Off-grid site report
Champaign County, IL
40.1468, -88.2573 · 751 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Champaign 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 rulesChampaign County, IL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyChampaign County Department of Planning & Zoning administers a countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land, divided into districts on an official map; each municipality inside the county (Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, etc.) runs its own separate zoning code. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThe county ordinance defines manufactured homes and parks but I found no confirmed rule on minimum dwelling size or using an RV/tiny home as a permanent residence outside a park. Confirm with Planning & Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyPlanning & Zoning issues zoning use permits for unincorporated land, but a distinct countywide building-permit/code process was not confirmed; municipalities have their own building codes. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted under the statewide IAC Title 77 Part 905 code, administered locally by either C-UPHD or the Champaign Health District depending on where the parcel sits; a state-licensed contractor and local construction permit are required. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county or health-district page specifically addresses residential greywater reuse; it likely falls under the same private sewage framework, but this isn't confirmed. Ask the local health district.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Champaign County, C-UPHD, or Champaign Health District source addressing residential rainwater harvesting was found.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted, with construction permits issued locally (C-UPHD in its service area) under the statewide well permit rule, Section 920.130; contractors must be state-licensed.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official source directly states whether living fully disconnected from electric or municipal utilities is permitted or prohibited; it's likely addressed indirectly through occupancy/water/sewage approval requirements, but this is not confirmed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,384 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 41 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 23 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,869 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 16 to Oct 18
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center - 2.6 mi
- Fire station
Northwest Station, Station Five - 1.3 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 0.3 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 61822).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Champaign 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.