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

Rules another office applies inside Lowe Township

Lowe 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

  New homes and additions on unincorporated land inside Lowe township, under the county building permit process

  • Permits are not required for roof replacements, siding, windows, or internal remodels that do not include major structural changes.
  • Permit application must be completed before construction; the county fee sheet says construction started without a permit doubles the fees.
  • Applies to unincorporated areas; the county planning page says residents should contact the department before a project begins to be certain all local regulations are met.
  • Whether Lowe township contains an incorporated municipality that issues its own permits was not confirmed.

  “permits for most construction projects are required before that construction starts.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Residential construction on unincorporated land inside Lowe township (county code applies where the township has no own code)

  • Applies to unincorporated areas; incorporated municipalities inside the township, if any, are not covered by this county statement.
  • Statement is the county zoning page's own description of the code it expects contractors to follow.

  adopted residential code: 2018 IRC · adopted building code: 2024 IBC

  “the county adopted the 2018 irc and the 2024 ibc, and expects that contractors doing business in moultrie county will follow those codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted residential construction on unincorporated land inside Lowe township

  • Inspections are permit-based; the county building inspector does not do non-permit inspections.
  • Fee sheet lists footing, structure, electrical rough-in and final, plumbing rough-in and final, and slab/basement inspections, each at $50.00; inspections must be done in order with 48-hour notice.

  inspection notice: >= 48 hours

  “inspections are made during the course of construction.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for unincorporated land inside Lowe township, under county Zoning Ordinance 77-1

  • Applies only where county zoning governs, i.e. unincorporated land; whether Lowe township has its own districts was not confirmed.
  • District list and permissible uses chart were linked on the county site but not opened.

  “the unincorporated area of the county is divided into districts or "zones."”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential building permit setbacks measured from road centerline on unincorporated land inside Lowe township

  • Setbacks are measured from the center of the road, per the county residential permit application.
  • Applies to residential building permits; district setbacks in zoning ordinance 77-1 not reviewed and may add further limits.
  • State law keeps setbacks for agricultural uses even when the agricultural exemption applies (see moultrie-county-agricultural-exemption).

  setback from centerline - state or federal highway: 100 feet · setback from centerline - state aid route: 75 feet · setback from centerline - county road: 65 feet · setback from centerline - township road: 60 feet · setback from centerline - street right of way: 50 feet

  “the setback requirements are as follows: state or federal highway state aid route county road township road street right of way (all measured from the center of the road) 100’ 75’ 65’ 60’ 50’”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses on unincorporated land inside Lowe township

  • Exemption applies only to certain agricultural uses, from local zoning regulations, except for setbacks.
  • County page advises verifying a claimed exemption with the department and then with legal counsel.

  “agriculture exemption: certain agricultural uses are exempt from meeting local zoning regulations, except for setbacks, according to state law.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division and subdivision of land in unincorporated Moultrie County, including unincorporated land inside Lowe township

  • Subdivision regulations are administered by the county Planning & Zoning department alongside zoning and flood hazard regulations.
  • Subdivision ordinance text and any lot size standards were not opened.

  “this department regulates construction and uses through zoning, flood hazard, and subdivision regulations.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permit fees for construction on unincorporated land inside Lowe township

  • Fees doubled if construction starts without a permit.
  • Zoning variance and special use hearings are charged separately.
  • Fee sheet is labelled 'updated january 1, 2024'; no statement that it is an effective date, so effective_at left null.
  • Demolition permit: no charge.

  base residential permit fee: 50 USD (plus each circled inspection/permit charge) · each listed inspection or electrical/plumbing permit: 50 USD (only those circled on the application) · zoning variance hearing: 300 USD · zoning special use hearing: 300 USD

  “base permit fee - residential $50.00 footing inspection permit - before pouring of concrete foundation”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permit process for unincorporated land inside Lowe township

  • Application must be completed and all required information submitted before any permit issues.
  • Permits expire 6 months from date issued, per county ordinance pg. 53 section 24.5 as printed on the form.
  • Owner or builder must sign and certify compliance with county codes and ordinances; a GIS map with drawing of the new building is required.
  • Parcels in designated floodplain may need FEMA and/or Illinois DNR forms (see moultrie-county-floodplain-development).

  permit expiration: 6 months (from date issued)

  “no permit will be issued until this application has been completed and all required information has been submitted.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from county residential permits on unincorporated land inside Lowe township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes on unincorporated land inside Lowe township
• Local zoning — Whether Lowe township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size on unincorporated land inside Lowe township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for residential districts on unincorporated land inside Lowe 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.