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

Rules another office applies inside Grisham Township

Grisham 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 permitNot required (with conditions)

  County building permits for rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • The county instead uses Structural Improvement Permits as construction notifications for assessment purposes.
  • conditions may differ inside incorporated municipalities.

  “The county does not issue “building permits.” The county has Structural Improvement Permits. This is to notify the county that construction is taking place. This is for assessment purposes only.”

• Local zoningAbsent (with conditions)

  Rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township; this does not establish rules for land inside a municipality located in the township.

  • For zoning requirements in a municipality, the county directs residents to contact the Village or City Clerk.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county. For zoning requirements in a municipality, please contact the village or city clerk.”

• Zoning districtsNot published (with conditions)

  County zoning districts for rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • This conclusion follows the county's explicit statement that it has no rural zoning ordinance; municipal zoning may apply within municipal boundaries.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone (with conditions)

  County zoning minimum dwelling size on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a county rural zoning ordinance; building, health, sewage, subdivision, and municipal requirements may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone (with conditions)

  County zoning minimum lot size on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a county rural zoning ordinance; septic, subdivision, and municipal requirements may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• SetbacksNone (with conditions)

  County zoning setbacks on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a county rural zoning ordinance; septic, subdivision, highway, and municipal requirements may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Lot coverageNone (with conditions)

  County zoning lot coverage on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a county rural zoning ordinance; septic, subdivision, and municipal requirements may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Building heightNone (with conditions)

  County zoning building height on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a county rural zoning ordinance; other building, airport, utility, and municipal requirements may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  County zoning regulation of RV occupancy on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • This establishes only the absence of a county rural zoning ordinance; municipality, health, sewage, subdivision, and other applicable rules are not resolved by this claim.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  County zoning regulation of temporary camping on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • Municipal, health, sewage, subdivision, and other applicable rules may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  County zoning regulation of tiny-home occupancy on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • Municipal, health, sewage, subdivision, and other applicable rules may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  County zoning regulation of manufactured-home occupancy on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • Municipal, health, sewage, subdivision, and other applicable rules may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  County zoning regulation of accessory dwellings on rural, unincorporated land within Grisham Township.

  • Municipal, health, sewage, subdivision, and other applicable rules may still apply.

  “There is no zoning ordinance in the rural areas of the county.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage-disposal installations in Grisham Township submitted to the Montgomery County Health Department.

  • The application states that installation must conform to the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and Code and the Montgomery County Sewage Treatment and Disposal Ordinance.

  “it is understood that the applicant assumes resposibility in obtaining the inspection and final approval of the montgomery county health department on all portions of this sewage disposal installation prior to covering any portion of the system.”

• Permit processPartial

  County construction-notification process for rural, unincorporated property within Grisham Township.

  • The Structural Improvement Permit is a notification for assessment purposes, not a county building permit.
  • A 911 address applicant must first obtain or complete a building address permit from the Supervisor of Assessments.

  “The county does not issue “building permits.” The county has Structural Improvement Permits. This is to notify the county that construction is taking place. This is for assessment purposes only.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Grisham Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Grisham Township.
• Inspections — Building-construction inspections inside Grisham Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of a completed dwelling inside Grisham Township.
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems inside Grisham 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.