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

Rules another office applies inside Metamora Township

Metamora 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 permitLimited

  Construction on unincorporated land inside Metamora township, outside the Village of Metamora

  • The county issues a zoning permit; no building-code permit is issued because no building code is adopted.
  • Zoning permits cover permanent, temporary and movable structures unless exempted.

  “no building or other structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted, removed, added to, used or the use therein changed unless and until a zoning permit is obtained from the zoning administrator.”

• Building code adoptedNot adopted

  Unincorporated land inside Metamora township, outside the Village of Metamora

  • Statement is made by the Woodford County Building and Zoning department for unincorporated Woodford County.
  • Village of Metamora applies its own rules inside village limits and is excluded.

  “woodford county is a non-building code jurisdiction, no building code is adopted.”

• Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

  Unincorporated land inside Metamora township, outside the Village of Metamora. County zoning applies there; the Village of Metamora administers its own zoning inside village limits.

  • No official Metamora township zoning ordinance was located; the township's own zoning adoption is unverified.
  • Chapter 154 applies only to the unincorporated portion of Woodford County, so Village of Metamora land is excluded.
  • This claim aggregates county zoning for unincorporated land and is not a township ordinance.

  “note: the following information applies only to properties in the unincorporated portion of woodford county.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Lots without public water and sewer inside Metamora township, outside the Village of Metamora

  • Lots must conform to the Woodford County private sewage disposal ordinance and receive Woodford County Health Department review.
  • Applies to lots platted or created after the effective date of Chapter 154 standards.
  • Lots served by public water or sewer follow the standards of the jurisdiction in which they lie.

  “a lot without a public water supply system and without a public sanitary sewer system shall conform to the standards of the woodford county private sewage disposal ordinance and woodford county health department review.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New dwellings on unincorporated land inside Metamora township, outside the Village of Metamora

  • A zoning permit for a dwelling cannot be processed until a septic permit and soil erosion permit are obtained.
  • The septic permit is issued through the Woodford County Health Department.

  “zoning permits for dwellings cannot be processed until a septic permit and soil erosion permit is acquired.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions on unincorporated land inside Metamora township, outside the Village of Metamora

  • Subdivision regulations are administered by the Woodford County zoning office for unincorporated areas.
  • Plat approval is handled by the zoning office.

  “the primary functions of this department are interpretation, administration and enforcement of the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, floodplain ordinance, erosion, sediment and storm water management and rural addressing in the unincorporated areas of woodford county.”

• Driveway accessNot required

  Driveways on unincorporated land inside Metamora township, for the county zoning permit only

  • Covers only the county zoning permit; road access or highway entrance permits were not checked.

  “q: do i need a permit for a driveway, landscape/retaining wall or sidewalk? a: no.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permit process on unincorporated land inside Metamora township, outside the Village of Metamora

  • Application is made in person at the zoning office, 115 North Main Street, Room 100, Eureka, IL, Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm.
  • Dwelling permits also need a septic permit and soil erosion permit first.

  “information needed to process the permit includes dimensions of the structure, location, use, construction cost and elevation drawing or picture similar to appearance of proposed structure.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Metamora township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Metamora township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Metamora township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size on unincorporated land inside Metamora township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size on unincorporated land inside Metamora 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.