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

Rules another office applies inside Morton Township

Morton 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 construction on unincorporated land inside Morton township (outside any incorporated municipality such as the Village of Morton) for structures other than commercial and industrial

  • Applies only where the parcel is in unincorporated Tazewell County; incorporated municipalities issue their own permits.
  • The brochure states the submittal requirements took effect February 1, 2014; current validity not confirmed on an official page.
  • Failure to obtain a permit doubles the required fee, per the brochure.

  “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.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township, not served by both public water and public sewer (for example, a septic and well lot)

  • Unless larger lot sizes are required by the county's septic ordinance.
  • Except as provided by special use permit.
  • Closed-loop well lots require 1.5 acres under item (d).

  minimum lot size: >= 1 acre (not served by both public water and public sewer; larger if county septic ordinance requires)

  “(c) single-family dwelling not served by both a public water system and public sewer system: one acre, unless larger lot sizes are required by the county’s septic ordinance;”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township, served by both public water and public sewer

    “(a) single-family dwelling served by both a public water system and public sewer system: one-half acre;”

  • Specified — All uses and structures in the A-1 agricultural preservation district in unincorporated Morton township

    “except as provided by special use permit, all uses and structures in the a-1 agricultural preservation district shall have a minimum lot size of 40 acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Structures in the A-1 agricultural preservation district in unincorporated Morton township, measured from arterial road centerline

  • Only the arterial road figure was captured verbatim; side and rear setbacks in § 157.091 were not captured and are not stated here.
  • Collector, minor and private street setbacks in § 157.091 were not captured verbatim.

  arterial road setback from centerline: >= 150 feet

  “(1) arterial street (highway): 150 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Side and rear yard setbacks for principal and accessory structures in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township

    “principal structures shall have a rear setback of not less than 20 feet from the property line.”

  • Specified — Principal and accessory structures in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township, measured from road right-of-way

    “(2) collector street (major): 60 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way or 25 feet from the edge of the right-of-way, whichever is greater.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lot coverage by structures in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township

  • Applies to all structures on the lot as stated in § 157.151.

  maximum lot area occupied by structures: <= 30 percent

  “no more than 30% of the area of the lot shall be occupied by structures.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal structures in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township

  • Measured to the mean height of the roof.

  maximum height, principal structure: <= 36 feet

  “principal structures not to exceed 36 feet to the mean height of the roof.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Accessory structures in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township, by parcel size

    “accessory structures on parcels more than one (1) acre shall not exceed 25 feet to the mean height of the roof.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township

  • Allowed only by special use permit under §§ 157.435 through 157.447, and only for a retired or disabled parent on the same lot as a single-family dwelling occupied by a family member.
  • The A-1 district has a manufactured/mobile home item listed as accessory to a use; its full text was not captured.

  “(p) manufactured/mobile homes, retired/disabled parent on the same lot or tract of land on which a single-family detached dwelling is occupied as a permanent residence by a family member;”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed

  Accessory dwellings in the R-1 district in unincorporated Morton township

  • Permitted use in R-1 under § 157.146, subject to the chapter's applicable regulations.
  • Accessory dwelling status in the A-1 district was not verified from opened text.

  “in accordance with accessory structure setback requirements; (b) accessory dwellings; (c) agriculture on a lot not less than ten acres;”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Sewage disposal (septic) for residential lots in unincorporated Morton township, administered by the Tazewell County Health Department

  • Requirements are set by the county health department, not by the township.
  • Applies to dwellings in the R-1 district by the zoning text; the brochure applies the septic permit requirement where applicable.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Building permit applications for new structures on unincorporated land inside Morton township, when a septic system is involved

  • Required 'when applicable' per the brochure.
  • Brochure notes the health department permit takes approximately 2 working days; the health department must be contacted to confirm.

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in unincorporated Morton township

  • Administered by the county Community Development Department.
  • The county subdivision ordinance (Chapter 155) was located in search results but its text was not opened.

  “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.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or existing driveway access for a building permit on land in unincorporated Morton township

  • The road official who has jurisdiction over the road (township, state or county) issues the access permit.
  • Applies when installing a new driveway or using an existing driveway.

  “copy of access permit from township, state or county road official responsible for road jurisdiction.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for new dwellings and accessory structures in unincorporated Morton township

  • Fee schedule is in the county brochure; the brochure has no stated fee date, so currency is not confirmed.
  • Failure to obtain a permit doubles the fee required.
  • Decks and covered patios have separate fee tiers in the brochure, not restated here.

  dwelling 1 and 2 family, 200 square feet or less: 200 USD (new, additions, alteration and repairs) · accessory structure, less than 200 square feet: 100 USD (new, additions, alterations and repairs)

  “accessory structures: new, additions, alterations and repairs • less than 200 square feet $100.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process for unincorporated Morton township

  • Submittal items: building permit application and mechanical permits; two sets of drawings; site plan; septic permit when applicable; access permit; erosion control permit; 911 mailing address (about 10 days).
  • Most applications get a 48-hour turnaround per the brochure.
  • Brochure states the requirements took effect February 1, 2014; currency not confirmed.

  “effective 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 Morton Township or Tazewell County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in unincorporated Morton township
• Inspections — Inspections for construction in unincorporated Morton township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings in unincorporated Morton township
• Local zoning — Land inside Morton township, Tazewell County, Illinois: whether Morton township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in unincorporated Morton 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.