Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-15
102 of Illinois's 102 counties — 100% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 6th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Brown County (83/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 2952 counties nationwide → Illinois: no building codes → Illinois: no zoning → Illinois: no codes, no zoning → Illinois: rv living → Illinois: tiny homes → Illinois: no minimum home size → Full Illinois profile →
102 of 102 Illinois counties · sorted by Index score
Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Unincorporated Effingham County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, …
Effingham County Highway Department — No Zoning ↗Owner construction of a private sewage system. Work not done by the homeowner must be done by a licensed contractor. The homeowner must own and occupy a personal single-family r…
Hancock County Health Department Private Sewage Plan Review Application ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗A homeowner installing or servicing a private sewage disposal system serving the homeowner's own personal single-family residence in Macoupin County. The homeowner exception is …
Private Sewage Disposal System Ordinance ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Installation or servicing of a private sewage disposal system serving the homeowner's own personal single-family residence within Clinton County. A valid private sewage disposal…
Revised Code | Clinton County, Illinois ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Owner installation of private septic systems. A homeowner may install a septic system, but the system must still be permitted and inspected and must comply with state code and l…
Private Sewage Disposal ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗An owner or builder constructing, maintaining, repairing, altering, remodeling, or extending buildings or structures used solely for agricultural purposes on land used or to be …
Menard County Zoning ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗A property owner applying for a Peoria County building permit for work regulated by the county residential code. The property owner may be identified as the permit applicant whe…
Peoria County Building Permit Application ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Agricultural structures/buildings and one qualifying farm dwelling constructed in unincorporated Jersey County. Agricultural structures/buildings are exempt from building-code r…
Definition for Agricultural Structure/Building Exemption ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗A homeowner doing work on the homeowner's own home. Proof of liability insurance is required from contractors who perform work. The homeowner must still comply with applicable p…
rockislandcountyil.gov ↗A homeowner performing electrical construction work in Monroe County, Illinois. The homeowner must personally perform the electrical work. The work must be installed in the home…
Chapter 6: Building Regulations — Monroe County, IL ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Self-installation of a private sewage disposal system on an owner-occupied property in Bureau County The property must be owner-occupied. The owner must meet all requirements.
Sewage Disposal System Permit — owner installation conditions ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗A property owner performing residential construction work personally in the unincorporated areas of Tazewell County and applying through the County Department of Community Devel…
Submittal Requirements for Residential Permits ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗An owner/operator's bona fide agricultural buildings, accessory structures, structures, and necessary residences on farms in unincorporated LaSalle County. The property must be …
LaSalle County Building Permit Ordinance ↗Private sewage disposal work by a homeowner in Douglas County. The homeowner must own and occupy the personal single-family residence. Work not done by a qualifying homeowner mu…
Private Sewage Disposal System Plan Review Application ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Owner installation of a private sewage disposal system serving the owner's personal residence. The system must be for the owner's own personal residence. The owner must comply w…
Private Sewage Disposal Permit Application ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Owner-builder projects requiring a Henry County building permit. An owner may identify themself as the contractor or roofing contractor on the application. The owner-builder opt…
Henry County International Building Code Information and Instructions ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗An owner performing construction work on the owner's project under the County's house/addition/garage/pole-building/other-accessory-building permit process. The owner must still…
House/Addition/Garage/Pole Building/Other Accessory Buildings Larger Than 200 Sq. Ft. Permit Application ↗Owner-occupant serving as a subcontractor on a County building-permit project. The building application accepts a Homeowner Exemption Contractor Registration Form for an owner-o…
Building Permit Application Instructions ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Qualified farmers performing work on their own agricultural and personal-use structures on personally owned property. Farmer must demonstrate ability to perform the work to the …
Will County Building Ordinance, Chapter 150 ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗A property owner performing the permitted work on property in unincorporated Kane County may identify themselves as the person doing the work on the county building permit appli…
Kane County Building Permit Application ↗Statewide rule. Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing pl…
HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Illinois state page for all 102 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Illinois counties? The kit we'd start with:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
