Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Big Spring Township, Illinois

Rules another office applies inside Big Spring Township

Big Spring 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 structures and alterations on land inside Big Spring township's unincorporated area; the county zoning office (not the township) issues the permit under the county ordinance

  • Permit is an improvement location permit (building permit) issued by the Shelby County Zoning Office; the county page says it applies to any unincorporated villages as well.
  • Traditionally the county does not require a building permit for aluminum car ports or boat docks (stated on the county page).
  • A sewer permit from the Shelby County health department is needed first where applicable.
  • Construction without a permit is a petty offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $500, with each week a separate offense, per the county page.
  • Permit typically issued within 15 business days; the permit expires if construction does not begin within 1 year.
  • The zoning office is by appointment only.

  “no structure of any kind shall be placed, erected, altered, changed, or located on any land within the jurisdiction of shelby county, illinois, including any unincorporated villages, without an improvement location permit (building permit).”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Non-farm residential dwellings in the agricultural district, in unincorporated Big Spring township (district: Agricultural)

  • Applies to non-farm residential dwellings in an agricultural district, which must follow the residential requirements in Figure 1 and section 11 (not read).
  • The single-family residential (R1) district lot size is not established by this claim and is in followups.

  minimum lot size, non-farm residential dwelling in agricultural district: >= 1 acre (non-farm residential dwellings in an agricultural district)

  “the minimum lot size for non-farm residential dwellings in an agricultural district is one (1) acre.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the agricultural district along public rights-of-way in unincorporated Big Spring township (district: Agricultural)

  • Local-street value not captured in the text read (the page text is truncated after the collector value).
  • Side and rear setbacks for residential districts (including R1) were not read; the county Property_Setbacks document was not opened.
  • Variances may be granted under the Zoning Board of Appeals procedure.

  front setback, abutting major street: 40 feet (structures in agricultural district along public rights-of-way) · front setback, collector street: 30 feet (structures in agricultural district along public rights-of-way)

  “building setbacks shaii be maintained for all structures along the public rights-of-way as follows: abutting: major street ……….40 feet collector street……30 feet local street………..25 feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and manufactured homes in agricultural districts in the county's jurisdictional area, which includes unincorporated Big Spring township

  • Permitted only in agricultural districts, subject to the use requirements in paragraph b5 of the agricultural provisions (not fully read).
  • Existing homes in the jurisdictional area as of July 9, 1997 may not be replaced with units of less than 900 square feet of ground floor area (see minimum_dwelling_size claim).
  • Non-farm residential dwellings in agricultural districts also need a one-acre lot (see minimum_lot_size claim).

  “mobile homes – homes of these types, as defined in §1, shall be permitted in agricultural districts subject to the use requirements hereinafter designated in paragraph b5.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Sewer (septic) approval for a new home in unincorporated Big Spring township, which applies inside Big Spring township when the county permit process requires it

  • The county zoning page says the sewer permit is needed 'if applicable', so the rule applies only in cases the health department covers.
  • The county zoning page names the Shelby County health department as the issuing body for the sewer permit.

  “once you’ve obtained a sewer permit from the shelby county health department (if applicable), you should apply for a building permit.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Sewer permit for new construction in unincorporated Big Spring township, issued by the Shelby County health department

  • Required only 'if applicable', per the county zoning page; the page does not say when it does not apply.
  • It must be obtained before the county building permit application, per the county zoning page.

  “once you’ve obtained a sewer permit from the shelby county health department (if applicable), you should apply for a building permit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  County zoning permit fees for construction in unincorporated Big Spring township

  • The fee list on the county page is the page's own statement; the page also links to a Fee Schedule for Permits PDF that was not opened, so the current fee schedule may differ.
  • Fees are paid to the Shelby County Zoning Office.
  • Fee values are as stated on the county page; the page does not give an effective date.

  new residence permit fee: 175 USD · residential addition permit fee: 125 USD · accessory building permit fee: 125 USD · new commercial building permit fee: 500 USD · commercial accessory building permit fee: 250 USD · commercial addition permit fee: 250 USD

  “shelby county requires a minimal fee to offset the cost of the zoning office. new residence: $175 residential addition: $125 accessory building: $125 new commercial building: $500 commercial accessory building: $250 commercial addition: $250”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County building permit process for construction in unincorporated Big Spring township

  • Obtain a sewer permit from the county health department first where applicable.
  • Once size and placement are decided, apply to the zoning office; the page says the zoning administrator is part-time and the office is by appointment only.
  • Permit expires if construction does not begin within 1 year.

  typical permit issuance time: 15 business days (typically)

  “typically, a permit is issued within 15 business days. you have 1 year to begin construction before the permit expires.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits in unincorporated Big Spring township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to construction in unincorporated Big Spring township, Shelby County, IL
• Inspections — Construction inspections for new homes in unincorporated Big Spring township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Big Spring township
• Local zoning — Whether Big Spring township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits

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.