Off-grid site report

Morgan County, IL

39.7488, -90.2677 · 620 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedMorgan County has its own countywide zoning ordinance (Title 8, Land Use Regulations), administered by the Planning and Development Department, with a Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. This is not a 'no zoning' county, so raw land use and dwelling siting are regulated by the county's district map and ordinance. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifySpecific minimum dwelling size rules or RV-as-residence standards for Morgan County were not confirmed from official sources; confirm directly with Planning and Development. source

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyBuilding permits are handled through the Planning and Development / zoning process, but specific square-footage thresholds, fees, or adopted code edition were not confirmed for Morgan County, Illinois. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedIllinois sets a statewide Private Sewage Disposal Code through IDPH, and Morgan County's Health Department (Environmental Health division) issues the local permits. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Morgan County ordinance or Health Department publication specifically addressing residential greywater reuse was found; confirm with the county Health Department's Environmental Health division.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Morgan County ordinance, zoning provision, or Health Department page specifically authorizing or restricting residential rainwater harvesting was found.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedThe Morgan County Health Department issues permits for water wells and closed-loop/geothermal wells under Illinois's statewide IDPH well-code framework, with local administration.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo explicit Morgan County zoning or building provision on full disconnection from grid electricity or municipal water/sewer was found; verify with Planning and Development since active zoning/building rules could indirectly apply.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,436 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 40 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,438 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Jacksonville Memorial Hospital: 0.4 mi
Fire station South Jacksonville Fire Dept: 3.4 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 2.1 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 2.0 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 62650).

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.