Off-grid site report
Lee County, IL
41.8279, -89.4751 · 774 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lee 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 rulesLee County, IL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyLee County adopted countywide zoning back in 1961 for unincorporated land, run out of the Lee County Building & Zoning Office, and it covers what uses are allowed and where you can put improvements. If you're inside a city or village like Dixon or Amboy, though, that municipality has its own separate zoning and building rules, so check which jurisdiction your parcel actually falls in first. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find specific county language on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV residency in the sources I have. The Zoning Office keeps the district-specific use tables that would answer this, so you'd need to call them directly and ask what's allowed in your particular zoning district.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedUnincorporated Lee County requires a building permit, handled through the Building Official's office, and you also need a LESA (Land Evaluation Site Assessment) report from the Lee County Soil & Water Conservation District before a dwelling permit can be issued on unplatted land. Plans also have to comply with the Illinois Energy Conservation Code, and certain post-2011 commercial structures need an added certificate of inspection.
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and inspected by the Lee County Health Department's Environmental Health Division, following both county and Illinois state private sewage codes, and a soil investigation is required before they'll issue a construction permit. Composting toilets aren't spelled out separately in what I found, so confirm directly with the Health Department on how they'd treat an alternative system. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI found no Lee County ordinance specifically addressing greywater reuse. This falls back to the general state approach of asking your local health department, so contact the Lee County Health Department's Environmental Health Division for their actual practice.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNothing in the county code chapters, zoning, building, or health department pages I reviewed addresses residential rainwater harvesting, so there's no confirmed local rule either way. Treat it as governed by the general state baseline until you hear otherwise from the county.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNew wells in Lee County need a permit and must follow both county rules and the Illinois Water Well Construction Code, including proper sealing of abandoned wells. The county's Zoning Office links out to the Illinois Department of Public Health's well fact sheet for more detail, and the Health Department's Environmental Health program handles this locally, so double check the current department contact before relying on any specific web address. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI didn't find any county ordinance that requires hooking up to municipal power or water, or one that bars going fully off-grid. The county does have a specific ordinance regulating accessory solar energy systems, which suggests self-generated power is anticipated, but you should confirm design and inspection expectations with the Building Official since the Illinois Energy Conservation Code still applies to your permit.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,352 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 30 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,789 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 26 to Oct 11
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center - 1.2 mi
- Fire station
Dixon Fire Department - 1.0 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 2.1 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.2 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 61021).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lee 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.