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Madison County Planning and Development
Regulations
Always check the current individual subdivision covenants and restrictions for addition regulations.
Note: The following information is an outline from information available at the Madison County Planning and Development website. For more information visit their website.
POOLS
A permit is needed if a pool is 24 inches in depth or greater, and should be at least 10 ft from the side and rear property line and not located in the front yard area.
All pools must have an obstacle of at least four feet in height around the pool. This requirement may be met by a fence completely surrounding the pool or by another approved obstacle.
Swimming pool permits are $100.00 (includes all inspections)
Country Living
There is a 2 acres minimum lot size with 40 foot of public road frontage and a property width of 150 feet. A subdivision plat will be needed if property is being split and is less than 5 acres.
If your plans include building an accessory building prior to the residence, you would be permitted to do so, if you own five acres or more (anything less would require a public hearing). The maximum height requirement for an accessory building is 18 feet to its peak. Anything higher requires a public hearing.
A fence cannot obstruct the view of a public or private road. The maximum height of any fence or any part of it shall be six feet unless specifically exempted. No fence is allowed in a front yard or a front yard setback area, unless it is an open type fence with at least 50% open and does not exceed four feet in height. The finished side of a fence must face outward toward adjacent properties. *When a lot adjoins more than one street, it is considered to have multiple front yard areas*. Barbed Wire: No barbed wire or other such sharp pointed fence below six feet in height can be used. We allow no electrically charged fencing except in agricultural farming uses. Permitted fencing materials include plastic, wood, chain link and wrought iron.
Ponds are permitted in an agricultural zoning district provided they are 500 feet from any adjacent dwelling which does not have use privileges to the lake or pond.
Contract the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for information regarding a wooded or a wild life environment at: www.dnr.state.il.us
Agricultural uses on rural residential tracts are permitted only by a special permit in agricultural zoning districts provided the use is consistent with sound agricultural practice and does not create a nuisance, such as dust, waste, noise, and odor. When farm animals are maintained on a property, facilities shall be provided for the housing of such animals. Not more than one livestock - including a horse, cattle, sheep, goat, pig, or similar animal - is allowed per acre. Not more than ten fowl - including chickens, rabbits, ducks or similar animals - are maintained on the property per acre. All grazing areas must be fenced.
Most people are not aware that most soils in the bluff corridor consist of loess type soils and are very suitable for septic systems; however, Madison County has a high water table from Godfrey to Highland.
These water tables are easily mitigated with the use of curtain drains. Unfortunately, these soils become thinner and thinner as you move to the east.
Soil testing is a wise idea before purchasing a property.
Know your school district and school locations before buying property.
School district boundaries meander and requesting to change districts is difficult to accomplish.
Check to ascertain who is responsible for maintenance of the road.
Check with the Recorder of Deeds Office for private or public easements that may be part of your property.
Building a Garage or Shed
If the building is less than 200 square feet a building permit is not necessary, but zoning setback regulations still apply. If the building is greater than 200 square feet a permit is necessary and zoning setbacks must be followed.
There are lot line setback regulations, so you cannot put the building on the property line. Each of the setback regulations are determined by your zoning district.
Residential zoning requires 5 feet from any other buildings, 5 feet from the side property line, 7 feet from the rear property line, and cannot be located in front of the residence, unless on a corner lot. Agricultural zoning requires 15 feet from the side and rear property lines and 5 feet from any other building. The maximum allowable height of a detached building in a residential and/or agricultural district is 18 feet to the peak of the roof. There are exceptions to the peak height if you are a fulltime farmer. (Ask about Agricultural exemptions)
Accessory buildings are not permitted on vacant ground unless there is a primary building on the site; unless you have 5 acres and are zoned agricultural.
The permit cost for a detached structure is .15 cents per sq ft plus $30.00 final
Inspection
Building a Deck
If you are located in the unincorporated areas of Madison County a permit is necessary for building a deck.
There are lot line setback regulations, so you cannot build the deck on the property line. The setback regulations are determined by your zoning district and if the deck is attached to the home or if it will be a free standing deck.
There are height and spacing requirements for railings. Minimum height is 36 inches. If you have spindles on the deck, the spindles must be less than 4 inches apart. If there are 4 steps on the deck, it will require hand rails.
Cost of a deck is .15 cents per sq ft plus $30.00 final inspection.
Constructing a Residence
Obtain a building permit prior to any construction. The permit is good one year from the date issued. Extensions can be granted upon written request.
The owner can do all the work except when installing an aeration type private sewage system. If the owner sub-contracts out the roofing, plumbing, or private sewage system then the County requires a licensed individual. You should submit two sets of 11x 17 plans. Electronic copies are also accepted.
On the Building Department application there is a space for a detailed plot plan showing where the building will be placed on the lot or parcel. Setbacks vary within each zoning district of the County so check your zoning district requirements first.
Calling prior to 9:00 a.m. will assure a same day inspection. Anything after 9:00 a.m. will be scheduled for the following day. Various inspections are required for each kind of project consult the inspection sheet for information.
Most people are not aware that most soils in the bluff corridor consist of loess type soils and are very suitable for septic systems; however, Madison County has a high water table from Godfrey to Highland. These water tables are easily mitigated with the use of curtain drains. Unfortunately, these soils become thinner and thinner as you move to the east. Soil testing is a wise idea before purchasing a property.
Know the location of your utilities by calling 1-800-Julie before starting your project.
The permit cost is .15 cents per sq ft including basement and/or crawlspace, porches, decks and dormers, plus the following inspection fees; $50.00 electrical; $60.00 plumbing; $250.00 maximum on private sewage system and $30.00 final inspection.
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