems that have no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields) as well as those that discharge treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to the ground surface (such as sand filters and aerobic treatment systems).”

• Well permitRequired

  New private water-well construction inside Foster Township.

  • IDPH and local health departments review plans, issue permits, and inspect wells.
  • The state program is conducted through agreements with local health departments.

  “To ensure the safety of these water supplies, the IDPH and local health departments review water well installation plans, issue permits for new well construction, and inspect wells.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A proposed private sewage disposal system in a sewer-district portion of unincorporated Madison County inside Foster Township.

  • The applicant must obtain a letter from the relevant jurisdiction.
  • The letter must state that sanitary sewers are unavailable within 200 feet of the building or unavailable for connection.

  sanitary-sewer availability distance: < 200 feet (Letter may instead state that the system is unavailable for connection.)

  “When a private sewage disposal system is proposed within a village or city that has a public sewer system, or from a portion of the unincorporated county that has a sewer district; then a letter from that jurisdiction is required stating the unavailability of sanitary sewers within 200 feet of the building or that the sanitary sewer system is unavailable for connection.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  A building in a FEMA flood-hazard area on county-administered property inside Foster Township.

  • First floor must be at least two feet above the 100-year base flood elevation.
  • A county-board special-use permit or variance is required.
  • An elevation certificate by a registered surveyor must be submitted.

  elevation above 100-year base flood elevation: >= 2 feet

  “No building is located in a flood area unless the first floor is elevated at least two feet above the 100-year base flood elevation and a special use permit/ variance is granted by the county board. An elevation certificate, completed by a registered surveyor, must be submitted”

• Permit processPartial

  County building-permit applications for property inside Foster Township.

  • A plot plan and construction details are required.
  • The booklet states a 72-hour review period when calling for approval.

  “A plot plan must be provided indicating the precise dimensions of the property and the approximate location of existing structures and proposed structures. It is the owner’s responsibility to verify exact property lines during construction to assure that set back requirements are met. The drawing must be made to scale. When calling for approval on your building permit application, there is now a 72 hour review period.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building code adopted — Construction inside Foster Township.
• Inspections — Building work inside Foster Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Foster Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts in Foster Township subject to county zoning.
• Minimum lot size — Residential and agricultural districts in Foster Township subject to county zoning.

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.