Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Pleasant Hill Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside Pleasant Hill Township

Pleasant Hill 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 single-family dwelling construction in Pike County zoning jurisdiction, which the record treats as covering Pleasant Hill township

  • The county zoning page lists a single family dwelling permit fee, and says that beginning construction without a building permit carries a penalty.
  • Agricultural buildings are exempt from fees, but this does not include residences.
  • Whether every Pleasant Hill township parcel is subject to county zoning was not verified.

  penalty for beginning construction without a building permit: 2 multiple of regular fee

  “fee for beginning construction without a building permit is two (2) times the regular fee.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in Pleasant Hill township that is within Pike County zoning jurisdiction. Pleasant Hill township itself has not been shown to adopt its own zoning ordinance; the rule found is the Pike County Zoning Ordinance.

  • The county planning commission reviewed a rezoning petition for a parcel in Pleasant Hill township under Article IX of the Pike County Zoning Ordinance, so county zoning reaches at least part of the township.
  • No township-adopted zoning ordinance was found in searches of the Pike County and township sources.
  • Whether every parcel in the township is covered by county zoning was not verified.

  “review and recommendation of petition to rezone or map amendment petition as per article ix of the pike county zoning ordinance, as it relates to a property located in the southeast quarter of section 21, township 7 south, range 4 west (pleasant hill township)”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts applied to parcels in Pleasant Hill township under the Pike County Zoning Ordinance

  • The county planning notice names an F-1 flood plain district and a B-2 highway business district in Pleasant Hill township.
  • The full district list and the main residential and agricultural district names were not found.

  “the aforementioned property is requesting to be changed from an “f-1” flood plain district to an “b-2” highway business district for the proposed use of a retail facility.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage (septic) systems on land in Pleasant Hill township

  • The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates installation of systems with no surface discharge, such as septic tanks and seepage fields.
  • The Pike County Health Department issues permits and inspects installations under its Private Sewage Disposal Program.
  • The state rule is the statewide Private Sewage Disposal Code; the county program operates under it.

  “issue permits and inspect the installation of private sewage disposal systems”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage (septic) system installed on land in Pleasant Hill township

  • The county health department issues permits for installation of private sewage disposal systems.
  • The Pike County septic permit application (rev 2-6-2025) is linked from the county page but was not opened.
  • Installation by licensed contractors is described on the county page. Owner-installation rules were not verified.

  “issue permits and inspect the installation of private sewage disposal systems”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of a private sewage (septic) system on land in Pleasant Hill township

  • The county health department inspects installation of private sewage disposal systems.
  • The inspection schedule and final-approval requirements were not verified.

  “issue permits and inspect the installation of private sewage disposal systems”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings in Pleasant Hill township under county zoning

  • The exemption is from permit fees only, not from permit requirements.
  • The county page states that it does not include residences or penalties.

  “permit fees for buildings and structures for agricultural use only – no fee shall be charged. this does not include residences or penalties.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for construction in Pike County zoning jurisdiction, which the record treats as covering Pleasant Hill township

  • Fees are the county schedule on the zoning page; a 2-times fee applies to construction started without a permit.
  • Additional publication and other costs apply for some applications.
  • The schedule was not checked against any adopted ordinance or later amendment.

  single family dwelling permit fee, under 1,500 sq ft: 50 USD · single family dwelling permit fee, over 1,500 sq ft: 200 USD (Tiers: 1501-2000 sq ft $100; 2001-2500 sq ft $150) · penalty for beginning construction without a building permit: 2 multiple of regular fee

  “single family residential single family dwelling permit fee less than 1500 square feet $50.00 from 1501 to 2000 square feet $100.00 from 2001 to 2500 square feet $150.00 greater than 1500 square feet $200.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for construction in Pike County zoning jurisdiction, which the record treats as covering Pleasant Hill township

  • The county posts a building permit application, but the page does not describe review steps, timing or inspections.
  • Zoning administration is at 121 E Washington St, Pittsfield, IL 62363 (per the county zoning page).

  “below is the link for pike county building permit building permit application”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home in Pleasant Hill township
• Building code adopted — Residential construction in Pleasant Hill township
• Inspections — Inspections for new homes in Pleasant Hill township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new homes in Pleasant Hill township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Pleasant Hill 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.