Bolthole Index

Bond County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Bond County, Illinois

59Index Score / 100
#56 of 102 in Illinois

Unincorporated Bond County, Illinois requires a county building permit for construction that affects a structure's structural, fire or health qualities, with agricultural exclusions1. County zoning applies outside municipalities that have adopted their own zoning2. Septic permits come from the Bond County Health Department, which issues them before a private sewage system is installed, replaced or modified3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the county for covered work outside cities, villages and incorporated towns; agricultural exclusions apply14
Zoning
County zoning governs unincorporated areas; municipalities that adopted their own zoning use their own rules2
Septic
Bond County Health Department permit required before installation, replacement or modification; stays with the county health department3
RV living
Long-term occupancy on private land was not confirmed; ask Building & Zoning5
Tiny home
No specific occupancy rule confirmed; zoning, building and septic requirements still need review613
Owner-builder
No county permit exemption for owner-builders confirmed; Illinois does not exempt owner-builders from local permits, and only a narrow state plumbing exemption exists78
Water well
County permit required for new construction; published fee is $1009

Who to call

Building permits

Bond County Building & Zoning

Building permits, adopted building codes, county zoning and zoning information

618.237.9737

brad.criner@bondcountyil.gov

206 W. Main, Greenville, IL 62246

Online permits →

Septic permits

Bond County Health Department Environmental Health

Private sewage disposal permits, water wells and related environmental-health questions

(618) 664-1442 ext. 149

1520 S 4th St, Greenville, IL 62246

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bond County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Bond County, Illinois?

Yes. In unincorporated Bond County, a permit is required before covered construction, enlargement, alteration, movement, repair or maintenance that affects a building's structural, fire or health qualities.1 The county has adopted the International Building Code and International Residential Code editions dated 2021, the National Electrical Code edition dated 2020 and the International Fire Code edition dated 2021.4 Every project requiring a permit must receive at least one inspection during construction.10

Bond County's zoning ordinance provides an agricultural exemption for qualifying agricultural land and structures, but those structures still must meet the district setbacks and ordinary zoning rules apply after solely agricultural use ends.11 The building code separately excludes qualifying farm-purpose structures, including farm residences and garages; tracts under five acres do not qualify, and the Building Inspector decides applicability on larger tracts.12 Ask Bond County Building & Zoning to confirm the parcel and proposed use before relying on either provision.5

Who issues building, zoning and septic permits in Bond County?

Bond County Building & Zoning is the starting point for building permits and zoning questions in unincorporated Bond County.5 The office is at 206 W. Main in Greenville, takes visits by appointment and provides an online building-permit application.5

A building-permit application requires plans and specifications and ordinarily a plot plan; the signed permit must be posted at the site.13 A compliant application is to be issued within seven days after receipt, and the permit expires if work has not begun within one year.13 Fees vary with building type, foundation area, project value and inspection visits; the published inspection charge is $50 per visit.14 Permitted construction requires at least one inspection, with a longer inspection sequence for new buildings and covered work costing more than $1,000.10 The county building code applies outside cities, villages and incorporated towns, so land inside a municipality should be taken to that municipality for building permits and, where it has adopted its own zoning, for zoning approval42. What stays with the county either way is the private sewage permit from the Bond County Health Department, covered below15. Before use or occupancy, the county zoning ordinance requires a Final Certificate of Zoning Compliance, issued after inspection confirms the work matches the approved plan16.

Does Bond County have zoning?

Zoning authority varies by location in Bond County: the county ordinance governs unincorporated areas, while incorporated municipalities may apply their own ordinances.17 The official county zoning map establishes the parcel's district and is kept in the Administrator's office.18

County zoning districts set lot size, setbacks and building height rather than using one countywide measurement.192021 For example, the A-1 district has a five-acre minimum lot area, while residential district dimensions differ.19 Use of an accessory structure as a dwelling is prohibited in every county zoning district, subject to the ordinance's agricultural and municipal-scope limits.22 Manufactured homes are limited by county zoning and must meet applicable requirements, including federal standards and a proper compliance seal.23 In county-regulated areas, they are permitted in R-3 and may be approved as special uses on individual R-1 or R-2 lots, with foundation, anchoring and skirting conditions.24

How do septic permits work in Bond County?

The Bond County Health Department, not the building and zoning office, administers private sewage (septic) disposal permits15. Illinois also requires plan approval from the state health department or the local authority before a new private sewage system is built25. A health-department permit is required before installing, replacing or modifying a private sewage disposal system, and the published permit fee is $75.3 If a public sanitary sewer with available capacity is within 600 feet, sewage must connect to that system; otherwise a private central or individual system must be installed and used.26

Soil constraints deserve early attention: only about 3.5% of mapped county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field.27 That rating does not decide whether a particular parcel can support a system, but it makes a site-specific evaluation especially important.27 Bond County's local septic inspection requirements could not be confirmed, so ask Environmental Health what reviews and inspections apply before hiring an installer.28

Water wells are a separate permit: new well construction needs a Bond County Health Department permit with a published fee of $1009. Illinois regulates private wells statewide through agreements with local health departments29.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Bond County?

Bond County's rules for long-term RV occupancy on an individual private parcel could not be confirmed; ask Bond County Building & Zoning about the parcel's district, duration limits and utility requirements before moving an RV onto the land.5 Illinois campground rules do not answer whether one person may occupy an RV on a private homesite.30

A tiny home does not have a separately confirmed county occupancy rule, so treat it as a dwelling project that needs parcel-specific review for zoning, building and sewage requirements.213 An accessory shed or similar structure cannot be used as a dwelling in county zoning districts.22 A manufactured home is limited by zoning, federal standards and compliance-seal requirements; additional siting conditions depend on the county district.2324

Building a home in Bond County: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is governed by Bond County zoning or by a municipality's ordinance, then verify its district on the official county zoning map.218
  2. Ask Bond County Building & Zoning to verify the allowed dwelling type, lot size, setbacks, height limits and legal road access.519202131
  3. Determine whether public sewer is available; if not, have the sewage area evaluated and obtain the Health Department permit before private-system work.263
  4. Submit building plans, specifications and the required plot plan with the county building-permit application.13
  5. Obtain the county permit before new water-well construction; the published fee is $100.9
  6. Obtain an IDOT permit for access from a state-maintained highway and before right-of-way work begins.3233
  7. Post the signed building permit and arrange the required construction inspections with Building & Zoning.1310

What should you check before buying land in Bond County?

Start with jurisdiction and zoning: confirm municipal boundaries, the official county zoning district, permitted dwelling type, minimum lot area, setbacks and height rules.218192021 If a seller proposes splitting land, Bond County regulates subdivision plats, with special municipal-review overlap near some corporate limits and stated exceptions.34

Check septic feasibility before choosing a building pad because only about 3.5% of mapped soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field.27 Confirm that the lot abuts a public road or has a permanent easement to a qualifying road, and investigate highway-access approval before buying.3132 Determine whether waterways, wetlands or regulated floodplain affect the site because those locations can require state and federal authorization.35 Finally, budget around a median property-tax bill of about $2,612 per year and an effective rate of about 2%.3637

Watch-outs

  • Do not assume an agricultural label eliminates every rule: qualifying agricultural structures still must meet district setbacks, and ordinary zoning rules apply if solely agricultural use ends.11
  • An accessory structure cannot be used as a dwelling in Bond County zoning districts, subject to the ordinance's scope limitations.22
  • Long-term RV occupancy and a specific tiny-home occupancy rule could not be confirmed; Illinois has a narrow owner-occupant plumbing exemption, not a general exemption from county permits or inspections.58
  • Illinois does not issue building permits for privately funded construction, so the county or municipality where the parcel sits is the only office that can answer permit questions; the state plumbing exemption for owner occupants does not exempt a project from local permits78.

Sources

  1. Bond County Building Code Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  2. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  3. Environmental Health – Bond County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  4. Zoning – Bond County, Illinois, quoted and re-checked
  5. Bond County Building & Zoning (bondcountyil.gov)
  6. Zoning – Bond County, Illinois, quoted and re-checked
  7. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Environmental Health – Bond County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  10. Bond County Building Code Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  11. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, June 2025, quoted and re-checked
  12. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  13. Bond County Building Code Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  14. Bond County Building Code Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  15. Environmental Health – Bond County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  16. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  17. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  18. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  19. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  20. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  21. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  22. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  23. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, June 2025, quoted and re-checked
  24. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  25. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. bondcountyil.gov, quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Bond County Health Department Environmental Health (bchd.us)
  29. Private Water & Closed Loop Wells, quoted and re-checked
  30. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  31. Bond County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  32. Land Subdivision Ordinance of Bond County, Illinois, quoted and re-checked
  33. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  34. Land Subdivision Ordinance of Bond County, Illinois, quoted and re-checked
  35. Permit Application and Instructions (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  36. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  37. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 4 of its 6 neighbors, Bond County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleBond CountyClinton CountyFayette CountyMadison CountyMontgomery CountyMacoupin CountyMarion County
Building permitRequiredRequiredLimitedRequiredLimitedLimitedLimited
County zoningYesYesYesYesNoNoYes
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Planning & Development Dept.County Health Dept.County Public Health Dept.County Health Dept.

County locator

Bond County in Illinois

59
County map
Bond County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How Bond County scores

Seclusion40100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency67100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability62100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost60100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$170kTypical home
2%Property tax
$7,761Land / acre
42.7"Annual rain
1.2% of yrsSevere drought
10.2 / yr (+9.2)Mid-century 100°F days
16 daysMid-century dry spell
2" (+7.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.85×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,489Home insurance / yr
3.2% / yrInsurance growth
1.07%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
27,134People within 30 min
3,926,737People within 2 hr
29,729Radius comparison (15 mi)
43.3People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
91.2%Land at 15% slope or less
3.5%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
8,405 acWorkable land screen
20.8%Wooded land
46 tonsBiomass / forest ac
54.8°FAvg temp

Scout Bond County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Bond County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Cities and towns in Bond County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Burgess Township · Central Township · Greenville · Village of Keyesport · Lagrange Township · Mills Township · Mulberry Grove Township · Village of Mulberry Grove · Old Ripley Township · Village of Old Ripley · Village of Pierron · Pleasant Mound Township · Village of Pocahontas · Shoal Creek Township · Village of Smithboro · Village of Sorento · Tamalco Township

Answers from the rulebook for Bond County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Bond County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building, structural, fire, or health-related construction, alteration, repair, or moving work outside incorporated municipalities.

    • Agricultural-purpose structures on farms, excluding farm residences, are exempt subject to the ordinance.
    • A tract under five acres does not qualify for the agricultural-purpose exemption.
    • Minor repairs may be exempt if they do not involve structural load-bearing work or reduce means of exit or affect structural, fire, or health qualities.

    agricultural exemption minimum tract: >= 5 acres (farm structures other than farm residences) · permit review deadline: 7 days (from receipt of application)

    “No building or structure shall hereafter be built, enlarged, altered or moved, nor shall repair or maintenance work be done, which in any way affects the structural, fire or health qualities of a building or structure, outside the limits of cities, villages or incorporated towns, but excluding those for agriculture purposes on farms, excluding farm residences and garages, be installed, erected, altered, repaired without a permit from the Building Inspector.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, moving, or installation affecting structural, fire, or health qualities of buildings and structures outside incorporated municipalities.
      “The Building Inspector shall determine code adoption date; shall enforce all laws relating to the construction, alteration and use of all buildings as regulated herein; shall issue permits and notices as required by this ordinance; and shall keep comprehensive records of applications of permits issued, of inspections made and of notices or orders issued.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    County building-code adoption for structures outside cities, villages, and incorporated towns.

    • The building ordinance excludes structures used for agricultural purposes on farms, including farm residences.
    • The county page lists IBC 2021, IRC 2021, NEC 2020, and IFC 2021 as adopted codes.
    “This 1976 ordinance, together with the IBC, IRC, NEC & IFC and any cumulative supplements thereto or entirely new Abridged Building Code, as published by the Building Officials Conference of America, Inc., by reference thereto being hereby incorporated into this ordinance and made a part thereof as if fully set out herein, is hereby designated the Building Ordinance”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — County building code for structures outside cities, villages, and incorporated towns, excluding qualifying agricultural structures and farm residences.
      “Adopted Building Codes: IBC 2021, IRC 2021, NEC 2020, & IFC 2021”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New buildings and structures, and remodeling, alteration, repair, maintenance, moving, or demolition of existing buildings or structures for which a Bond County building permit is required, outside cities, villages, and incorporated towns.

    • The ordinance applies only to structures located outside the limits of cities, villages, and incorporated towns.
    • The ordinance does not apply to structures used for agricultural purposes on farms, including farm residences.
    • Permit-covered work must be inspected at least once during construction.
    • New buildings and remodeling, repair, or alteration of existing structures costing over $1,000 require at least five inspections.
    • The five inspection stages are before the footing is poured; when the foundation is ready to be poured; when the framework is completed; when plumbing, heating, and electricity are roughed in; and when the structure is completed and the surrounding groundwork is finished and graded.
    • The owner or builder must notify the Building Inspector when construction approaches the stated conditions.
    • The first inspection may not apply and will not be made in some remodeling, repair, or alteration cases.

    minimum inspections for permit-covered work: >= 1 inspection (At least five inspections are required for new buildings and remodeling, repair, or alteration of existing structures costing over $1,000.) · cost threshold for five inspections: > 1000 USD

    “Every new building or structure and every remodeling, alteration, repair or maintenance, moving or demolition of an existing building or structure for which a building permit is required, shall be inspected at least once during construction.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Permitted construction and covered remodeling, alteration, repair, maintenance, moving, or demolition outside incorporated municipalities.
      “Every new building or structure and every remodeling, alteration, repair or maintenance, moving or demolition of an existing building or structure for which a building permit is required, shall be inspected at least once during construction.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use, occupancy, or operation of structures and uses governed by the Bond County Zoning Ordinance.

    • A final certificate of zoning compliance is required before use or occupancy.
    • The final certificate is issued only after inspection confirms completion according to the approved plan.
    • The agricultural exemption in Section 3-13 is cross-referenced.
    “until a Final Certificate of Zoning Compliance has been issued.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning regulation administered through the Bond County Zoning Administrator.

    • The county building ordinance separately states that its building-code provisions apply outside cities, villages, and incorporated towns.
    • Municipal zoning and subdivision authority may overlap in incorporated areas.
    “BOND COUNTY BUILDING AND ZONING ORDINANCES”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present — County zoning in unincorporated Bond County.
      “This ordinance shall be applicable throughout Bond County, except within the corporate limits of municipalities which have adopted local zoning ordinances.”
    • Present (with conditions) — County zoning in Bond County areas outside municipalities that have adopted local zoning ordinances.
      “This ordinance shall be applicable throughout Bond County, except within the corporate limits of municipalities which have adopted local zoning ordinances.”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate zoning coverage in Bond County, including county zoning for unincorporated areas and separate municipal zoning where municipalities have adopted local ordinances.

    • The county ordinance excludes municipalities that have adopted local zoning ordinances; incorporated municipalities may therefore apply their own rules.
    “This ordinance shall be applicable throughout Bond County, except within the corporate limits of municipalities which have adopted local zoning ordinances.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning districts and district standards outside municipalities with adopted local zoning ordinances.

    • The ordinance lists A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, O-1, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, and I-3 districts.
    • District boundaries are established by the official zoning map, which is incorporated by reference and kept in the Administrator’s office.
    • Municipalities with adopted local zoning ordinances are excluded from the county district list.
    “The boundaries of the listed zoning districts are hereby established as shown on the official zoning map of the County. This official zoning map, including all notations and other information thereon, is hereby made a part of this ordinance by reference.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Bond County zoning districts and district-specific dimensional standards.
      “Every lot or the principal structure thereon (as the case may be) shall comply with the minimum lot size, minimum setbacks and maximum height restrictions for the particular district in which said lot/principal structure is located.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in Bond County zoning districts administered under the county ordinance.

    • Requirements vary by district.
    • A-1: 5 acres; R-1: 21,780 square feet; R-2: 21,780 square feet; R-3: 10,000 square feet; O-1, C-1, and C-2: 10,000 square feet; I-1, I-2, and I-3: 20,000 square feet.
    • R-4 overlay requirements vary with public water and sewer availability: 1 acre with neither, one-half acre with public water, and 10,000 square feet with both public water and public sewer.
    • Floodplain and wetland areas cannot be used to calculate minimum lot area in R-4.

    A-1 minimum lot area: 5 acres · R-3 minimum lot area: 10000 square feet · R-4 minimum lot area without public water or sewer: 1 acre

    “Agricultural A-1 5 acres 40 acres Single-Family Residential R-1 21,780 sq. ft. ** 5 acres Multi-Family Residential R-2 21,780 sq. ft. ** 2 acres Mobile Home Residential R-3 10,000 sq. ft. ** 2 acres”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Lots and principal structures in Bond County zoning districts.
      “Every lot or the principal structure thereon (as the case may be) shall comply with the minimum lot size, minimum setbacks and maximum height restrictions for the particular district in which said lot/principal structure is located.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal structures and lots in Bond County zoning districts administered under the county ordinance.

    • Setbacks vary by district and lot type.
    • Examples in Section 4-12 include front setbacks of 20 to 50 feet, side setbacks including 5 feet, 10% of lot width, and district-specific numeric values, and rear setbacks of 20 to 50 feet.
    • Corner and through lots must meet the front setback requirement on every side abutting a street or road.
    • Specified architectural features may intrude into required yards, including two feet for cornices/chimneys, four feet for fire escapes, six feet for unenclosed ground-level porches, and four feet for balconies and canopies.
    “Every lot or the principal structure thereon (as the case may be) shall comply with the minimum lot size, minimum setbacks and maximum height restrictions for the particular district in which said lot/principal structure is located.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal structures in county zoning districts.

    • Section 4-12 lists maximum structure heights by district, including 35 feet in R-1 and R-2, 20 feet in R-3, 35 feet in R-4/O-1/C-1/C-2/I-1/I-2, and no maximum for A-1 and I-3 in the table.
    • Necessary appurtenances such as chimneys, church spires, parapet walls, cooling towers, elevator bulkheads, fire towers, and antennas may exceed district limits if other county ordinances are met.
    • Airport-hazard areas remain subject to Illinois Department of Aeronautics requirements.
    “Every lot or the principal structure thereon (as the case may be) shall comply with the minimum lot size, minimum setbacks and maximum height restrictions for the particular district in which said lot/principal structure is located.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured or mobile homes in county zoning districts outside municipalities with local zoning ordinances.

    • Mobile or manufactured homes are permitted in the R-3 Mobile Home Residential District.
    • They are special uses on individual lots in R-1 and R-2 districts, subject to all ordinance requirements.
    • Individual-lot homes must meet district lot-size and setback requirements, be limited to one per lot, be placed on a permanent foundation, have specified anchors and fire-resistant skirting.
    • Homes must meet HUD requirements and have the proper compliance seal.
    • The county ordinance prohibits bringing a used mobile home into Bond County or moving one between Bond County lots for residential purposes after the ordinance’s effective date, with stated nuisance and fine provisions.

    mobile-home anchor vertical tension: 4800 pounds (At corners of every mobile-home stand or as otherwise necessary for high-wind protection.)

    “All mobile/manufactured homes located in Bond County after the adoption of this ordinance shall be constructed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements for mobile homes and shall have the proper seal to denote compliance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Mobile or manufactured homes on individual lots or in mobile-home parks in county zoning districts.
      “Mobile homes and manufactured homes on individual lots, provided all applicable requirements of this ordinance are met”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Use of an accessory structure as a dwelling in county-regulated zoning districts.

    • The ordinance separately allows accessory uses only when accessory to a permitted or specially permitted principal use and compliant with accessory-use restrictions.
    • Only one dwelling may generally be situated on a lot.
    “Use of any accessory structure as a dwelling is strictly prohibited in every zoning district.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal and environmental-health administration in Bond County.

    • The Bond County Health Department administers the cited county program.
    • State private-sewage requirements may also apply.
    “A permit from BCHD is required before installing, replacing, or modifying any private sewage disposal system.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing, replacing, or modifying any private sewage disposal system in Bond County.

    • Permit must be obtained before installation, replacement, or modification.
    • The Bond County Health Department page lists a $75 installation/modification permit fee.

    installation/modification permit fee: 75 USD

    “required before installing, replacing, or modifying”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Installation, replacement, or modification of private sewage disposal systems in Bond County.
      “A permit from BCHD is required before installing, replacing, or modifying any private sewage disposal system. Fee: $75”
  • Well permitRequired

    New water-well construction in Bond County.

    • The Bond County Health Department page lists a $100 permit fee for new well construction.
    • Wells must be drilled by State-licensed drillers.

    new water well permit fee: 100 USD

    “Water wells must be drilled by State-licensed drillers.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Buildings and places where people live, work, or assemble in county-regulated areas.

    • If a public sanitary sewer with available capacity is within 600 feet, all sewage must be discharged into it.
    • If public sewer is not reasonably available, a private central or individual sewer system must be installed and used.
    • The rule addresses sewage disposal, not a universal requirement for public water connection.

    public sewer availability distance: <= 600 feet (The nearest public sewer must have available capacity.)

    “Whenever the public sanitary sewer system is reasonably available (that is, when the distance from the property in question to the nearest public sewer with available capacity does not exceed six hundred (600) feet), all sewage shall be discharged into such system, whether or not a private sewer system is more convenient.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Land and structures used or to be used for agricultural purposes under the county zoning ordinance and building code.

    • The zoning ordinance states it does not impose regulations or require permits for qualifying agricultural land and structures, but agricultural structures must meet applicable district building setbacks.
    • If land or a structure ceases to be used solely for agricultural purposes, the other zoning provisions apply.
    • The building code separately excludes agricultural-purpose structures on farms, including farm residences and garages, and applies a five-acre threshold and Building Inspector determination for qualifying structures.

    building-code agricultural exemption threshold: > 5 acres (The Building Inspector determines applicability for tracts greater than five acres; tracts under five acres do not qualify.)

    “The provisions of this ordinance shall not be exercised so as to impose regulations or require permits with respect to land used or to be used for agricultural purposes (as defined herein), or with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, remodeling or extension of buildings or structures used or to be used for agricultural purposes upon such land; except that said structures are required to meet building setback requirements applicable in the district in which the structure is to be built.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Land and buildings used or to be used for agricultural purposes under the Bond County zoning ordinance.
      “The provisions of this ordinance shall not be exercised so as to impose regulations or require permits with respect to land used or to be used for agricultural purposes (as defined herein), or with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, remodeling or extension of buildings or structures used or to be used for agricultural purposes upon such land; except that said structures are required to meet building setback requirements applicable in the district in which the structure is to be built.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and platting of land within Bond County, subject to statutory and municipal-jurisdiction exceptions.

    • No subdivision plat is valid or recordable until approved by the Bond County Board, subject to the ordinance's municipal exception.
    • A municipality with an adopted subdivision ordinance and comprehensive plan may approve plats within 1.5 miles of its corporate limits.
    • The ordinance contains exceptions for certain divisions and conveyances, including some parcels of five acres or more.

    municipal review distance: 1.5 miles (municipality with adopted subdivision ordinance and comprehensive plan)

    “From and after the passage of this Ordinance, no plat of any subdivision shall be valid nor entitled to record unless and until same has been approved by the Bond County Board, in accordance with the procedure hereinafter provided, and no plat of any subdivision shall be approved without compliance with the standards of design and improvements required as hereinafter set forth.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and platting of land within Bond County, subject to stated municipal and statutory exceptions.
      “From and after the passage of this Ordinance, no plat of any subdivision shall be valid nor entitled to record unless and until same has been approved by the Bond County Board, in accordance with the procedure hereinafter provided, and no plat of any subdivision shall be approved without compliance with the standards of design and improvements required as hereinafter set forth.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Access for buildings and development in county-regulated zoning areas and subdivision roads.

    • A building lot must abut or have a permanent easement of access to a public road or a private road conforming to the Bond County Subdivision Ordinance.
    • For subdivisions bordering state highways, the County Engineer submits the preliminary plat to IDOT for review of access points.
    • Township road-district review applies when a proposed subdivision lies within a township road district.
    “No building shall be erected on any lot unless such lot abuts or has permanent easement of access to a public road, or a private road that conforms to the standards set forth in the Bond County Subdivision Ordinance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Access for subdivisions, especially subdivisions bordering State-maintained highways.
      “Where the subdivision abuts on or contains an existing or proposed primary highway, the County board may require that marginal access streets be provided in order that no lots front on such existing or proposed primary highway.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Subdivision development in flood-hazard areas.

    • Land unsuitable due to flood hazard may not be approved for subdivision unless the subdivider presents evidence or data showing proposed methods adequately avoid danger to health, life, or property.
    “Land unsuitable for subdivision development due to drainage, flood hazard area, hillside area, rock formation or any other conditions constituting a danger to health, life or property shall not be approved for subdivision development unless the subdivider resents evidence or data to the County Board establishing that the methods proposed to meet any such conditions are adequate to avoid any danger to health, life or property.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Published Bond County building, zoning, septic, and well permit fees.

    • Building fees vary by construction type, foundation area, market cost, and inspection visits.
    • The Health Department page lists $75 for private sewage installation/modification and $100 for new water-well construction.

    private sewage installation/modification permit fee: 75 USD · new water well permit fee: 100 USD · zoning filing fee: 80 USD (generally required)

    “Each application for Building Permit shall be accompanied by a fee computed according to the following schedules:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Bond County building-permit fees and private sewage and water-well permit fees.
      “Each application for Building Permit shall be accompanied by a fee computed according to the following schedules:”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Bond County building and zoning permit application processes.

    • The county provides an online permit application portal.
    • Building applications require plans and specifications.
    • The Building Inspector must approve or provide written disapproval within seven days.
    • Initial zoning certificates generally require applicant, owner, proposal, site, height, setback, dwelling, access, and utility information.

    building permit review deadline: 7 days (from receipt of application) · initial zoning certificate duration: 1 year (subject to renewal or revocation)

    “APPLY FOR YOUR PERMIT ONLINE Apply for a Permit”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — County building permit applications outside incorporated municipalities.
      “If he finds that the proposed work will comply with all applicable laws, codes and ordinances, and that the proposed construction will be safe, he shall issue a permit within seven (7) days from the receipt of the application.”

Illinois rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner occupants or lessee occupants of single-family residences, and owners of single-family residences under construction for their own occupancy, performing plumbing planning, installation, alteration, or repair in Illinois.

    • The exemption is limited to plumbing work on the specified single-family residence; the cited statute does not establish a general owner-builder exemption for all construction trades or a statewide exemption from building permits.
    • The plumbing must comply with the minimum standards in the Illinois State Plumbing Code.
    • The plumbing is subject to inspection by the Illinois Department of Public Health or by the local governmental unit if it retains a licensed plumber as inspector.
    • The owner, owner occupant, or lessee occupant may not employ anyone other than a plumber licensed under the Illinois Plumbing License Law to assist.
    • An occupant must have taken possession of and be living in the premises as their bona fide sole and exclusive residence, or, for a residence under construction, expect to take possession and live there as that residence, with current intent to live there for at least 6 months after completion of the plumbing work or, for a residence under construction, at least 6 months after completion of construction.
    • Failure to possess and live in the premises as a sole and exclusive residence for 6 months or more creates a rebuttable presumption that the required intent was lacking.

    minimum occupancy period: >= 6 months (After completion of plumbing work; for a residence under construction, after completion of construction.)

    “Nothing herein contained shall prohibit the owner occupant or lessee occupant of a single family residence, or the owner of a single family residence under construction for his or her occupancy, from planning, installing, altering or repairing the plumbing system of such residence”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — Privately funded construction in Illinois, including projects performed by an owner-builder, as to state-issued building permits, state plan review, state building-code inspections, and state occupancy permits.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    • Conditional — Statewide treatment of local plumbing permits and inspections for qualifying owner occupants performing plumbing work on a single-family residence.
      “Nothing contained in this Act shall prohibit any city, town, village, township or county from providing for a Plumbing Inspector or from requiring permits for the installation and repair of plumbing and collecting a fee therefor, but a city, town, village, township, or county that requires a permit for installation and repair of plumbing may not issue that permit without verification that the applicant has a valid plumbing license or that the applicant is the owner occupant of a single family residence that is the subject of the permit.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    New and replacement surface-discharging private sewage disposal systems covered by Illinois EPA general NPDES Permit ILG62.

    • Coverage under the general permit is limited to eligible dischargers.
    • Systems not eligible for general-permit coverage may require an individual NPDES permit.
    • Periodic inspection, monitoring, and reporting are required under the permit.
    “The permit sets discharge limits and requires periodic inspection, monitoring and reporting.”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Off-grid disposal of human wastes through privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets, and compost toilets statewide in Illinois.

    • Other domestic wastes must be disposed of in a conventional private sewage disposal system.
    • Compost toilets may also be used for other organic domestic wastes.
    • Privies have construction, capacity, venting, maintenance, and abandonment requirements.
    • A privy pit must have a minimum capacity of 50 cubic feet per seat.
    • A privy must be pumped when filled to within 18 inches of the bottom of the riser.
    • Vault privies are required where groundwater or limestone formations are within 4 feet of the bottom of the pit.
    • Recirculating toilets must meet NSF International/ANSI Standard 41 and residuals must go to an approved public or private sewage disposal system.
    • Incinerator and compost toilets have separate maintenance and disposal requirements; compost toilets must meet NSF International/ANSI Standard 41.

    privy pit minimum capacity: >= 50 cubic feet per seat · privy pumping trigger: <= 18 inches from bottom of riser (Pump when filled to within this distance.) · vault-privy groundwater or limestone separation: < 4 feet from bottom of pit (Watertight, non-metal vaults are required where the condition applies.)

    “Privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets and compost toilets are approved for private sewage disposal of human wastes.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals in Illinois where at least one room is rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days and accommodations are reserved in advance, when the hosting platform meets the statutory definition of a re-renter.

    • Beginning July 1, 2025, qualifying hosting platforms are subject to Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax.
    • The source establishes tax and registration obligations, not statewide land-use permission; local zoning and licensing may separately apply.

    rental period: < 30 consecutive days

    “Beginning July 1, 2025, hosting platforms for short-term rentals that meet the definition of “re-renter” are subject to Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax.”
  • Campground & park staysAllowed (with conditions)

    Overnight camping in Illinois campgrounds subject to the Campground Licensing and Recreational Area Act.

    • IDPH annually inspects and licenses campgrounds in Illinois.
    • The state campground definition includes camping and temporary parking of recreational vehicles.
    • Campgrounds within home rule units of government are exempt from the state campground licensing requirement.
    • Recreational areas without overnight camping, such as highway rest stops and picnicking areas, are subject to the rules but are not licensed or routinely inspected.

    minimum persons for statutory campground threshold: >= 10 persons · minimum camping duration for statutory campground threshold: >= 6 camping days per calendar year

    ““Camping Day” means any 24 hour period or portion thereof during which the participants remain overnight at the site.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    County building-construction and building-code regulation, including residential structures, in counties meeting the statutory population and metropolitan-area conditions.

    • The county must have a population not in excess of 1,000,000.
    • The county must be located in the area served by the Northeastern Illinois Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
    • Rules are subject to rules or regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal under the cited gasoline and volatile-oils statute.
    • The county must exempt municipalities located wholly or partly within the county when the municipal building code is equal to the county regulation and local authorities are enforcing that municipal code.
    • The rules apply throughout the county, but municipalities may establish higher standards.
    • The rules do not apply to construction or alteration of buildings or structures used or to be used for agricultural purposes on a tract zoned and used for agricultural purposes.
    • The county board must follow the publication and posting requirements in 55 ILCS 5/5-1063.
    • Beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, a county adopting a new building code or amending an existing building code must provide the building-code identification to the Capital Development Board under Section 10.18 at least 30 days before adoption.
    • Violations are petty offenses, and enforcement is by an officer designated by county-board resolution.
    • The provision expressly authorizes county building-construction and building-code rules, but the opened text does not expressly use the phrase residential building permit requirement.

    population threshold: <= 1000000 persons (The county must be located in the area served by the Northeastern Illinois Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.) · pre-adoption identification period: >= 30 days (Applies to a new building code or amendment under the stated amendatory-Act provision.)

    “The county board in any county with a population not in excess of 1,000,000 located in the area served by the Northeastern Illinois Metropolitan Area Planning Commission may prescribe by resolution or ordinance reasonable rules and regulations (a) governing the construction and alteration of all buildings and structures and parts and appurtenances thereof and governing the maintenance thereof in a condition reasonably safe from the hazards of fire, explosion, collapse, contagion and the spread of infectious disease”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Illinois counties adopting and enforcing building codes and issuing building permits for residential construction in unincorporated areas, subject to the statewide baseline framework.
      “A municipality or county is not required to adopt building codes. If they do NOT adopt a building code then they are considered a non-building code jurisdiction and section 10.09-1 of the Capital Development Board Act (20 ILCS 3105) applies. If they do adopt a building code(s) then it must comply with section 10.18 of the Capital Development Board Act (20 ILCS 3105).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size requirements in county-regulated zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage limits in county-regulated zoning districts.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land in unincorporated Bond County.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Bond County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Bond County.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Bond County, Illinois

Is Bond County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Bond County scores 59/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: workable self-sufficiency basics (42.7″/yr rainfall) and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: about 27,134 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Bond County, Illinois?

Bond County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Bond County Health Department (Environmental Health). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Bond County, Illinois?

Land in Bond County runs about $7,761 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Bond County?

Bond County gets about 42.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.2% of years.

How remote is Bond County?

A representative private-land location has about 27,134 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,926,737 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Bond compares in Illinois

Compare side-by-side →See all 102 Illinois counties ranked →