Off-grid site report
Kendall County, IL
41.7048, -88.3050 · 659 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Kendall 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 rulesKendall County, IL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedKendall County's PBZ Department enforces a countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land (plus Millbrook and Plattville), with districts and a Land Resource Management Plan governing land use; other towns in the county have their own separate codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county's zoning ordinance excludes mobile homes/trailers from its 'dwelling' definition and instead regulates them as accessory uses with large minimum lot area requirements; occupied trailers and mobile homes need permits and must meet siting and sewage rules. No standalone tiny-home ordinance exists. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedKendall County has adopted its own building code, administered by PBZ's Building Division, covering unincorporated areas and the villages of Millbrook and Plattville; the county does not license or bond contractors. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedKendall County Health Department's Environmental Health Services issues septic permits and inspects systems as IDPH's local agent under state private sewage rules; composting toilets aren't explicitly addressed at the county level, so confirm directly. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo official Kendall County or IDPH page specifically addresses residential greywater reuse; ask the Kendall County Health Department's Environmental Health division, which oversees private sewage disposal generally.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Kendall County ordinance or health department guidance on residential rainwater harvesting was found; treat as unresolved and confirm with the county.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedKendall County Health Department issues well construction, repair, and sealing permits and performs inspections as part of the state's Illinois Water Well Construction Code framework overseen by IDPH. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Kendall County page explicitly allows or bans disconnecting from grid utilities; it would likely be assessed against the county building code's minimum life-safety-health standards case by case. Confirm with PBZ and the health department.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,341 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 27 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,291 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 19 to Oct 19
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Advocate Children's Hospital - Oak Lawn - 29.6 mi
- Fire station
Oswego Fire Protection District - Station 1 - 2.5 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 1.0 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 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 60538).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Kendall County, IL?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
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. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.