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

Rules another office applies inside Abington Township

Abington 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

  Buildings and structures in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.

  • Routine maintenance or repair, alterations costing less than $1,000 that do not change exterior enclosed dimensions, construction of a service connection to a municipally owned and operated utility, and agricultural uses are excepted from permit or certificate requirements.
  • A zoning certificate must first be obtained from the Zoning Officer.

  “No building or structure shall be constructed, reconstructed, erected, moved in, or altered within the unincorporated portions of Mercer County without first obtaining a Zoning Certificate from the Zoning Officer which indicates that the proposed building or structure complies with all the provisions of this Resolution.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Post-construction certificate-of-occupancy review for buildings in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.

  • The premises must be inspected and certified by the Zoning Officer as conforming to the plans and specifications for the zoning certificate.
  • The certificate application must include a sworn safety statement from an inspector and the inspector's Illinois IDFPR Home Inspector License.
  • Building inspection reports must certify completion in accordance with established building codes adopted by Illinois.

  “all applications for a certificate of occupancy shall include a sworn statement from the inspector attesting to the safety of such structure along with a copy of his idfpr (illinois 70 administration department of financial and professional regulation) home inspector license.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings or additions constructed after the resolution's effective date, non-agricultural use of previously unused land, and changes of use in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.

  • Certificates are issued only upon the property owner's request.
  • A change from one permitted use to another permitted use is excepted.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than six months during completion of an addition or partial occupancy.
  • Gas and electric utility service will not be turned on before issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

  temporary certificate maximum validity: <= 6 months (During completion of an addition or partial occupancy.)

  “a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued to be valid for a period not to exceed 6 months from its date during the completion of any addition or during partial occupancy of the premises.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.

  • HUD-code homes are allowed only in identified districts and subject to the stated building permits, conditional-use permits, hardship, lot, size, foundation, deed-restriction, and covenant conditions.
  • Homes not compliant with HUD Code or Illinois Code cannot locate in any zoning district.
  • The installation ordinance excludes recreational vehicles, R-4 mobile-home districts, and approved conditional-use areas from its ordinary coverage.

  minimum living area: >= 825 square feet (For the AG-1 and R-1 individual-lot situation stated in § 6.1.) · minimum manufactured-home width: >= 24 feet (For the AG-1 and R-1 individual-lot situation stated in § 6.1.)

  “3. manufactured homes/housing not constructed in compliance to the hud code or il code shall not be permitted to locate in any zoning district in unincorporated mercer county.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater systems in Abington Township, Mercer County.

  • The application instructions require soils evaluation, a certified soil classifier, a licensed Mercer County private sewage disposal contractor, an application, soil report, and permit fee.
  • A surface-discharging system requires an IEPA-issued EPA NPDES permit.

  “this is the permit application to construct or repair an onsite wastewater disposal system in mercer county.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural uses in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.

  • The exemption is from the resolution's permit or certificate requirement; other applicable regulations are not addressed by this excerpt.

  “No permit or certificate shall be required for: Routine maintenance or repair of buildings, structures, or equipment, such as repainting or re-roofing or insulating a building; Alterations costing less than one thousand (1,000) dollars to existing buildings, but not including activities which would change the exterior dimensions of the enclosed portion of the existing structure; Construction of a service connection to a municipally owned and operated utility; and Any agricultural uses.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.

  • The zoning resolution directs subdivision of land to the Illinois Plat Act.

  “Section 6.12: SUBDIVIDING OF LAND As per Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 109 Plat Act.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning certificates in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.

  • The Zoning Officer may require duplicate plats showing actual land dimensions and a scaled plat showing building area, height, bulk, building lines, intended use, and other enforcement information.
  • Conditional-use applications must be filed with the Zoning Officer and forwarded to the Board of Appeals for a public hearing.

  “No building or structure shall be constructed, reconstructed, erected, moved in, or altered within the unincorporated portions of Mercer County without first obtaining a Zoning Certificate from the Zoning Officer which indicates that the proposed building or structure complies with all the provisions of this Resolution.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Abington Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Abington Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Abington Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping in the unincorporated portion of Mercer County inside Abington 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.