Off-grid site report

Pike County, IL

39.4598, -91.0351 · 440 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyPike County has a countywide zoning ordinance administered by the County Zoning Administrator, but 13 municipalities and most townships have adopted their own zoning that overrides county rules inside their limits. Confirm which jurisdiction your parcel falls under before assuming county rules apply. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedLiving in an RV as a dwelling appears to require a special use permit tied to a hardship process plus a separate building permit, per at least one residential zoning district's text. Minimum dwelling size and tiny-house code adoption were not confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedThe Pike County Health Department links a county building permit application, confirming a permit process exists, but the specific adopted building code edition was not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedPike County requires a permit for all new septic installations or repairs under the county's On-Site Sewage Disposal System Ordinance (2020-A&B), administered by the Health Department. Installation generally must be done by a licensed installer, though homeowner self-install is allowed after contacting the Health Department's Environmentalist. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Pike County-specific ordinance on residential greywater reuse was found. Ask the Pike County Health Department's Environmental Health division directly how they classify these systems.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo official Pike County or Illinois state page specifically authorizing or regulating residential rainwater harvesting was found; this is not confirmed either way.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are regulated jointly by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Pike County Health Department, which is the local permitting authority; a state permit is required before construction, modification, or sealing of a well. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Pike County ordinance explicitly requiring or prohibiting full grid disconnection was found, though the county's RV permitting process implies water/septic plans must be approved before occupancy for at least some dwelling types.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,401 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 40 in/yr
Snowfall: 15 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,515 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 20 to Oct 12

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Pike County Memorial Hospital: 2.1 mi
Fire station Louisiana Volunteer Fire Department: 1.1 mi
Hardware store KC's Home & Hardware: 8.8 mi
Grocery Karl's Grocery Store: 1.1 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 63353).

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.