Bolthole Index

Johnson County, Illinois

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

72Index Score / 100
#21 of 102 in Illinois

Johnson County, Illinois building-permit requirements for unincorporated land could not be confirmed; permits for private projects come from the applicable local government, not the state1. Illinois statewide building-code standards still apply2. Southern Seven Health Department issues Johnson County septic and private-well permits, while IDPH regulates private sewage systems statewide345.

At a glance

Building permit
County requirement unconfirmed; Illinois does not issue permits for private projects1
Zoning
Countywide zoning could not be confirmed6
Septic
Southern Seven issues permits; IDPH regulates systems statewide73
Private well
Permit and completion inspection through Southern Seven4
RV or tiny home
Long-term occupancy rules could not be confirmed6
Owner-builder
Limited state plumbing exemption; no general county exemption confirmed8
Septic soils
Only about 6% of soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field9
Property tax
About 1.3% effective rate; $1,952 median annual bill1011

Who to call

Septic permits

Southern Seven Health Department Environmental Health

Private sewage applications and septic permits, new-system inspections, private water-well permits, and completed-well inspections for Johnson County

(618) 634-2297 ext: 973114

37 Rustic Campus Dr. Building C, Ullin, IL 62992

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 7, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Johnson 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 Johnson County, Illinois?

Johnson County, Illinois has no confirmed county rule answering whether a building permit is required on unincorporated land1. Illinois does not issue building permits, perform plan review, or conduct building-code inspections for privately funded construction; any such requirement belongs to the municipality, village, city, or county with jurisdiction1213. Illinois has required statewide building-code standards since 2025, although the applicable details depend on project type and any locally adopted code142. Before designing a house, ask the Johnson County Clerk to identify the local authority for the parcel, and ask the municipality directly if the site lies inside city or village limits1.

Who handles Johnson County building permits and inspections?

A Johnson County building department, permit office, adopted building code, and residential inspection process could not be confirmed from an official county source1. The Illinois Capital Development Board does not issue permits or perform inspections for private construction, and directs those questions to the applicable local government1516. If Johnson County has not adopted a code, non-state commercial buildings must still be inspected by a qualified inspector for compliance with the applicable codes17. For unincorporated land, ask the Johnson County Clerk to identify the local authority; inside a municipality, contact that city or village1. Southern Seven separately handles septic and private-well permits and inspections throughout Johnson County184.

Does Johnson County, Illinois have zoning?

We could not confirm a Johnson County zoning ordinance, zoning map, or planning and zoning department for unincorporated land6. That gap does not establish that a parcel is unrestricted, and rules inside a city or village can differ from rules in unincorporated Johnson County6. Illinois law allows county zoning regulations to establish setbacks and building-height limits, but the actual measurements depend on the applicable local district or ordinance1920. Minimum lot size, minimum home size, accessory dwellings, agricultural exemptions, subdivision review, and lot coverage also remain unconfirmed for Johnson County6. Ask the county clerk who handles land-use questions and obtain a written parcel-specific answer before relying on a proposed use6.

How do septic permits work in Johnson County?

IDPH regulates private sewage systems statewide, while Southern Seven Health Department reviews applications, issues Johnson County septic permits, helps with system design, and inspects new systems731821. An owner who occupies a single-family home may work on that home's system without an installer license but must still follow the sewage law and code; otherwise, use an Illinois-licensed private-sewage-system contractor22. Southern Seven requires at least 48 hours' notice before construction and final approval before the system is covered23. Only about 6% of Johnson County soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, so settle the septic design before fixing the house site or purchase budget9.

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

We could not confirm a Johnson County rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy on a private parcel6. Illinois campground licensing rules concern regulated campgrounds and do not answer whether one owner may occupy an RV on private land24. A manufactured home used as a dwelling is subject to state installation rules, while local zoning, building, floodplain, and utility requirements may still apply25. Off-grid living does not avoid sewage review: IDPH regulates non-sewered private systems and requires plan approval before construction, including qualifying systems that discharge treated effluent to the ground surface26. Ask the local authority and Southern Seven about the exact parcel and sanitation plan before moving onto the land21.

Building a home in Johnson County, Illinois: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside a municipality, because Illinois assigns private-project permit questions to the applicable local government12.
  2. Ask the Johnson County Clerk to identify the building, zoning, and floodplain authority for that parcel, since county-specific requirements could not be confirmed16.
  3. Contact Southern Seven early for septic suitability and the required septic permit; difficult soils can change the usable house site39.
  4. Apply through Southern Seven before drilling a private well and arrange the completed-well inspection274.
  5. Obtain an IDOT permit before driveway work within an Interstate, federal route, state route, or state-maintained road right-of-way28.
  6. Obtain IDNR approval before construction in a regulated floodway, and check whether local floodplain approval also applies29.

What should you check before buying land in Johnson County?

Start with sewage and water: only about 6% of Johnson County soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, and Southern Seven requires permits for both a private septic system and a new private well934. Check legal access separately; work in a state-maintained road right-of-way needs an IDOT permit, while a Johnson County rule for driveways on county roads could not be confirmed28. Construction in a regulated floodway requires IDNR approval, and local government may impose added floodplain requirements; Johnson County's local administrator and ordinance remain unconfirmed29. About 61% of the county is wooded and 87.2% of the land has a slope of 15% or less, but individual tracts can differ sharply3031. The effective property-tax rate is about 1.3%, with a median annual bill of about $1,9521011.

Watch-outs

  • Do not treat the lack of a located zoning ordinance as proof that unincorporated Johnson County land is unrestricted; zoning, setbacks, and permit requirements remain unconfirmed61.
  • Johnson County's soils commonly rate poorly for conventional septic drain fields, so obtain a site evaluation and permit path before committing to a house location922.
  • Southern Seven inspects new septic systems, and final approval is required before covering the system1823.

Sources

  1. Illinois Codes FAQ (2026 county census)
  2. Building Codes and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  3. Private Sewage Disposal & Water Supply Program - Southern 7 Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  4. Private Sewage Disposal & Water Supply Program - Southern 7 Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  5. Private Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  6. (2026 county census)
  7. Private Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  8. HB5913 Enrolled — Illinois Plumbing License Law amendment (2026 county census)
  9. 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
  10. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  11. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  12. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Building Codes and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  15. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Building Codes and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  18. Private Sewage Disposal & Water Supply Program - Southern 7 Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  19. ilga.gov (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Southern Seven Health Department Environmental Health (southern7.org)
  22. ilga.gov, quoted and re-checked
  23. Private Sewage Disposal & Water Supply Program - Southern 7 Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  24. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Manufactured & Modular Homes/Mobile Structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Private Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  27. Driven Wells, quoted and re-checked
  28. Highway Permits, quoted and re-checked
  29. Permit Program, quoted and re-checked
  30. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 7, 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, Johnson County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleJohnson CountyWilliamson CountyPope CountyMassac CountyUnion CountyPulaski CountySaline County
Building permitLimitedRequiredLimitedLimitedRequiredNot requiredNot required
County zoningNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNoNo
Septic permitsSouthern 7 Health Dept.Franklin-Williamson Bicounty Health Dept.Southern Seven Health Dept.Southern Seven Health Dept.Southern Seven Health Dept.Southern Seven Health Dept.Egyptian Health Dept.

County locator

Johnson County in Illinois

72
County map
Johnson County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How Johnson County scores

Seclusion56100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency72100% ev.
Admin Boringness7468% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost68100% 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 →

$193kTypical home
1.3%Property tax
$4,327Land / acre
49.7"Annual rain
3.7% of yrsSevere drought
10.2 / yr (+9.5)Mid-century 100°F days
15.6 daysMid-century dry spell
2.19" (+5.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.76×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,797Home insurance / yr
2.4% / yrInsurance growth
1.3%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
28,305People within 30 min
1,378,252People within 2 hr
23,774Radius comparison (15 mi)
38.8People / sq mi
9.7%Federal land
87.2%Land at 15% slope or less
6%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
12,900 acWorkable land screen
61%Wooded land
51.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
56.9°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Johnson 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 Belknap · Village of Buncombe · Village of Cypress · Village of New Burnside · Village of Simpson · Vienna

Answers from the rulebook for Johnson County

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

Johnson County rules

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal systems in Johnson County, served by Southern 7 Health Department.

    • Southern 7 serves Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, and Union Counties.
    • IDPH retains statewide regulatory authority; local health agencies review plans either under local ordinance or as IDPH agents.
    • The cited Southern 7 page states that enforcement is based upon county ordinances.
    “The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates the installation of all private sewage disposal systems”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Local (with conditions) — Private sewage disposal in Johnson County, Illinois, administered through the Southern Seven Health Department service area.
      “Through the private sewage disposal program, our Environmental Health staff inspect pumper trucks, review sewage system applications, issue septic permits, offer guidance when designing a sewage disposal system, and inspect new sewage disposal systems. [...] Serving: Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, & Union County”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New private sewage disposal systems in Johnson County within the Southern 7 service area.

    • Southern 7 reviews sewage-system applications and issues septic permits.
    • IDPH rules and any applicable county ordinance also apply.
    “Through the private sewage disposal program, our Environmental Health staff inspect pumper trucks, review sewage system applications, issue septic permits, offer guidance when designing a sewage disposal system, and inspect new sewage disposal systems.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New private sewage disposal system construction in Johnson County.

    • Southern Seven must be notified 48 hours before construction so routine field visits may occur.
    • The contractor must call for final inspection and approval before covering the system.
    • The licensed contractor is responsible for compliance during installation.

    advance notice: 48 hours (before construction begins) · final inspection: before covering

    “I, as the Contractor, agree to notify the Southern Seven Health Department at least 48 hours before any construction work is to begin and I further agree that I will call for final inspection and approval of this system before covering.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New private sewage disposal systems in Johnson County within the Southern 7 service area.
      “Through the private sewage disposal program, our Environmental Health staff inspect pumper trucks, review sewage system applications, issue septic permits, offer guidance when designing a sewage disposal system, and inspect new sewage disposal systems. When the public registers a complaint regarding sewage disposal, it is our responsibility to not only conduct an investigation, but carry out any enforcement activities which are warranted based upon county ordinances.”
  • Well permitRequired

    New private water wells in Johnson County within the Southern 7 service area.

    • Applicants must contact Southern 7 Environmental Health staff before drilling.
    • Southern 7 conducts a completed-well inspection.
    • The Illinois Water Well Construction Code and related state codes apply.
    “Planning to drill a well for your new home or business? It is important that you contact the Environmental Health staff to apply for a water well permit. Our staff will also conduct an inspection of your well once it is completed.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New private water-supply wells in Johnson County through Southern Seven Health Department.
      “Planning to drill a well for your new home or business? It is important that you contact the Environmental Health staff to apply for a water well permit. Our staff will also conduct an inspection of your well once it is completed.”

Illinois rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Privately funded construction in Illinois; the State does not itself issue building permits, while any required permit is addressed by the applicable local government.

    • Permit requirements may be imposed and administered by the municipality, village, city, or county having jurisdiction.
    • The Illinois Capital Development Board states that statewide building codes became effective 1/1/2025, while local code officials remain the best source for project-specific answers.

    statewide building-code effective date: 2025-01-01

    “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 building permits 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.”
  • 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©.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Building-code standards applicable in Illinois, including Johnson County.
      “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.”
    • Partial — Building-code requirements applicable statewide in Illinois, including Johnson County, subject to the jurisdiction's adopted codes and project type.
      “require statewide building codes effective 1/1/2025.”
    • 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.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Non-state commercial buildings in Illinois jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code, including any such project in Johnson County.

    • Applies to commercial buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code.
    • The building must be inspected by a qualified inspector stating that it complies with the listed applicable codes.
    • County-specific adoption status was not established.
    “Non-state buildings must be inspected by a qualified inspector stating the building complies with the above codes.”
    2 more reviewed findings 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.”
    • Limited — Privately funded construction statewide in Illinois, as to inspections performed by the State rather than by a local authority having jurisdiction.
      “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”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Private, non-sewered sewage disposal systems in Illinois, including Johnson County.
      “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.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Work within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state-maintained roadway in Johnson County.

    • The permit must be obtained before work begins.
    • A copy of the approved permit must remain at the worksite.
    • Requirements may vary by IDOT district.
    • The claim does not address county-road or municipal-road access.
    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — 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.
      “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 and other development in floodways or regulated floodplain areas in Johnson County.

    • IDNR jurisdiction includes streams in urban areas with drainage areas of at least 1 square mile and rural areas with drainage areas of at least 10 square miles.
    • If no delineated floodway is shown, IDNR generally requires permits for work anywhere in the floodplain.
    • Local governing bodies may impose additional floodplain requirements.
    • Statewide permits may automatically authorize certain minor activities if all terms and conditions are met.

    urban stream drainage area threshold: >= 1 square mile · rural stream drainage area threshold: >= 10 square miles

    “All construction activities in the floodways of streams [...] must be permitted by the Division prior to construction.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction activities in regulated Illinois floodways and, where a floodway has not been delineated, generally work anywhere in the floodplain.
      “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.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Applications and written inquiries for Illinois Department of Natural Resources public-water, dam, and floodway work requiring authorization.

    • The Department reviews applications and written inquiries free of charge to determine whether authorization is required when sufficient information is provided.
    • A permit application fee may apply under the Department's permit fee schedule.
    “January 15, 2014, a new Permit Application Fee went into effect. All applications and written inquiries received will be reviewed free of charge to determine whether the Public Water, dam and/or floodway work proposed requires authorization by the Department, so long as sufficient information is provided for the Department to make that determination.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction projects in Illinois waterways, floodplains, and wetlands seeking State and Federal authorizations through the joint permit application process.

    • The joint application seeks authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources, and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
    • The joint application form replaced the former Protecting Illinois Waters application package.
    “Construction projects in Illinois' waterways, floodplains and wetlands often require both State and Federal authorization. This joint application is designed to simplify the approval process for the applicant seeking project authorizations from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Water Resources and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.”
  • 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.

  • County-wide zoning — Countywide zoning authority in Johnson County, Illinois.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate municipal and township zoning within Johnson County; this claim does not attribute local ordinances to the county.
  • Zoning districts — Published county zoning districts in Johnson County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in unincorporated Johnson County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size requirements in unincorporated Johnson County.
8 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • 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 Johnson County, Illinois

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

Johnson County scores 72/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and strong self-sufficiency basics: 49.7″/yr rainfall plus 61% wooded land.

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

Johnson County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones). Onsite septic is permitted by Southern 7 Health Department (Environmental Health), under Illinois Department of Public 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 Johnson County, Illinois?

Land in Johnson County runs about $4,327 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Johnson County?

Johnson County gets about 49.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 3.7% of years.

How remote is Johnson County?

A representative private-land location has about 28,305 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,378,252 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 Johnson compares in Illinois

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