Off-Grid Living in Monroe County, Illinois

I've been digging into what it actually takes to live off-grid in Monroe County, Illinois, and here's what I found, along with the gaps I'd want you to double-check before you buy land or start building.

Zoning. Monroe County isn't one of those Illinois counties without zoning, it has a full Zoning Code (Chapter 40 of the county's Code of Ordinances, adopted under state authority at 55 ILCS 5/5-12001), administered by the county's Zoning Office. That office also handles flood zoning and appeals. One important wrinkle: if the land you're eyeing is inside a municipality like Waterloo or Columbia, that town's own zoning rules take over and would supersede the county code. Always confirm which jurisdiction you're actually in.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. I couldn't find a Monroe County-specific minimum square footage rule or a clear policy on living in an RV or tiny home long-term. The zoning code defines a "conventional" dwelling as something built on a permanent foundation per the adopted building code, but that's about definitions, not a size floor. This is one to call the Zoning Office about directly, since it isn't settled in what I could find.

Building permits and codes. The Zoning and Building Office issues building and electrical permits locally, but I couldn't confirm exactly which edition of the IRC or IBC the county has adopted. Statewide, Illinois now requires jurisdictions to comply with a statewide building code as of January 1, 2025 under Public Act 103-0510, unless they'd already adopted their own codes, so Monroe County may be operating under its own locally adopted code or the state default. Worth a direct call to confirm.

Septic and composting toilets. This one's clear: the Monroe County Health Department requires a permit before installing or repairing a private sewage system, reviewed against Illinois Department of Public Health private sewage rules (Title 77 Part 905 of the Illinois Administrative Code). Composting toilets aren't spelled out separately in what I found, but they'd fall under this same state/county private sewage framework, so ask the Health Department how they're treated.

Greywater and rainwater. Neither has a confirmed Monroe County or state rule that I could locate. These sit in a genuine gray area, so if you're planning a greywater system or a cistern tied into household plumbing, call the Health Department (greywater) and the Zoning/Building Office (any plumbing cross-connection issues for rainwater).

Wells. Permitted and locally administered. The Health Department issues well permits and does inspections and water testing, using the state IDPH application form, meaning Monroe County runs the statewide Water Well Construction Code locally.

Full grid disconnection. I found no standalone ordinance banning or blessing complete utility disconnection. Practically, though, you'll still need septic and (if applicable) well permits through the Health Department, plus building and zoning compliance through the Zoning/Building Office, regardless of whether you hook up to municipal utilities.

Bottom line: septic and well permitting are clearly spelled out and county-run under state code. Dwelling minimums, greywater, rainwater, and the exact building code edition are the loose threads, so a phone call to the county offices below will save you guesswork.