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

Rules another office applies inside Stookey Township

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  St. Clair County Chapter 40 zoning districts, which apply to unincorporated land in St. Clair County; applicability to Stookey township parcels depends on Stookey township not having its own zoning, which was not established

  • Code section 40-1-3 applies the code to all properties in the unincorporated part of the county, except Scott Air Force Base properties.
  • Districts named in the code include A, RR, SR, MH, MR, NB, HB and B-1; the code's district schedule was not read for this claim.

  “it is hereby declared that the provisions of this code shall apply to all unzone municipalities and to all properties in the unincorporated part of st. clair county as provided herein, except those properties occupied by scott air force base.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential lot on unincorporated land inside Stookey township that relies on a private sewage disposal system (county health code lot rule, not a township zoning district standard)

  • Area is usable space, excluding lakes, ponds and easements.
  • The health department may require a greater area for drainage, soil, or other health-hazard factors.
  • A variance may be granted if the lot can hold an approved system and a second system of equivalent size.
  • Lots platted and recorded before the code's effective date receive special consideration.

  minimum lot size for residence with private sewage system: >= 1 acre (usable space excluding lakes, ponds and easements; greater area may be required by health department)

  “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 domestic (private) sewage disposal systems on land inside Stookey township, St. Clair County, Illinois (unincorporated area; the county health department, not the township, issues the permit)

  • Applies to private sewage disposal systems receiving domestic sewage at under 1,500 gallons per day, per the code's definition of private sewage disposal system.
  • Permits are issued by the county health department, not by the township.

  “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 an individual domestic sewage disposal system on unincorporated land inside Stookey township

  • Permit is issued only to a homeowner and/or a St. Clair County licensed private sewage disposal system installation contractor installing the system.
  • Application forms must be completed and signed by each applicant, with the name and address of the applicant, the site location, and a complete plan showing compliance with the code's minimum standards.
  • Construction may proceed only after the health department issues the permit.

  “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”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Domestic sewage disposal (off-grid or on-site) on unincorporated land inside Stookey township

  • On-site domestic sewage systems may be built only with a valid health department permit.
  • The source does not address privies, holding tanks, or composting toilets.

  “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”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New single-family home on unincorporated land inside Stookey township that is near a public sanitary sewer

  • Applies only where the improvement is within a reasonable distance of a sanitary sewer, a connection is practical, and the controlling sewer authority permits the connection.
  • The 300-foot distance is the code's reasonable-distance standard for a single-family residence; the source does not state a separate water-main connection rule.
  • Where sewer connection is not required, the county septic permit rules apply instead.

  reasonable distance to sanitary sewer, single-family residence: <= 300 feet (connection practical and permitted by controlling authority)

  “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)

  Subdivision of unincorporated land inside Stookey township where lots will use private sewage disposal (county health department review; no township or county subdivision ordinance was established)

  • Health department requires subdivider information on soil absorption capacities or changes to a proposed subdivision.
  • A review fee applies scaled to number of lots (the code lists fee tiers).

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

• Permit processPartial

  Septic (private sewage disposal) permit process on unincorporated land inside Stookey township; the township's own building permit process is not covered by this claim

  • Health department must act on septic applications within 15 days of receipt.
  • Applications go to the health department; the county building permit process is not described in this source.

  health department action deadline: 15 days (from receipt of the application)

  “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 Stookey Township or St. Clair County directly.

• Building permit — Building permit for new residential construction inside Stookey township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Stookey township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for new construction inside Stookey township
• Inspections — Building inspection for new construction inside Stookey township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Stookey 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.