Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Pin Oak Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside Pin Oak Township

Pin Oak 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 home construction on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality, permitted by Madison County Planning and Development

  • Construction may begin only after the permit is issued and the application has passed review.
  • Permit issued by Madison County, not by Pin Oak township.
  • Permit is active for one year from issuance.

  review time: >= 72 hours (allow at least 72 hours for the review process)

  “you must apply for and be issued a building permit prior to beginning construction. allow at least 72 hours for the review process.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Owner-builders of a new home on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Dwelling must be the owner's primary residence.
  • Aerobic treatment unit installation must be done by a licensed private sewage installer, not the owner.

  “yes, as long as the dwelling will be their primary residence, the owner may do all of the work with the exception of installing an aerobic treatment unit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential and commercial construction on land inside Pin Oak township that is outside any municipality, under Madison County building review

  • Source describes the county's own building review; it does not state the code for any municipality inside Pin Oak township.
  • Source does not say whether Pin Oak township itself has adopted any building code.
  • Edition and effective date stated only as 2024 International Building Code; no adoption date given on the page.

  building code edition: 2024 International Building Code

  “madison county uses the 2024 international building code when reviewing building plans for commercial and residential projects.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New home construction on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Final inspection by the building inspector is required before occupancy.
  • Inspection schedule and stage-by-stage inspections are not stated on the page reviewed.

  “no, the new home may not be occupied until the final inspection has been conducted and the building inspector has issued a certificate of occupancy.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New home occupancy on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Occupancy requires a certificate of occupancy issued after final inspection.
  • Certificate of occupancy fee listed as $30 in the new home fee list on the same page.

  certificate of occupancy fee: 30 USD (listed in the new home permit fee list)

  “no, the new home may not be occupied until the final inspection has been conducted and the building inspector has issued a certificate of occupancy.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  County zoning districts that apply to unincorporated land inside Pin Oak township, if the county zoning ordinance governs the parcel

  • Districts listed include A agricultural, C conservation, R-1 to R-7 residential, B business, M manufacturing, PD, flood plain overlay and others.
  • Ordinance text says it covers the entire county; the zoning map is published for unincorporated Madison County only.
  • Ordinance version date not confirmed.

  “the entire county of madison is divided into the following districts”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  One single-family dwelling on an agricultural tract in the A agricultural district of Madison County zoning on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality (if the parcel is in the A district)

  • Additional single-family dwellings require one additional 40 acres of the same tract.
  • Further subdivision must follow county subdivision regulations.
  • Ordinance version date not confirmed from the PDF reviewed.

  minimum tract area: >= 2 acres (contiguous tract under single ownership) · minimum lot width at front property line: >= 40 feet

  “one single family detached dwelling may be situated as a permitted use on any contiguous agricultural tract under single ownership of at least two acres in area with a minimum lot width of forty feet at the front property line and 150 feet in width at the minimum front yard setback line (50 feet from the front property line).”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  A second kitchen or mother-in-law suite inside a single-family home on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality, under county zoning

  • Stated for a single-family home; the page does not address detached accessory dwellings.

  “no, by definition this constitutes multi-family housing and is not permitted.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage systems on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act (225 ILCS 225) sets state licensing and state inspection powers that also apply; this record does not quote that act.
  • Private sewer permits page is marked Under Maintenance; its contact details may be out of date.

  “inspections and permits for the installation of private sewage systems in accordance with state of illinois and u.s. epa requirements”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of a private sewage system for a new home on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Aerobic treatment units must be installed by a licensed private sewage installer.
  • Sewage disposal system fee applies if applicable.

  sewage disposal system fee: 200-250 USD (if applicable, per new home permit fee list)

  “inspections and permits for the installation of private sewage systems in accordance with state of illinois and u.s. epa requirements”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of private sewage systems on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Inspections are part of the county private sewer program; stage and timing of inspections are not stated on the page reviewed.

  “inspections and permits for the installation of private sewage systems in accordance with state of illinois and u.s. epa requirements”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Subdivision review is administered by the county Building & Zoning Department.
  • Subdivision regulations, plat application forms and fees were not opened.

  “this includes planning, zoning administration, building permits and inspections, subdivision review, site development, and code enforcement.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New home building permits in unincorporated Madison County, including land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Approved private entrance application must be submitted with the new home building permit application.
  • Township road maintenance role for driveway access was not reviewed.

  “we have updated our requirements and now require an approved private entrance application at the time of submittal for your new home building permit.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New home construction in any 100-year floodplain on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Finished floor elevation must be two feet above base flood elevation, shown by elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor or engineer.
  • Fill to raise ground above base flood elevation requires FEMA approval before a permit is issued.
  • Fill must not disturb existing drainage patterns from adjacent properties unless an alternative route is constructed.

  finished floor elevation above base flood elevation: >= 2 feet

  “if any part of the proposed structure is located in the 100 year floodplain, you must provide an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor or engineer indicating that the finished floor elevation is two (2) feet above the base flood elevation.”

• Permit feesPublished

  New home permit fees in unincorporated Madison County, including land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Fees are listed on the New Home Permits FAQ; the county also links a separate permit fee schedule that was not opened.
  • Debit and credit card payments are subject to a service fee.
  • Sewage disposal system fee applies only if applicable.

  building permit fee: 0.15 USD per square foot (based on total square footage, not living space) · electrical fee: 50 USD · plumbing fee: 60 USD · sewage disposal system fee: 200-250 USD (if applicable) · certificate of occupancy fee: 30 USD

  “how much does a new home permit cost? a new home permit is subject to the following fees:”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit application process for new homes in unincorporated Madison County, including land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality

  • Application is made in person at the Planning and Development department, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm weekdays, per the FAQ.
  • Site plan with precise dimensions and floor plans with elevations are required.
  • Permit fee is paid when applying.
  • Certificate of occupancy requires final inspection.

  “you must apply for your building permit in-person at the planning and development department between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm, monday through friday, except county holidays.”

Still unanswered

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

• Local zoning — Whether Pin Oak township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Setbacks — R-1 single-family dwelling district of Madison County zoning on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality (if the parcel is in R-1)
• Lot coverage — R-1 single-family dwelling district of Madison County zoning on land inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality (if the parcel is in R-1)
• Building height — Building height limits for residences inside Pin Oak township outside any municipality under county zoning
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Pin Oak 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.