Off-grid site report
Edgar County, IL
39.7556, -87.7011 · 659 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Edgar 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 rulesEdgar County, IL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyEdgar County's own records show only a solar/wind siting ordinance at the county level; no general zoning ordinance for unincorporated land was found. Incorporated areas like the City of Paris have their own land use code. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Edgar County page addresses minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV residency; this isn't confirmed at county or municipal level beyond Paris's general code.
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyBuilding permitting appears to be handled by municipalities, such as the City of Paris's Code Enforcement office, rather than the county; no county building department for unincorporated areas was confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and inspected by the Edgar County Public Health Department under the state's Private Sewage Disposal Code administered locally. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo official Edgar County or ECPHD page addresses greywater reuse specifically; ask ECPHD directly since they administer septic rules.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Edgar County source addresses rainwater harvesting for household use.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are permitted and inspected by the Edgar County Public Health Department under the state Well Construction Code, though ECPHD no longer offers general well water testing itself.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Edgar County ordinance or health department policy was found that directly addresses disconnecting from grid electricity or municipal water/sewer.
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
- 1,387 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 42 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 24 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,614 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 17 to Oct 20
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Union Hospital Clinton - 17.6 mi
- Fire station
Paris Fire Department - 10.0 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 23.6 mi
- Grocery
Save-A-Lot - 10.6 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 61924).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Edgar 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.