Zoning, building permits and septic rules in East St. Louis Township, Illinois

East St. Louis Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Listed projects inside the City of East St. Louis limits; whether the township area is coterminous with the city is not verified

  • List is stated as not all-inclusive.
  • Listed projects include driveways, sidewalks, patios, stoops and stairs; decks and stairs; demolitions; fences; new structures and structural changes; plumbing; mechanical systems; roofing; sewer repairs or cleanouts; shoring and foundation repairs; signs; swimming pools; and new electric service.
  • Projects not on the list are not addressed on the page.

  “following is a list of projects that require a city of east st. louis building permit. this list is not all-inclusive:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Land inside the City of East St. Louis limits; whether the township area is coterminous with the city is not verified on an official page

  • Edition of the adopted building code is not stated on the page reviewed.

  “the city of east st. louis has adopted building codes in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New concrete, asphalt or paver brick driveways inside the City of East St. Louis limits

  • Driveway work is on the city's list of projects requiring a city building permit; the page states no separate curb-cut or access rule.

  “concrete, asphalt or paver brick driveways, sidewalks, patios, stoops and stairs”

Rules another office applies inside East St. Louis Township

East St. Louis Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems on land inside East St. Louis township limits, administered by the St. Clair County Health Department under the county code

  • County code applies countywide; it is recorded here for the township's area because no township or city septic rule was found.

  “(b) 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 septic systems inside East St. Louis township limits

  • Permit is issued only to a homeowner and/or a St. Clair County licensed private sewage disposal system installation contractor.
  • No septic permit is issued where a sanitary sewer is available (see utility-connection-county-sewer).
  • Permit valid for one year from issuance; void if construction is not complete within that period.

  initial construction permit fee: 300 USD (charged for initial construction permit, alteration or extension of an individual sewage system)

  “(a) 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 stating the name of such person for which the specific construction, alteration or extension is proposed.”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Existing private septic systems inside East St. Louis township limits

  • Operational inspection is discretionary ('may be conducted') and is triggered on sale of the property or refinancing when an inspection application is submitted.
  • Inspection fee of $300 is charged under the same section.
  • Owners must notify the health department at least 48 hours before construction, modification or repair work on a system (section 19-2-4(h)).

  “(c) an operational inspection may be conducted on any private sewage disposal system which is part of a sale of property. or for refinancing any time an application for inspection is submitted to the health department.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-sewer onsite sanitation on land inside East St. Louis township limits

  • Onsite systems are lawful only with a health department permit, and only where a sanitary sewer is not available under section 19-2-4(e).
  • Lot must be at least one acre usable space where a septic system is used (see minimum-lot-size-county).

  “(a) 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 stating the name of such person for which the specific construction, alteration or extension is proposed.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New residential structures inside East St. Louis township limits that could connect to a sanitary sewer

  • Health department refuses a septic permit where a sanitary sewer is available.
  • A sewer is deemed available when a line is in a street, alley, right-of-way or easement adjoining the premises, or within a reasonable distance that the controlling authority permits connection to.
  • Reasonable distance is not greater than 300 feet for a single-family residence and not greater than 1,000 feet for a commercial establishment, subdivision or multi-family dwelling.
  • No water-connection requirement found in the reviewed text.

  reasonable distance to sanitary sewer, single-family residence: <= 300 feet (single-family residence; 1,000 feet for commercial, subdivision or multi-family)

  “a reasonable distance for the purpose of this provision shall be deemed to be not greater than three hundred (300) feet for a single-family residence and not greater than one thousand (1,000) feet for a commercial establishment, subdivision, or multi-family dwelling.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions of land inside East St. Louis township limits, for septic soil and drainage review

  • Health department review applies to subdivision plans; a plan review fee is charged by lot count.
  • City subdivision rules not yet reviewed.

  “(b) subdivisions. the health department shall require persons who subdivide property to furnish information on forms provided by the health department concerning soil absorption capacities”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Septic permit and inspection fees inside East St. Louis township limits; city building permit fees not found

  • Fee is set in the St. Clair County private sewage disposal code; city building permit fees were not found on the reviewed page.

  septic initial construction permit fee: 300 USD (initial construction permit, alteration or extension)

  “(j) there shall be a three hundred dollar ($300.00) fee charged for the initial construction permit, alteration or extension of an individual sewage system as approved by the health department.”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic permit process inside East St. Louis township limits; city building permit process not described on the reviewed page

  • Applications are made to the health department; the health department acts within 15 days of receipt.
  • Permit is void if construction is not complete within one year.
  • Homeowner or contractor must notify the health department at least 48 hours before work begins.

  “(f) the health department shall act upon all applications within fifteen (15) days of receipt thereof.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside East St. Louis township limits
• Inspections — Building inspections inside East St. Louis township limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate or occupancy approval inside East St. Louis township limits
• Local zoning — Land inside East St. Louis township limits: whether the township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside East St. Louis township 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.