Off-grid site report

Kankakee County, IL

41.1276, -87.8634 · 633 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Kankakee County, IL, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.

The local rulesKankakee County, IL

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyThe Kankakee County Regional Planning Department's Zoning Division administers a countywide ordinance with ten districts, but only for unincorporated areas (plus Cabery, Irwin, Reddick, Union Hill). Incorporated towns like the City of Kankakee set their own zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county page specifying minimum dwelling size, tiny-home rules, or RV occupancy was found; this is likely addressed somewhere in the zoning ordinance text but wasn't confirmed. Ask the Zoning Division directly.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe county Building Division requires permits for construction in unincorporated areas, applied for through an online portal. How the county code interacts with Illinois' 2025 statewide building code was not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedThe Kankakee County Health Department issues septic permits and inspects systems; installers need both a state Illinois Private Sewage Disposal License and an additional county license. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed at the county level. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo official Kankakee County page addresses residential greywater reuse; this defers to the unclear state baseline. Ask the county Health Department's Environmental Health division.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo official county page addresses rainwater harvesting; this inherits the state's own unconfirmed baseline.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedThe Kankakee County Health Department issues permits for well construction, modification, and abandonment, inspects installations, and samples water for bacteria and nitrates, operating under the state's Water Well Construction Code. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo official county document was found addressing whether a home can be legally occupied while disconnected from grid power or municipal water/sewer. This likely ties back to zoning/building occupancy definitions, but specifics weren't confirmed; ask Planning/Building and the Health Department.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,343 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 39 in/yr
Snowfall: 24 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,079 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 19 to Oct 21

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Saint Mary's Hospital: 0.6 mi
Fire station Kankakee Fire Station 6: 0.3 mi
Hardware store Harbor Freight Tools: 1.6 mi
Grocery Jewel-Osco: 0.8 mi

From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.

Plan this spot

These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 60901).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.