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

Rules another office applies inside Pickaway Township

Pickaway 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 Pickaway township's limits (unincorporated Shelby County), administered by the Shelby County Zoning Office

  • Permit is an improvement location permit (building permit) issued by the Shelby County Zoning Office.
  • The county page states that traditionally no building permit is required for aluminum car ports or boat docks.
  • The county page states that construction without a permit is a petty offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $500, with each week of an uncorrected violation a separate offense.
  • The county page states that a permit is typically issued within 15 business days and expires if construction does not begin within 1 year.

  permit issuance time: 15 business days (typical, not guaranteed) · permit validity to begin construction: 1 year · fine for construction without permit: <= 500 USD (per violation, weekly separate offense while uncorrected)

  “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).”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Pickaway township's limits, to the extent it is unincorporated: Shelby County zoning ordinance administered by the Shelby County Zoning Office, because no Pickaway township zoning ordinance was located

  • The county page describes enforcement in unincorporated areas of Shelby County; Pickaway township is not a municipality. If the township adopts its own zoning, that rule would control instead.
  • The county page states that the office is by appointment only.

  “the zoning office is responsible for the issuance of building permits and enforcement of ordinance in any unincorporated areas of shelby county”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Installation of private sewage disposal systems with no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields) on land inside Pickaway township

  • IDPH sets the statewide rule; about 90 local health agencies also review construction plans under local ordinance or as IDPH's agent.
  • Systems that discharge up to 1,500 gallons per day to the ground surface are also regulated by IDPH per the same page.

  “the illinois department of public health (idph) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems that have no surface discharge”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • County (with conditions) — Sewer/septic permit for a home inside Pickaway township, issued by the Shelby County Health Department before the building 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/septic permit for a home inside Pickaway township, where applicable, from the Shelby County Health Department

  • The county page conditions the permit on 'if applicable', so a permit may not be needed for every site.
  • Permit must be obtained before applying for the county building permit.

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

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit process for land inside Pickaway township, administered by the Shelby County Zoning Office

  • Office is by appointment only, per the county page.
  • Sewer permit from the Shelby County Health Department is obtained first, if applicable.
  • Permit typically issued within 15 business days; 1 year to begin construction before expiry.

  typical permit issuance: 15 business days (typical)

  “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 Pickaway Township or Shelby County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permitting for work inside Pickaway township
• Building code adopted — Which building code, if any, governs construction inside Pickaway township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Pickaway township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Pickaway township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Pickaway township's unincorporated land under county zoning

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.