Zoning, building permits and septic rules in South Litchfield Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside South Litchfield Township

South Litchfield 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 zoningAbsent

  Land inside South Litchfield township outside any incorporated village or city (rural Montgomery County). No South Litchfield township zoning ordinance was found; the statement below is the county's, not the township's.

  • The county page states the no-zoning position for the rural areas of the county; it does not separately name South Litchfield township.
  • For land inside a village or city within the township, the county directs residents to that municipality's clerk for zoning requirements; no such municipality was identified in this research.
  • Septic, floodplain and other health or state rules still apply.

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

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts for rural (unincorporated) land inside South Litchfield township

  • No county zoning ordinance exists for the rural areas, so no county zoning districts are published.

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county zoning means no county minimum dwelling size; building and health rules may still apply.

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

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county zoning means no county minimum lot size; septic and health rules still set practical lot limits.

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

• SetbacksNone

  Building setbacks on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county zoning means no county setback rule; state or road-authority setbacks may still apply.

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

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county zoning means no county lot-coverage rule.

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

• Building heightNone

  Building height on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county zoning means no county height limit.

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

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  Long-term or occupied RV use on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county land-use rule restricts RV occupancy in rural areas, per the no-zoning statement.
  • Septic and health rules still apply to any sanitation the RV uses.
  • Inside an incorporated municipality, that municipality's rules apply instead.

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

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county land-use rule restricts temporary camping in rural areas, per the no-zoning statement.
  • Septic and health rules still apply to any sanitation facilities used.

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

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny home occupancy on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county land-use rule restricts tiny-home occupancy in rural areas, per the no-zoning statement.
  • Septic and health rules still apply.

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

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured home occupancy on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county land-use rule restricts manufactured-home occupancy in rural areas, per the no-zoning statement.
  • Septic and health rules still apply.

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

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings on private land in the rural (unincorporated) parts of South Litchfield township

  • No county land-use rule restricts accessory dwellings in rural areas, per the no-zoning statement.
  • Septic and health rules still apply to any added dwelling.

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage (septic) systems on land inside South Litchfield township; the Montgomery County Health Department administers the program countywide, including this township.

  • Program is run under the Illinois Department of Public Health private sewage program together with the county private sewage disposal ordinance.
  • The 2016 permit form names the Montgomery County Sewage Treatment and Disposal Ordinance and the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act and code.

  “the department administers and enforces the private sewage disposal program brought forth by the illinois department of public health in conjunction with the county ordinance for private sewage disposal.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New and renovated private sewage disposal systems on land inside South Litchfield township

  • The permit is issued to the owner and a licensed septic installer before construction.
  • The 2016 form states the permit expires one year from date of issue.
  • The applicant must arrange inspection and final approval before any portion of the system is covered.

  “all new and renovated private sewage disposal systems require a permit to be issued to the owner and licensed septic installer prior to construction.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems on land inside South Litchfield township

  • The 2016 form says the installer must request an inspection by calling the health department two working days before installation begins.
  • Inspection and final approval are required on all portions of the installation before any portion is covered.

  “department personnel shall evaluate, approve and inspect the systems.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Sewage (private sewage disposal) permit application fee charged by the Montgomery County Health Department for land inside South Litchfield township; no other permit fees were found.

  • Fee shown on a 2016 form; current fee schedule not verified.
  • Only the sewage permit fee was found; building and other fees not located.

  sewage permit application fee: 50 USD

  “montgomery county health department permit # $50 application fee date of issue date of pre-eval”

• Permit processPartial

  Sewage (private sewage disposal) permit process at the Montgomery County Health Department for land inside South Litchfield township; no general building permit process was found.

  • Application is made by the owner and licensed installer; the health department evaluates, approves and inspects the system.
  • Permit expires one year from date of issue per the 2016 form.

  “to request an inspection call 217-532-2001 two working days prior to beginning of installation.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New residential construction inside South Litchfield township (building permit, not septic)
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside South Litchfield township
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside South Litchfield township
• Inspections — Building (non-septic) inspection inside South Litchfield township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new dwelling inside South Litchfield 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.