Off-grid site report

Montgomery County, IL

39.1832, -89.6675 · 673 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Montgomery 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 rulesMontgomery County, IL

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo official Montgomery County, Illinois zoning ordinance or planning page could be located. County zoning ordinances are locally authored under Illinois state enabling law, but this county's specific provisions are not confirmed; ask the County Clerk or County Board who handles zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Montgomery County code addressing tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, or RV residency was found; not confirmed, follow up with the county.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyNo official Montgomery County building department page or adopted code was found. Illinois adopted its first statewide building code framework via the Capital Development Board, but county-level implementation here is not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are regulated statewide by the Illinois Department of Public Health under its Private Sewage Disposal Code, with permitting and inspection delegated to the Montgomery County Health Department. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Illinois state or Montgomery County rule specifically addressing residential greywater reuse was found; not confirmed, ask the county health department directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo official Montgomery County or Illinois statute specifically authorizing or restricting residential rainwater harvesting was located.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated statewide by IDPH (contractor licensing and construction standards), with the Montgomery County Health Department confirmed as the local point of contact per Illinois EPA well-user notices.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Montgomery County or Illinois statute explicitly addressing full grid disconnection was found; likely governed by unconfirmed local zoning/occupancy rules.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,387 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 41 in/yr
Snowfall: 15 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,824 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 9 to Oct 22

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Saint Francis Hospital: 1.6 mi
Fire station Litchfield Fire Station #1: 0.9 mi
Hardware store Tru Value: 8.4 mi
Grocery ALDI: 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 62056).

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. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.