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

Rules another office applies inside Hopewell Township

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Hopewell township, Marshall County, IL. This is the county zoning ordinance; no Hopewell township zoning ordinance was found, so this is not recorded as township-adopted zoning.

  • Ordinance applies only to unincorporated area and to municipalities that have no zoning ordinance; land inside an incorporated municipality with its own zoning is outside this county ordinance.
  • Ordinance lists Hopewell township on its zoning map index (pages 21-27).

  “the zoning provisions of this ordinance shall apply only to buildings, structures and land in the unincorporated area of marshall county”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for unincorporated Hopewell township parcels, shown on the county zoning map (map index lists Hopewell township on pages 21-27).

  • The map is the county GIS zoning layer; individual district names for Hopewell parcels were not extracted.

  “the zoning layer of marshall county’s geographic information system map (gis) or other similar computerized maps of each of the townships of marshall county which when printed display the zoning districts and classifications for each parcel of property in the county that is subject to this ordinance.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Building lot coverage on unincorporated Hopewell township land, set per zoning district.

  • Numeric maximum lot coverage percentages are set in each district chapter; the district schedules were not read in this research.

  “in this ordinance, building bulk limitations are expressed in terms of lot coverage, maximum building height, minimum setbacks and minimum side and rear yards.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Maximum building height on unincorporated Hopewell township land, set per zoning district.

  • Numeric maximum heights are set in each district chapter; the district schedules were not read in this research.

  “in this ordinance, building bulk limitations are expressed in terms of lot coverage, maximum building height, minimum setbacks and minimum side and rear yards.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Occupying a recreational vehicle as a dwelling on unincorporated Hopewell township land.

  • Allowed only in lawfully established mobile home parks or commercial campgrounds.
  • Temporary dwelling use may be permitted: after fire or disaster, a six-month temporary shelter permit from the zoning administrator (4.19b); or by special use permit valid one year, for hardship or agricultural conditions (4.19c).

  “recreational vehicles as defined in section 1.2 of this ordinance shall not be occupied for dwelling purposes except in lawfully established mobile home parks or commercial campgrounds.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  Occupying a mobile home (the ordinance term) as a dwelling on unincorporated Hopewell township land. The ordinance does not separately define manufactured homes in the text read.

  • Allowed in lawfully established mobile home parks, commercial campgrounds or mobile home subdivisions.
  • Same temporary dwelling exceptions as recreational vehicles (4.19b and 4.19c); nonconforming mobile homes must be removed if unoccupied for more than 90 days (5.3).

  “mobile homes shall not be occupied for dwelling purposes except in lawfully established mobile home parks, commercial campgrounds or mobile home subdivisions.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in unincorporated Hopewell township, under the Marshall County subdivision ordinance incorporated by reference in the county zoning ordinance.

  • Subdivision ordinance text was not opened; its exact triggers and exemptions are not established here.
  • Installations and structures in mobile home subdivisions must conform to the Marshall County subdivision ordinance (zoning ordinance definition of mobile home subdivision).

  “all provisions contained in this ordinance referring to the marshall county subdivision ordinance refer to said ordinance adopted by the county board on january 19, 1969, and as amended, and the provisions therein are incorporated by reference where specifically mentioned in this ordinance.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for unincorporated Hopewell township land, run by the Marshall County zoning department.

  • Application form is published; fees and the full review steps (chapter 6) were not read.
  • Office: 552 State Route 26, Lacon, IL 61540 (county zoning page).

  “applications and forms: application for amendment [pdf] application-for-building-permit [pdf]”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Hopewell township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for Hopewell township
• Inspections — Building inspections for Hopewell township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for Hopewell township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Hopewell 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.