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

Rules another office applies inside Chillicothe Township

Chillicothe 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 construction, additions, alterations, renovations and repairs of buildings or structures on land in Chillicothe township outside the City of Chillicothe (Peoria County Planning & Zoning permits)

  • Permit is required before the work proceeds; the statement is the county's general rule, so construction may proceed once the permit is issued.
  • The county FAQ says decks over 25 square feet and sheds over 200 square feet require a building permit, and that pools, fences and demolitions also require a permit.
  • Additional permits for erosion control, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work may apply.
  • The county says to contact the Planning and Zoning office if unsure whether a particular project needs a permit.
  • The FAQ does not itself state the unincorporated-only limit in that sentence; the limit is inferred from the county's separate city-limits FAQ and is unverified for the City of Chillicothe, which has its own permit rules.

  “a building permit is required for new construction, additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs of a building or structure.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite (septic) wastewater systems on land inside Chillicothe township that is not served by a sanitary sewer (the county chapter applies within Peoria County boundaries, which includes this township)

  • The state Private Sewage Disposal Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 905, is adopted by reference into the county chapter (sec. 19-4), so state standards also apply.
  • The health authority may refuse a septic permit where a sanitary sewer is available (see utility_connection claim).
  • The homeowner exception in sec. 19-22 allows a homeowner to install or service a system for a personal single-family residence.
  • Health department is the Peoria City/County Health Department; the county rule is administered through it, not by the township.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct or repair an onsite wastewater treatment system within peoria county, unless said person holds a valid permit issued by the health authority or its authorized representative.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, repair or alteration of an onsite septic system on land inside Chillicothe township not served by a sanitary sewer

  • Permit must be obtained from the health department before construction or repair starts; owner is responsible for obtaining it (sec. 19-10a).
  • Application must include owner name, 911 address and parcel ID, system description, scaled drawing with setbacks, soil analysis results (required before issuance), signatures, and the permit application fee; incomplete applications are not considered (sec. 19-10e).
  • A permit is valid for 12 months from issuance and becomes void if construction is not started within that period (sec. 19-9).
  • Installation or repair must be done by a licensed private sewage disposal installation contractor registered with the health department; a homeowner may install or service a system for a personal single-family residence (sec. 19-22a).
  • Proof of completion of an approved operation and maintenance education is required before the system is put into operation (sec. 19-10c, effective January 1, 2015).
  • Variances are available under sec. 19-14 with a separate variance application fee.
  • Sanitary sewer availability can lead to refusal of the permit (sec. 19-6).

  septic permit validity: 12 months (void if construction is not started within that period)

  “the construction or repair of an onsite wastewater treatment system shall not commence until a permit is first obtained from the health department.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of an onsite septic system on land inside Chillicothe township not served by a sanitary sewer

  • Health authority inspection must occur before backfilling; the installer or owner must be present at the installation inspection (sec. 19-16).
  • Health authority may inspect at any stage of construction; if the system is not uncovered after 15 business days' written notice, the permit is invalidated (sec. 19-27).
  • Final approval requires a visual inspection showing compliance (sec. 19-26).

  “an inspection shall be made by the health authority or authorized representative to determine if full compliance of the chapter has been met before any back filling of the onsite wastewater treatment system is started.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid household wastewater disposal on land inside Chillicothe township

  • Untreated wastewater or effluent may not be discharged to streams, ditches, lakes, ponds, ground surface or abandoned wells (sec. 19-7).
  • Off-grid treatment is allowed only through a permitted, licensed onsite system under the county chapter and state Part 905; repeated pumping to avoid a failing system is not an acceptable remedy.
  • Common drains may not be used to move effluent off the property (sec. 19-17).

  “no person shall discharge or cause to be discharged untreated wastewater or the effluent from any onsite wastewater treatment system, directly or indirectly, to any stream, ditch, lake, pond, bathing area, ground surface or abandoned well”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land in Chillicothe township, including unsewered lots, under Peoria County rules (the county chapter applies countywide; City of Chillicothe subdivision rules were not reviewed)

  • Final plats need a health authority certificate stating the conditions for individual onsite systems (sec. 19-24a).
  • Subdivisions not served by sanitary sewer platted 12 months or more after adoption must designate a full-size onsite system area and one replacement area on each lot, in suitable soils (sec. 19-23a).
  • Soil borings must be shown on a soil map overlay (sec. 19-23b).
  • Preliminary plat and construction plan review by the health authority is due within 20 business days (sec. 19-24b).
  • Chapter 19 sec. 19-4 cross-references the county Chapter 20 Unified Development Chapter (art. 3.14.2 and art. 8.3.4) for subdivision suitability and utilities; those were not opened.

  “all lots not served by sanitary sewer must have an area available which will provide sufficient space to install, maintain and repair an onsite wastewater treatment system.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Onsite septic systems in designated flood hazard areas on land inside Chillicothe township; general floodplain building permits are not covered by this claim

  • Applies only in duly designated FEMA flood hazard areas, as determined by the county flood plain administrator (sec. 19-18).
  • New and replacement systems must be designed and located to minimize flood infiltration.
  • Systems affected by floodwaters must be inspected after the flood by a registered Peoria County installer, with a report to the health authority within 60 days.
  • A county floodplain building permit form is listed on the county permits page, but was not opened.

  “all new and replacement onsite wastewater treatment systems shall be designed, located, and constructed, to minimize impairment and infiltration of flood waters.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Onsite septic (private sewage disposal) permit fees only, for systems on land inside Chillicothe township; building permit fees were not located

  • Fee schedule is kept in the county clerk's office and health department and is incorporated by reference (sec. 19-11a); the fee page reviewed is the one in Chapter 19 and may not be the current schedule.
  • Permit application fee is non-refundable once a permit is issued (sec. 19-11b).
  • Variance fee $75.00 and subdivision fee $100.00 plus $5.00 per lot after 15 lots (served by onsite systems or private wells) are separate fees.
  • Contractor registration fee is $50.00 (sec. 19-22).

  septic permit application fee: 200 USD (non-refundable; separate variance and subdivision fees apply)

  “onsite wastewater treatment program permit application fee: $200.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Septic system permit process for land inside Chillicothe township not served by sanitary sewer

  • Application must be complete, including signatures and fee; incomplete applications are returned with notice to owner and contractor (sec. 19-10e).
  • Variance requests add up to 15 business days (sec. 19-12b).
  • Permit timeframes may be shortened where a public health hazard exists (sec. 19-12c).
  • Permits may be revoked or suspended if issued in error, or if site disturbance such as soil filling, cutting or compaction occurs (sec. 19-13).
  • Appeals go to the health authority, then the Board of Health (sec. 19-30, 19-31).

  septic permit action time: <= 10 business days (from receipt of a complete application; plus up to 15 business days if a variance is requested)

  “the health authority shall take action and reply to the applicant on all complete applications within ten (10) business days of receipt of application.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Partial — Residential building permit review for construction on land in Chillicothe township outside the City of Chillicothe

    “residential permits usually take between 2-3 business days to complete the review process, while commercial permits take an average of 14 business days to complete.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder building permits in unincorporated Peoria County land within Chillicothe township
• Building code adopted — Building construction in unincorporated Peoria County land within Chillicothe township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction in unincorporated Peoria County land within Chillicothe township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Peoria County land within Chillicothe township
• Local zoning — Land inside Chillicothe township, Peoria County, Illinois (outside the City of Chillicothe)

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.