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

Rules another office applies inside Centreville Township

Centreville 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

  Residential dwellings and non-agricultural buildings in the county agricultural ("a") zoning district on unincorporated St. Clair County land inside Centreville township

  • Applies only in the agricultural district under the county zoning code.
  • Buildings used or intended for exclusive agricultural activities are excluded by the text.
  • Agricultural-purpose building permits are issued free of charge under the code (that sentence was captured only in part; not fully verified).

  “in the agricultural district, a building permit shall be required for all residential dwellings and for all other buildings or structures not used or intended for exclusive use for agricultural activities.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Homeowner installation of a private sewage disposal system on land inside Centreville township (county-wide septic code), septic only

  • Limited to a homeowner's own personal single family residence.
  • Does not address building construction permits.

  “provided a homeowner may install and/or service a private sewage disposal system which serves his/her own personal single family residence.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of the county code on unincorporated St. Clair County land inside Centreville township

  • Districts named in the code include agricultural (a) and rural residential (rr-1, rr-3); the district map is in the county zoning map viewer.
  • The zoning code applies to unincorporated properties except Scott Air Force Base (40-1-3).

  “for the purpose of this zoning code, the entire county of st. clair outside the limits of cities, villages and incorporated towns which have in effect municipal zoning codes and outside the boundaries of scott air force base, is hereby divided into the following zoning districts”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential lots that need a private sewage disposal system on land inside Centreville township

  • Applies to lots using a private sewage system; the zoning-district lot areas were not captured.
  • A greater area may be required by the health department for drainage or soil conditions.
  • In a subdivision without municipal water the minimum is three acres usable space (19-2-3(a)-(b)).

  minimum lot size (septic lot): >= 1 acre (excluding lakes, ponds and easements; three acres in a subdivision without municipal water)

  “minimum lot size for a residential structure requiring a private sewage disposal system shall be one (1) acre usable space in size excluding lakes, ponds and easements.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual private sewage disposal systems on land inside Centreville township, administered by the St. Clair County Health Department

  • The code adopts the Illinois Department of Public Health private sewage disposal licensing act and code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 905) by reference.
  • Applies to systems receiving under 1,500 gallons per day of domestic sewage.

  “all applications for permits granted under the provisions of this code shall be made to the health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration or extension of individual domestic sewage disposal systems on land inside Centreville township

  • Permit is issued only to a homeowner or a St. Clair County licensed private sewage disposal system installation contractor.
  • Persons who construct, install, repair or modify a system must notify the health department at least 48 hours before work starts.

  advance notice before work: >= 48 hours

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or extend individual domestic sewage disposal systems within st. clair county unless he/she holds a valid permit issued by the health department”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Operational inspection of an existing private sewage disposal system on land inside Centreville township

  • Operational inspection may be conducted on a system that is part of a property sale, or on refinancing, when an application is submitted to the health department.
  • Owner or occupant must give the health department free access for inspections.

  operational inspection fee: 300 USD

  “an operational inspection may be conducted on any private sewage disposal system which is part of a sale of property.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid domestic wastewater on land inside Centreville township

  • Allowed only through a county health permit for an individual system.
  • Systems must be installed by a permitted homeowner or a licensed contractor.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter or extend individual domestic sewage disposal systems within st. clair county unless he/she holds a valid permit issued by the health department”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Land used solely for agricultural purposes on unincorporated St. Clair County land inside Centreville township

  • Land that ceases to be used solely for agricultural purposes becomes subject to the full code for that part.
  • Permits for agricultural-purpose buildings are issued free of charge (that sentence was captured only in part).

  “in the event that part of a tract of land ceases to be used solely for agricultural purposes, then all the provisions of this code shall apply to that part.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions of land inside Centreville township, for the wastewater (soil and lot) review

  • Subdivision plan review requires a fee based on the number of lots.
  • The zoning code subdivision rules were not captured.

  “there shall be a fee for the review of subdivision plans.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for Centreville township
• Inspections — Building inspections in unincorporated St. Clair County inside Centreville township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy permits or certificates in unincorporated St. Clair County inside Centreville township
• Local zoning — Whether Centreville township itself adopted a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the residential districts on unincorporated St. Clair County land inside Centreville 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.