Until such time as a construction project is considered “final,” it must be inspected and approved before a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. Occupancy is prohibited until the Certificate of Occupancy is granted.

INSPECTIONS:

New Construction on Residences, Commercial or Industrial

The following inspections are required. Each inspection must be made after each step is completed, and before the next step of construction begins:

1. Footing inspections – before pouring concrete
2. Under slab plumbing inspection – if applicable
3. Framing inspection
4. Rough-In wiring inspection
5. Rough-In plumbing inspection
6. Final inspection – after completion of construction

New Construction on Garages, Sheds or Pole Buildings

The following inspections are required. Each inspection must be made after each step is completed, and before the next step of construction begins:

1. Placement of Forms for Garages – before pouring concrete; Stake out of sheds or pole  buildings
2. Framing inspection
3. Wiring inspection – finished
4. Final inspection - after completion of construction

New Construction on Telecommunications Facilities

1. Stake out of proposed center of the tower – before construction begins
2. Foundation inspection – before pouring concrete
3. Final inspection (including wiring inspection) – after completion of construction

SCHEDULING INSPECTIONS:

In order to schedule timely responses to requests for inspections, it is strongly suggested that the applicant, owner or contractor notify the Department a couple of days prior to the needed inspection. The Building Inspector is Tony Van Natta. He can be reached at 217.424.1468.

In scheduling inspections, please be prepared to provide the following information:  Applicant’s name, Permit Number, Address, Type of inspection needed, Daytime Phone Number and the preferred day, date and time of the inspection.

A $50.00 Re-Inspection Fee (payable in advance) will be charged for any re-inspections when the Code Enforcement Officer (Building Inspector) finds any of the following at the requested inspection is made:

1. The particular phase of construction is not in fact ready for the requested inspection
2. There are three (3) or more deficiencies that must be corrected or completed;
3. One (1) or more deficiencies identified in a previous inspection is/are still uncorrected or incomplete at the time of inspection
4. The building is locked or otherwise inaccessible for inspection.

The $50.00 Re-Inspection Fee should be in the form of a check, payable to Macon County Treasurer, and sent or delivered to:

Code Enforcement Officer
Macon County Planning & Zoning
Macon County Building
141 S. Main St., Suite 501
Decatur, Illinois 62523.

CONFORMANCE:

Building Permits are issued based on the information that is supplied on the permit Application, Plot Plan and any required or attached documents. If the permitted construction or use of land is not done in strict conformity with the Building Permit it is subject to the issuance of a “Stop Work Order.” ANY changes in the plans or the project MUST be approved by the Department prior to making changes.

(Failure to comply may result in a “Stop Work Order” being posted on construction site.  The “Stop Work Order” may be lifted only after the required $100.00  fee has been paid.)

The issuance of a Building Permit does not relieve the applicant, owner or contractor from complying with any laws or private covenants (also called “deed restrictions”) which may be applicable to a particular project, use of land, or use of buildings and structures.

Prior to start of any work or issuance of any permits for new structures, septic system and/or well approvals must be received from the Macon County Health Department. The Health Department certificate is a required attachment to the permit application.

Covering or concealing any of the above referenced work with permanent construction (concrete, sheet rock, paneling, brick, siding etc.) will not relieve the Owner or Contractor from securing those inspections.

You may be required to remove construction to allow for inspection.

PENALTIES FOR NON-CONFORMANCE:

Article IV at Section 4.12, Macon County Zoning Ordinance states that:

“Any person, firm or corporation, or agents, employees, or contractors of such, who violate, disobey, omit, neglect, or refuse to comply with, or who resist enforcement of, any provisions of this comprehensive amendment, shall be subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both, for each offense, and each week a violation continues to exist constitutes a separate offense.”