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

Rules another office applies inside Bolo Township

Bolo 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 of any kind, including agricultural buildings, in Washington County; applies inside Bolo township unless another permitting authority is found (none located)

  • The page states the requirement only; it does not state fees, forms, or whether construction may begin before the permit is issued.
  • Washington County zoning office, 125 W. St. Louis St., Nashville, IL 62263; mon-fri 8am-4pm per the page.

  “all construction in washington county requires a building permit including agricultural buildings!”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Bolo township, under the Illinois Department of Public Health rules with local health agencies acting by local ordinance or as agent

  • IDPH regulates systems with no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields) and systems discharging up to 1,500 gallons per day to the ground surface.
  • About 90 local health agencies in Illinois also review plans, either by authority of a local ordinance or as an agent of IDPH.
  • Which local health agency acts for Bolo township was not confirmed on an official page. Washington County Health Department (177 S. Washington St., Nashville) lists an environmental health inspector, but its page did not state a sewage role.

  “the illinois department of public health (idph) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems that have no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields)”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage disposal systems built inside Bolo township

  • Plans for the system are reviewed and approved before construction; the review is done by IDPH or by a local health agency acting under local ordinance or as IDPH's agent.
  • Permit form, fee, and local agency contact not confirmed on an official page.

  “staff also review and approve plans for private sewage disposal systems and alternative private sewage disposal systems before construction.”

• Agricultural exemptionNot available (with conditions)

  Agricultural buildings built in unincorporated Washington County, including inside Bolo township

  • Agricultural buildings still require a building permit; the page says construction requires a permit 'including agricultural buildings'.
  • This is an exemption from the building-permit requirement only; no agricultural exemption from zoning was located.

  “all construction in washington county requires a building permit including agricultural buildings!”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and zoning permit applications for construction in unincorporated Washington County, including inside Bolo township

  • Page says applications can be submitted online and the zoning office is in the old jail building, Nashville; steps, forms and fees are not stated on the page.
  • Zoning administrator: Krystal Althoff, (618) 327-4800 ext. 345.

  “submit applications online this office is located in the old jail building.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner-builder may build without a permit inside Bolo township
• Building code adopted — Which building code, if any, Washington County or Bolo township has adopted for construction inside Bolo township
• Inspections — Whether inspections are required for construction inside Bolo township
• Local zoning — Whether Bolo township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district (R-1) minimum lot size for land inside Bolo township outside municipal 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.