Bolthole Index

Edgar County, Illinois

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

64Index Score / 100
#44 of 102 in Illinois

Edgar County, Illinois has no county building department or county building-permit page that we could confirm for unincorporated land, and Illinois leaves building permits to the local government with jurisdiction12. The county's own hazard plan lists building codes only in Paris and zoning ordinances only in Chrisman and Paris3. Septic and well permits for every address in the county come from the Edgar County Public Health Department, not from a city45.

At a glance

Building permit
County requirement not confirmed; ask the local jurisdiction12
Zoning
Countywide status not confirmed6
Septic
Permit through Edgar County Public Health Department4
Private well
Permit required through county health5
RV living
Long-term private-land occupancy not confirmed6
Tiny home
Occupancy and dimensional rules not confirmed6
Owner-builder
No county exemption confirmed7

Who to call

Septic permits

Edgar County Public Health Department — Environmental Health

Private sewage disposal permits and inspections, and permits for new and modified water wells

217-465-2212

502 Shaw Avenue, Paris, IL 61944

Zoning

Edgar County Clerk & Recorder

Recorded plats, subdivision regulations, zoning and city ordinances, and flood maps; contact point for locating the operative county records

217-466-7433

115 W. Court St., Room J, Paris, IL 61944

Roads & driveways

Edgar County Highway Department

County highways, bridges and culverts; ask whether proposed access touches a county road or township road

217-465-4139

12637 E. 950th Rd., Paris, IL 61944

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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

We could not confirm that Edgar County requires a building permit for a house in unincorporated areas, because no county permit page states it1. The county's own hazard mitigation plan says only Paris has building codes in place, which points to the city rather than the county as the place a house gets building permits and inspections3. Illinois does not issue building permits, perform plan review or conduct building-code inspections for privately funded projects; any such requirements come from the municipality, village, city or county with jurisdiction28.

That does not make a project exempt from codes9. Illinois has statewide baseline building-code requirements, and locally adopted residential codes must meet the minimum structural requirements of the International Residential Code10. Before pricing a house, ask which local government has jurisdiction over the parcel and request its permit, inspection and occupancy-certificate requirements in writing11. Large commercial solar or wind projects follow a separate county process that ends with a building permit only after the County Board approves a special use permit12.

Who handles Edgar County building permits and how do you reach them?

No Edgar County building department or general building-permit application could be confirmed, so start with the Edgar County Clerk & Recorder at 217-466-7433 to identify the operative county records and the government with jurisdiction over the parcel.113 The Clerk & Recorder's published functions include subdivision regulations, zoning and city ordinances, plats and flood maps.13

For work tied to a city or village parcel, ask that municipality directly because Illinois assigns private-project permitting to the applicable local government.2 For a rural parcel, separately call Environmental Health for septic and well approvals; those are confirmed county processes even though the general building-permit question is not.1445

Does Edgar County, Illinois have zoning?

The county's hazard mitigation plan states that only Chrisman and Paris have zoning ordinances, so zoning inside those two cities is set by the cities3. We could not confirm a countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land; Edgar County's published ordinances include separate commercial solar and wind ordinances rather than a general zoning code615. The Clerk & Recorder lists zoning and city ordinances among its records, which makes it the place to ask for the ordinance and map affecting a particular parcel13.

Do not treat an unincorporated address as unrestricted. Illinois law allows county zoning districts outside municipalities, with setbacks and building heights determined by the applicable local ordinance or district1617. Confirm minimum dwelling size, setbacks, building height, lot coverage and agricultural-building treatment with the jurisdiction named in those records, and check deeds and subdivision restrictions as well13. Septic and wells stay with the Edgar County Public Health Department even inside Paris and Chrisman45.

How do septic and well permits work in Edgar County?

Edgar County Public Health Department's Environmental Health office issues permits for private sewage disposal systems and for new or modified water wells.14 A septic permit is required, and the published county fee is $125; the health department's fee schedule also lists a $150 plan review for new construction418. The office also provides a downloadable septic application, while the published process does not give a complete approval timeline.19

Illinois requires private-sewage plan approval before construction and notice to the state or local authority at least 48 hours before work begins.20 Only 4.1% of Edgar County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early contingency rather than assuming a standard layout will work.21 Environmental Health can be reached at 217-465-2212 at 502 Shaw Avenue in Paris.14

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

Edgar County has no confirmed county rule in the available record answering whether a person may live long-term in an RV on private land or occupy a tiny home.6 Illinois campground rules do not answer private-parcel RV occupancy, because those rules concern licensed campgrounds and recreational areas.22

For a tiny home, the unresolved issues include the local zoning district, minimum dwelling size, setbacks, building permit, sewage approval and any occupancy certificate.6111 Off-grid sanitation is possible only through state-approved options: Illinois conditionally allows privies and certain portable, recirculating, incinerating and composting toilets, while other domestic wastewater still must use a conventional private sewage disposal system.23 Ask the land-use jurisdiction and Environmental Health to approve the full living arrangement before purchase.14

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

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is inside a municipality or in unincorporated Edgar County, then ask that jurisdiction for its building-permit, inspection and occupancy requirements.211
  2. Ask the Clerk & Recorder for the current plat, subdivision restrictions, zoning records and flood map affecting the parcel.13
  3. Submit the septic and well applications to Edgar County Public Health Department before committing to a house location.1914
  4. Obtain private-sewage plan approval before construction and provide at least 48 hours' notice before sewage-system work begins.20
  5. If access enters a state-maintained highway, secure the required IDOT permit before work in the right-of-way; for county or township road access, ask the Edgar County Highway Department which road authority controls the frontage.2425
  6. Resolve any regulated floodway permit before construction.26

What should you check before buying land in Edgar County?

Start with sewage feasibility: only 4.1% of Edgar County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field.21 Pair the septic review with a well-permit discussion because Edgar County Public Health Department handles both systems.45

Check legal access and road ownership before assuming a field entrance can become a driveway.24 Edgar County Highway Department maintains county highways and assists the county's townships with their roadways, so it can help identify the correct road authority.25 Review flood maps with the Clerk & Recorder, and investigate any regulated floodway before placing a structure.1326 For carrying costs, Edgar County's effective property-tax rate is about 1.5%, and the median annual property-tax bill is $1,478.2728

Watch-outs

  • Do not read the absence of a confirmed Edgar County building-permit page as permission to build without local approval; Illinois assigns private-project requirements to the local government with jurisdiction.12
  • A septic permit is required, and conventional drain-field conditions rate poorly across most of Edgar County's mapped soils.421
  • Long-term RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size and an owner-builder exemption remain unconfirmed for unincorporated Edgar County; ask the parcel's land-use jurisdiction before relying on any of them67.

Sources

  1. Illinois Codes FAQ (2026 county census)
  2. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  3. Edgar County Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  5. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  6. (2026 county census)
  7. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (2026 county census)
  8. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Codes and Regulations (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. General Process Outline for Commercial Wind & Solar Energy Facilities, quoted and re-checked
  13. Edgar County Clerk & Recorder (edgarcountyillinois.com)
  14. Edgar County Public Health Department — Environmental Health (ecphd.org)
  15. Downloads – Edgar County Illinois, quoted and re-checked
  16. ilga.gov (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  19. Environmental Health - Edgar County Public Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  20. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. 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
  22. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.130 Human Waste Disposal (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Edgar County Highway Department (edgarcountyillinois.com)
  26. Permit Program (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 10, 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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 4 of its 6 neighbors, Edgar County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleEdgar CountyClark CountyDouglas CountyColes CountyChampaign CountyVermilion CountyCumberland County
Building permitLimitedNot requiredRequiredNot requiredLimitedLimitedNot required
County zoningNot publishedNoNot publishedNoYesNot publishedNo
Septic permitsCounty Public Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.Champaign-Urbana Public Health DistrictCounty Health Dept.County Health Dept.

County locator

Edgar County in Illinois

64
County map
Edgar County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How Edgar County scores

Seclusion61100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency40100% ev.
Admin Boringness7468% ev.
Durability63100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost55100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$107kTypical home
1.5%Property tax
$10,162Land / acre
42"Annual rain
1.6% of yrsSevere drought
8 / yr (+7.5)Mid-century 100°F days
13.9 daysMid-century dry spell
1.85" (+6.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.83×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,504Home insurance / yr
2.6% / yrInsurance growth
0.25%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
5,579People within 30 min
1,600,928People within 2 hr
23,517Radius comparison (15 mi)
26.2People / sq mi
0%Federal land
96.8%Land at 15% slope or less
4.1%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
16,510 acWorkable land screen
10.6%Wooded land
58.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
52.9°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Edgar 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.

Not yet researched: Village of Brocton · Brouilletts Creek Township · Buck Township · Chrisman · Edgar Township · Elbridge Township · Embarrass Township · Grandview Township · Village of Hume · Hunter Township · Kansas Township · Village of Kansas · Village of Metcalf · Paris Township · Prairie Township · Village of Redmon · Ross Township · Shiloh Township · Stratton Township · Symmes Township · Village of Vermilion · Young America Township

Answers from the rulebook for Edgar County

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

Edgar County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Commercial wind and solar energy facilities in Edgar County subject to the county process.

    • The developer must file a Special Use Permit application with the County Clerk.
    • The County reviews the application for completeness and conducts the stated public-hearing process.
    • Only if the County Board approves the application may the developer apply for a building permit.
    • The County reviews the building-permit materials and approval depends on all requirements being met.
    “VII. If approved, Developer may apply for Building Permit. VIII. Review of Building Permit materials by the County and approval if all requirements are met.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Commercial solar energy facilities and wind facilities subject to Edgar County ordinances.

    • The official county website identifies separate Edgar County Commercial Solar Energy Facility and Wind ordinances.
    • This claim establishes county regulation of those specified energy facilities only; it does not establish a comprehensive county zoning code for all land uses.
    • Municipal zoning ordinances may supersede county zoning within municipal corporate limits under Illinois law.
    “Edgar County Commercial Solar Energy Facility Ordinance [...] Edgar County Wind Ordinance”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Countywide aggregate of local zoning identified for Edgar County municipalities and county planning materials; the conclusion aggregates township and municipal zoning rather than claiming that the County administers every local ordinance.

    • The official plan separately lists Edgar County and municipalities including Brocton, Chrisman, Hume, Kansas, Metcalf, Paris, and Redmon.
    • The plan inventory identifies zoning ordinances in only some listed jurisdictions, so local zoning varies by jurisdiction.
    • The plan does not provide the underlying local ordinance text or parcel-specific applicability.
    “Only Paris has building codes in place and only Chrisman and Paris have zoning ordinances.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate of zoning shown for Edgar County and municipalities in the county; the conclusion reflects separate local authorities rather than treating the county as the administrator of every municipal ordinance.
      “Only Paris has building codes in place and only Chrisman and Paris have zoning ordinances.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal systems in Edgar County.

    • IDPH regulates private sewage disposal installation statewide.
    • The Edgar County Public Health Department provides local permitting and inspection services and operates under the Edgar County Board of Health.
    • Local health-agency review may occur by local ordinance or as an agent of IDPH.
    “The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems that have no surface discharge (such as septic tanks and seepage fields) as well as those that discharge treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to the ground surface (such as sand filters and aerobic treatment systems). Staff also review and approve plans for private sewage disposal systems and alternative private sewage disposal systems before construction. There are about 90 local health agencies in Illinois that also review sewage disposal system construction plans, either by authority of a local ordinance or as an "agent" of the Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private sewage disposal systems in Edgar County.

    • The Edgar County Public Health Department's current fee schedule lists a septic permit at $125.00.
    • Construction-plan review and approval requirements under IDPH's statewide private sewage-disposal program also apply.

    septic permit fee: 125 USD

    “Sewage permits for private sewage disposal systems”
  • Well permitRequired

    Private water wells in Edgar County.

    • The Edgar County Public Health Department's current fee schedule lists a water well permit at $125.00.

    water well permit fee: 125 USD

    “Water well permits for new and modified wells”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Environmental-health permit and review fees published by the Edgar County Public Health Department.

    • The page labels the list Current Fee Schedule.
    • The published schedule includes septic permits, water well permits, new-construction plan review, remodel plan review, and re-inspection fees.

    septic permit fee: 125 USD · water well permit fee: 125 USD · plan review for new construction: 150 USD · plan review for remodel: 100 USD · re-inspection fee: 25 USD

    “Septic Permit | $125.00 Water Well Permit | $125.00 [...] Plan Review for New Construction | $150.00 Plan Review for Remodel | $100.00 Re-Inspection Fee | $25.00”
  • Permit processPartial

    Environmental-health permit process information published by the Edgar County Public Health Department.

    • The page provides downloadable Water Well Permit and Septic Application forms but does not publish a complete end-to-end approval timeline or all application requirements.
    “Water Well Permit Application 193.27 KB 1 file(s) #### Septic Septic Application 82.51 KB 1 file(s)”

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.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building-code requirements statewide in Illinois, including residential and commercial construction subject to the Capital Development Board Act baseline requirements.

    • Effective 2025-01-01, Illinois requires statewide baseline building-code requirements.
    • Local governments may adopt building codes, but they are not required to adopt codes; jurisdictions that do not adopt a code are treated as non-building-code jurisdictions and must follow the applicable state-law baseline requirements.
    • For jurisdictions with adopted codes, local codes must regulate structural design at least as stringently as the applicable IRC, IBC, or IEBC baseline.
    • Commercial buildings in non-building-code jurisdictions and state-funded buildings are subject to the state-listed codes and qualified-inspection requirements.
    • Residential requirements differ depending on whether the jurisdiction has adopted a compliant building code and whether the home purchaser and builder agree to an alternative code.

    statewide baseline effective date: 2025-01-01 · local code structural minimum for residential buildings: IRC minimum structural requirements · local code structural minimum for commercial new buildings: IBC minimum structural requirements · local code structural minimum for existing commercial buildings: IEBC minimum structural requirements

    “The State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide building codes effective 1/1/2025. [...] Commercial buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code AND state funded buildings. [...] Starting 1/1/25 local codes must regulate the structural design in a manner that is at least as stringent as the IBC© for new buildings or IEBC© for existing buildings. [...] Residential buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code where agreed to by the home purchaser and home builder. [...] Residential buildings in jurisdictions that have adopted a building code. [...] Starting 1/1/25 local codes must regulate the structural design in a manner that is at least as stringent as the IRC©.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — Statewide Illinois energy-conservation requirements applicable to new commercial and residential construction when a building permit application is received by a municipality or county.
      “The Energy Efficient Building Act requires all new commercial and residential construction for which a building permit application is received by a municipality or county to follow a comprehensive statewide energy conservation code. Renovations, alterations, additions, and repairs to most existing commercial and residential buildings must follow the Illinois Energy Conservation Code.”
    • Adopted — Statewide baseline building-code requirements for residential construction in Illinois, including jurisdictions with and without locally adopted building codes.
      “Please be advised that the State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide baseline building codes effective 1/1/2025. Locally adopted building codes must comply with the requirements of the Act.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Privately funded construction statewide in Illinois, as to inspections performed by the State rather than by a local authority having jurisdiction.

    • The Illinois Capital Development Board does not perform building-code inspections for privately funded construction.
    • If inspections are required, they are addressed by the applicable unit of local government.
    • A local municipality or county may be a non-building-code jurisdiction, in which case applicable state baseline requirements and inspection-certification provisions may apply.
    “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required — Building-code-compliance inspections performed by the State of Illinois for privately funded construction.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Occupancy permits or certificates for privately funded construction in Illinois.

    • The State does not issue occupancy permits for privately funded construction.
    • If an occupancy permit is required, it is addressed by the applicable unit of local government.
    “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required — Issuance of occupancy permits or certificates by the State of Illinois for privately funded construction.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    County zoning regulations for building or setback lines outside municipalities with municipal zoning ordinances.

    • The actual setback distances are established by applicable county zoning districts or other local ordinances.
    • Agricultural buildings may be required to conform to building or setback lines.
    “to establish building or setback lines”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    County zoning districts outside municipalities with municipal zoning ordinances.

    • The applicable county zoning ordinance determines the actual height limit by district or use.
    • No single statewide height measurement was identified.
    “including height of buildings and structures”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Occupancy of manufactured homes as dwellings, including occupancy in manufactured home communities regulated by IDPH.

    • Manufactured home communities with 5 or more sites must be licensed by IDPH, except communities located in home rule units.
    • IDPH annually inspects licensed communities for renewal, including water, sewage disposal, electrical systems, lighting, roads, spacing of homes, and garbage disposal.
    • Manufactured homes moved since January 1, 1980 must be secured using equipment meeting IDPH standards.
    • Effective December 31, 2001, manufactured homes must be installed by an Illinois licensed manufactured home installer or the homeowner and installed according to manufacturer instructions; if unavailable, the IDPH Manufactured Home Installation Code applies.
    • Local zoning, building, floodplain, and utility requirements may also apply.

    manufactured home community license threshold: >= 5 sites (Communities located in home rule units are excepted from this IDPH licensing statement.) · moved-home tiedown requirement effective date: >= 1980-01-01 · installation requirement effective date: >= 2001-12-31

    “designed and situated so as to permit its occupancy as a dwelling place for one or more persons”
  • 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.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Work within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state-maintained roadway, including access-driveway requests to State highways.

    • A permit must be obtained before work begins.
    • Requirements may vary by IDOT district; the applicant must contact the district office for specific requirements.
    • IDOT's access-driveway handbook guides what is allowable for highway access requests.
    “Per 605 ILCS 5/4 209, IDOT requires a permit when working within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state maintained roadway. A permit must be obtained prior to the start of any work and a copy of the approved permit must be at the worksite at all times.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction activities in regulated Illinois floodways and, where a floodway has not been delineated, generally work anywhere in the floodplain.

    • For downstate streams, IDNR Division permitting applies to floodways of streams draining at least one square mile in urban areas or ten square miles in rural areas.
    • In northeastern Illinois, Part 3708 applies to identified floodways in Cook County excluding Chicago, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
    • Some minor activities are automatically authorized by statewide or regional permits if their terms and conditions are met.
    • For State-owned property, Part 3710 requires a permit for all development activity in FEMA-mapped floodplains.

    urban stream drainage area threshold: >= 1 square mile (regulated floodways under Part 3700) · rural stream drainage area threshold: >= 10 square miles (regulated floodways under Part 3700)

    “All construction activities in the floodways of streams (the channel and the adjacent portion of the floodplain that is needed to safely convey and store flood waters) in urban areas where the stream drainage area is one square mile or more or in rural areas where the stream drainage area is ten square miles or more must be permitted by the Division prior to construction.”
  • 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.

  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts and zoning maps in Edgar County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size requirements in Edgar County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements in Edgar County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements in Edgar County.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or permanent RV occupancy on private land in Edgar County.
6 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land

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 Edgar County, Illinois

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

Edgar County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (42″/yr rainfall).

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

Edgar County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones). Onsite septic is permitted by Edgar County Public Health Department (agent of IDPH under 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 905). 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 Edgar County, Illinois?

Land in Edgar County runs about $10,162 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Edgar County?

Edgar County gets about 42" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.6% of years.

How remote is Edgar County?

A representative private-land location has about 5,579 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,600,928 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 Edgar compares in Illinois

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