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

Rules another office applies inside Mackinaw Township

Mackinaw 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 dwellings and other structures (other than commercial and industrial) built on land inside Mackinaw township outside Village of Mackinaw limits

  • The permit is issued by the Tazewell County Community Development Department.
  • The brochure states the submittal requirements took effect February 1, 2014; the brochure revision date is 2025 and no separate effective date for the permit rule was stated.
  • Failure to obtain a permit doubles the fee.

  “prior to the issuance of a building permit by the tazewell county community development department for construction of all structures other than commercial and industrial”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building plan review for structures in unincorporated Tazewell County, including land inside Mackinaw township outside Village of Mackinaw limits

  • Plans are reviewed 'where applicable' against the listed codes.
  • The ordinance that formally adopts the 2018 International Residential Code was not located.

  “plans are reviewed for compliance where applicable with the tazewell county code, state of illinois plumbing code, 2018 international residential code, 2017 national electric code and illinois energy conservation code”

• Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

  Land inside Mackinaw township outside the Village of Mackinaw limits (unincorporated Tazewell County), where zoning is administered by the county

  • This county claim aggregates the local-zoning answer: land inside Village of Mackinaw limits is governed by village zoning, not this county ordinance.
  • No official Mackinaw Township ordinance or no-zoning statement was found, so the county ordinance is recorded here as the rule that applies in unincorporated parts of the township.

  “the department is responsible for the issuance of building permits, zoning compliance certificates and regulation of construction and all use activities in the unincorporated areas of tazewell county.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated Tazewell County land inside Mackinaw township outside Village of Mackinaw limits

  • The county page links a zoning districts map; the map itself was not opened.
  • District codes cited in the county brochure (R-1, R-2, R-R, A-1, A-2, CONS, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2) come from the county residential permitting brochure, not the zoning ordinance text.

  “the unincorporated areas of the county are divided into “zoning districts.” particular types of uses are allowed in each of these districts. the zoning ordinance lists these uses.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal and accessory structures in the R-1 and R-2 districts of unincorporated Tazewell County, which includes land inside Mackinaw township outside Village of Mackinaw limits, when that land is mapped in those districts

  • Figures are the rear and side yard setbacks from the county brochure table; the brochure says it is a guide and other requirements may apply under the Tazewell County Code.
  • Front-yard setbacks in the same brochure table are not legible in the extracted text and are not recorded here.
  • Brochure is undated in its text beyond the requirements heading 'effective february 1, 2014'.

  principal structure rear yard setback: 20 feet · principal structure side yard setback: 10 feet · accessory structure rear yard setback: 5 feet · accessory structure side yard setback: 5 feet

  “rear & side yard setbacks principal structure accessory structure rear side rear side r-1 & r-2 20' 10' 5' 5' r-r 30' 30' 15' 15'”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal and accessory structures in the R-R rural-residential district of unincorporated Tazewell County, when land inside Mackinaw township is mapped in that district

    “rear & side yard setbacks principal structure accessory structure rear side rear side r-1 & r-2 20' 10' 5' 5' r-r 30' 30' 15' 15'”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal and accessory structures in the A-1, A-2 and CONS districts of unincorporated Tazewell County, when land inside Mackinaw township is mapped in those districts (agricultural)

    “a-1, a-2 & cons. 50' 30' 25' 15' c-1 & c-2 20' 10' 5' 5'”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal for a new dwelling inside Mackinaw township, through the Tazewell County Health Department (phone 309-477-2223 per the county brochure)

  • Applies when a septic system is used; the brochure says the permit is needed 'when applicable'.
  • The health department's service-area statement was not opened.

  “copy of septic permit from the tazewell county health department approving sewage disposal facility, when applicable.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residential construction with a septic system inside Mackinaw township

  • The brochure says the septic permit (or health department approval) is needed 'when applicable'; the applicability rule was not located.
  • Brochure notes: 'takes approximately 2 working days - check with health department'.
  • The brochure lists the sewage permit as a building permit submittal item.

  septic permit processing time: 2 working days

  “copy of septic permit from the tazewell county health department approving sewage disposal facility, when applicable.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in unincorporated Tazewell County inside Mackinaw township

  • Enforced under the county subdivision ordinance; ordinance text not opened.
  • Land inside Village of Mackinaw limits is governed by the village instead.

  “additional departmental functions include the administration and enforcement of the subdivision ordinance, erosion, sediment and storm water control ordinance, flood plain development ordinance, adult use ordinance, inoperable motor vehicle ordinance and the wind farm ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permit fees for unincorporated land inside Mackinaw township

  • The brochure is a guide; it refers to a county fee schedule that was not located.
  • Failure to obtain a permit doubles the fee required.
  • Fees shown are the brochure's 2025 figures for 1 and 2 family dwellings; a separate 911 addressing fee of $50.00 per unit also applies.

  1 and 2 family dwelling permit, 1,001 to 2,000 sq ft: 450 USD

  “700 to 1,000 square feet $400.00 • 1,001 to 2,000 square feet $450.00 • 2,001 to 3,000 square feet $500.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permit application in unincorporated land inside Mackinaw township

  • Submittal items: completed application; two sets of drawings; site plan with well and septic distances; health department septic permit when applicable; road access permit; erosion control permit; 911 mailing address application (about a ten-day wait).
  • Plan review turnaround about 48 hours on most applications; the brochure says requirements took effect February 1, 2014.

  “the following information will be required at the time of submittal of a building permit application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner-builder exemption from licensing or permit requirements applies inside Mackinaw township
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for work inside Mackinaw township
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required before occupying a new dwelling inside Mackinaw township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Tazewell County inside Mackinaw township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Tazewell County inside Mackinaw 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.