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

Rules another office applies inside Chemung Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Chemung Township, which the township's official site identifies as being in McHenry County.

  • The source identifies the McHenry County Department of Health as the reviewing and permitting agency in McHenry County.
  • Incorporated areas may have an applicable building department notified upon approval.

  “The McHenry County Department of Health is the agency responsible for reviewing and issuing septic system permits in McHenry County.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, repair, extension, replacement, or abandonment of a septic system inside Chemung Township.

  • Very minor repairs—rodding lines, replacing solid pipe, and replacing damaged distribution or drop boxes—do not require a permit.
  • Consult the Health Department before starting work.

  “A septic system permit is required before a septic system is installed, repaired, extended, replaced or abandoned in McHenry County. Some very minor repairs (rodding lines, replacing solid pipe, replacing damaged distribution or drop boxes) do not require a permit.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Permitted septic-system installations inside Chemung Township.

  • Either the property owner or licensed private sewage disposal installation contractor must request the inspection.
  • The Department states that staff inspect the installation the following working day.
  • The system must be installed according to the approved septic design; changes may require a revised design approved before installation.

  “Either the property owner or Licensed Private Sewage Disposal Installation Contractor must contact the Health Department and request an inspection. Department staff will inspect the septic installation the following working day.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private septic systems serving property inside Chemung Township.

  • A permit is required before installation, repair, extension, replacement, or abandonment.
  • The listed very minor repairs are exempt from the permit requirement.

  “A septic system permit is required before a septic system is installed, repaired, extended, replaced or abandoned in McHenry County. Some very minor repairs (rodding lines, replacing solid pipe, replacing damaged distribution or drop boxes) do not require a permit.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction, deepening, modification, capping, or sealing of a water well inside Chemung Township.

  • Application must be in writing on Department forms and signed by the applicant and property owner if different.
  • The appropriate permit and inspection fees in the Public Health Fee Ordinance must be paid before issuance.
  • The ordinance was approved November 15, 2022 and states an effective date of December 1, 20222.

  “No person shall construct, deepen, modify, cap, or seal a water well until a permit has been issued by the Department. Applications for permits shall be in writing on forms provided by the Department and shall be signed by the applicant and property owner if different from the applicant.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Potable water supply for residences and other habitable buildings inside Chemung Township.

  • A potable water well is not permitted where a community public water supply is reasonably available.
  • Where a community public water supply is not reasonably available, every residence, business, habitable building, or enterprise must have a conforming water well.
  • The source does not establish a township-wide sewer connection rule.

  “Construction of a potable water well shall not be permitted on property where a community public water supply is reasonably available. If a community public water supply is not reasonably available, then every residence, business, habitable building, or enterprise shall be provided with a water well in conformance with the provisions set forth in this Ordinance.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Septic permit applications for property inside Chemung Township.

  • Application forms are available from the Health Department or online and may be submitted in person or by mail.
  • Supporting documentation varies by permit type and additional information may be required.
  • The source describes initial technical review timeframes as typical, not guaranteed.

  initial technical review for new files: <= 5 working days (Typically completed within this period after receipt.) · initial technical review for revised files: <= 3 working days (Typically completed within this period after receipt.)

  “Department staff typically completes the initial technical review within five (5) working days of receipt for new files and within three (3) working days of receipt for revised permit files.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Non-septic residential construction inside Chemung Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Chemung Township.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Chemung Township.
• Inspections — Building work inside Chemung Township other than health-department well and septic work.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Chemung 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.