Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Wood River Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside Wood River Township

Wood River 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 on private land in unincorporated Madison County, including unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Construction may proceed once the permit is issued; the permit must be applied for in person at the Planning & Development Department.
  • Applies to unincorporated land; the City of Wood River issues its own permits inside city limits (not verified on an opened page here).

  “you must apply for and be issued a building permit prior to beginning construction.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Owner doing the work on a new home in unincorporated Madison County, including unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Only where the dwelling will be the owner's primary residence.
  • Installing an aerobic treatment unit is excluded; it must be installed by a licensed private sewage installer.
  • Private sewage maintenance and discharge forms must be signed by the homeowner, not a representative.

  “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

  Plan review of new residential and commercial construction handled by Madison County inside Wood River township's unincorporated land

  • The county page names the 2024 International Building Code for plan review; the IRC, IECC and other editions it applies were not separately verified.
  • Energy code: new residential applications must include a REScheck form for climate zone 4 (per the same county FAQ).

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Wood River township: the Madison County zoning ordinance regulates land use there

  • Inference: the county page limits the zoning map and ordinance to unincorporated Madison County; unincorporated land inside Wood River township is part of that area.
  • Does not apply to land inside the incorporated City of Wood River.
  • Applies only where Wood River township has not adopted its own zoning ordinance; no township ordinance was located.

  “zoning map for unincorporated madison county.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts for unincorporated Madison County, including unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Map covers unincorporated Madison County only; districts in the City of Wood River are not covered.
  • Districts named on the county new-home FAQ include A (agriculture), R-1 through R-4 (single-family residential), and a manufactured home park district.

  “zoning map for unincorporated madison county.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  New single-family dwellings on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • The county FAQ states the figure without a district split.

  minimum floor area, new single-family dwelling: >= 620 square feet

  “yes, new single-family dwellings must be at least 620 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Dwellings in the R-1 single-family residential district on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Average front yard exception: where lots on one side of a street between intersecting streets make up 50% or more of the frontage and are developed with an average front yard variation of ten feet or less, the average front yard setback is the minimum requirement, not less than 20 feet or more than 35 feet.
  • Any yard abutting a public or private roadway is treated as a front yard.
  • Attached structures must meet primary structure setbacks.

  front yard setback: 40 feet (subject to average front yard exception) · side yard setback: 25 feet · rear yard setback: 40 feet

  ““r-1” single-family residential district • front yard setback: 40 feet* • side yard† setback: 25 feet • rear yard setback: 40 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Dwellings in the A (agriculture) district on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

    ““a” agriculture district • 40 feet from all property lines.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Buildings and structures on R-1 single-family residential lots on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Covers accessory structures as well as the principal building.

  maximum lot coverage by buildings and structures: <= 15 percent of zoning lot area

  “not more than 15% of the area of a zoning lot may be covered by buildings or structures, including accessory structures.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • None — Dwellings in the A (agriculture) district on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

    “agriculture district &bull; no lot coverage standard.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  A second kitchen or mother-in-law suite inside a home on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • The county treats this as multi-family housing, which the page says is not permitted.
  • Other forms of accessory dwelling (detached units) were not addressed on the opened pages.

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage (septic) systems on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Madison County Planning & Development issues the private sewer permits and inspections.
  • The county page does not state the text of the county private sewage code, and the Illinois Department of Public Health overlay was not verified on an opened page.

  “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 on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Permit and county inspection are part of the installation process; the county permit form and fees were not located.
  • Aerobic treatment units must be installed by a licensed private sewage installer (county FAQ).

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Inspection of a private sewage system installed on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Inspection timing and steps not stated on the page; the county page lists permits and inspections together.

  “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)

  Grading, site development and subdivision improvements on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Covers residential and non-residential site construction under the county site/subdivision permit program.
  • Subdivision approval rules (lot splits, plats) were not opened.

  “permits for grading, site development and subdivision improvements”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application for new construction on unincorporated land inside Wood River township

  • Apply and pay in person at the Planning & Development Department, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except county holidays; the FAQ says mailed applications are not accepted.
  • Work may begin only after the permit is issued; allow at least 72 hours for review.
  • Accepted payment: cash up to $300, check, or major debit or credit card (card transactions subject to a service fee).

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

Still unanswered

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

• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in unincorporated land inside Wood River township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated land inside Wood River township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the A and R-1 districts on unincorporated land inside Wood River township
• Building height — Maximum building height in the A and R-1 districts on unincorporated land inside Wood River township
• Living in an RV — Occupying an RV on private land inside Wood River 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.