Bolthole Index

White County, Illinois

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

72Index Score / 100
#20 of 102 in Illinois

Unincorporated White County, Illinois has no county zoning ordinance on file, so no county rule sets minimum lot size, setbacks or dwelling size12. We could not confirm whether the county issues residential building permits, so ask the County Clerk before building3. Septic permits for every address, city or not, come from Egyptian Health Department4.

At a glance

Building permit
Appears not required by White County on unincorporated land; confirm with the County Clerk3
Zoning
None in unincorporated White County; Carmi and Grayville zone their own land156
Septic permit
Required for a new or renovated system through Egyptian Health Department4
RV or tiny home
No county zoning rule restricts either on unincorporated land; septic still applies2
Land division
A survey and plat generally apply when a division creates a parcel under 5 acres, subject to exceptions7
Agricultural land
Land used principally for agriculture is protected from county zoning regulation, with limits8
Owner-builder
No special building-permit exemption confirmed; homeowners may install their own permitted septic system4
Water well
State or approved local health-department permit required before well work9

Who to call

Roads & driveways

Office of the White County Engineer

Roads and bridges within the White County highway system

(618) 382-4811

1103 E. Main St., Carmi, IL 62821

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

Off-grid gear

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

White County appears not to administer a residential building-permit program for unincorporated land, but we could not confirm an official county ordinance or permit statement3. Call the White County Clerk before ordering plans or materials, especially if the parcel may lie within a city or village. Illinois does not issue building permits for privately funded construction; any required permit is handled by the local government with jurisdiction10. Illinois has required a statewide building-code baseline since 2025, and a jurisdiction without an adopted code is treated as a non-building-code jurisdiction rather than a code-free area11.

Who is the White County building department?

White County does not list a building or zoning department, and a county residential building permit office could not be confirmed3. Inside Carmi and Grayville, the city sets its own zoning, so ask city hall about building permits there56; septic permits still come from Egyptian Health Department4. Start with the White County Clerk to confirm jurisdiction and ask whether county permits, plan review, inspections, or occupancy approval apply. The State does not perform building-code inspections for privately funded projects; any required inspection is addressed by the local government12. The separate state inspection-certification provision generally exempts new residential construction, except as provided by the Illinois Residential Building Code Act, and does not settle whether White County requires its own inspections13. For roads in the county highway system, contact the White County Engineer at 1103 E. Main St. in Carmi, phone (618) 382-481114.

Does White County have zoning?

Unincorporated White County has no zoning ordinance on file, according to a letter from the county1. That means no county rule sets minimum lot size, setbacks, building height or minimum dwelling size on unincorporated land2. The cities differ: Carmi divides the city into four zones and Grayville has its own zoning chapter, so a parcel inside either city is zoned56. Confirm with the County Clerk whether a parcel is inside a city before you rely on the county's lack of zoning. Land used principally for agriculture is also protected from county zoning regulation8. Land division is separate from zoning: the Illinois Plat Act generally requires a survey and subdivision plat when a division creates a parcel under 5 acres, subject to statutory exceptions7.

How do septic permits work in White County?

Egyptian Health Department administers White County's private sewage program under the county's private sewage ordinance15. Illinois also regulates private sewage systems with no surface discharge and systems that discharge up to 1,500 gallons of treated effluent per day to the ground surface16. A new or renovated private sewage system requires an application and construction plan, and either a licensed contractor or the homeowner may install it4. Egyptian Health Department issues the permit after review and inspects the system during and after construction17. Only about 9% of White County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early purchase contingency18. Illinois allows specified human-waste alternatives, including privies and compost toilets, but other domestic wastewater generally still needs a conventional system19.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in White County?

In unincorporated White County, no county zoning rule restricts tiny homes, accessory dwellings or manufactured homes2. We could not confirm a county rule on long-term RV living or on building permits for a dwelling, so ask the County Clerk about the exact parcel3. Wastewater is the practical limit: ask Egyptian Health Department how sewage must be handled before anyone occupies a structure or vehicle4. Illinois campground licensing does not answer whether one household may live in an RV on private land; the state campground rule applies when the statutory definition is met, including capacity for at least 10 people camping for at least 6 days in a calendar year20. A manufactured home has state installation requirements21.

How do you build a home in White County, step by step?

  1. Confirm with the White County Clerk that the parcel is unincorporated and ask whether county building permits, inspections, or occupancy approval apply; no county setbacks or lot-size rules apply outside the cities32.
  1. Have Egyptian Health Department review the septic application and construction plan before installation4.
  1. Obtain an Illinois or approved local health-department permit before constructing, modifying, or sealing a water well9.
  1. Check flood maps and obtain IDNR approval before regulated floodway construction22.
  1. Ask the White County Engineer about county-road access, or obtain an IDOT permit before work in a state-road right-of-way1423.
  1. If creating a new parcel, resolve survey, plat, access, drainage, and health approvals before closing7.

What should you check before buying land in White County?

Put septic feasibility first because only about 9% of White County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field18. Verify legal access and learn whether the entrance connects to a county road or a state-maintained route, because state-road work requires IDOT approval before construction23. Check mapped floodplain and floodway status because regulated floodway construction can require an IDNR permit22. A private well also needs a state or approved local health-department permit before work begins9. White County land is about 97% gentle terrain and about 19% wooded, useful screening-level context but not a substitute for a parcel survey, soil evaluation, title review, and boundary walk2425.

Watch-outs

  • White County's septic program is administered by Egyptian Health Department rather than a stand-alone county health office15.
  • White County has no zoning for unincorporated land, but a county building permit rule is unconfirmed, so confirm with the County Clerk before treating the land as unrestricted13.
  • A state-road driveway needs IDOT approval even when no county residential building permit applies26.

Sources

  1. County Clerk | White County, IL, quoted and re-checked
  2. Illinois law on county zoning and building authority
  3. White County, IL - Departments (2026 county census)
  4. Private Sewage - Egyptian Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  5. 10-1-1: ZONES DESIGNATED, quoted and re-checked
  6. Code of Ordinance - City of Grayville, quoted and re-checked
  7. 765 ILCS 205/ Plat Act, quoted and re-checked
  8. 55 ILCS 5/ Counties Code, quoted and re-checked
  9. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Codes and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  12. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Illinois Public Act 103-0510, quoted and re-checked
  14. Office of the White County Engineer (whitecounty-il.gov)
  15. Private Sewage - Egyptian Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  16. Private Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  17. Private Sewage - Egyptian Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  18. 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
  19. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.30 Approved Private Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. Youth Camps and Campgrounds, quoted and re-checked
  21. Manufactured & Modular Homes/Mobile Structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Permit Program (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Highway Permits, quoted and re-checked
  24. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Highway Permits, quoted and re-checked

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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 5 of the neighbors with published rules, White County has no countywide zoning.

RuleWhite CountyHamilton CountyGallatin CountyWayne CountyEdwards CountyWabash CountySaline County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredLimitedLimitedNot required
County zoningNoNoNoNoNoNot publishedNo
Septic permitsCounty Health Dept.County Health Dept.Egyptian Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.Egyptian Health Dept.

County locator

White County in Illinois

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

How White County scores

Seclusion62100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency63100% ev.
Admin Boringness8090% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost65100% 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 →

$114kTypical home
1.4%Property tax
$5,590Land / acre
46.9"Annual rain
2.2% of yrsSevere drought
12 / yr (+10.9)Mid-century 100°F days
15.2 daysMid-century dry spell
2.1" (+6.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.85×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,540Home insurance / yr
3.4% / yrInsurance growth
1.23%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
13,024People within 30 min
1,705,780People within 2 hr
19,703Radius comparison (15 mi)
27.1People / sq mi
1.2%Federal land
97.2%Land at 15% slope or less
8.6%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
26,656 acWorkable land screen
18.5%Wooded land
46.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
56.5°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in White 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: Burnt Prairie Township · Village of Burnt Prairie · Carmi · Carmi Township · Village of Crossville · Emma Township · Enfield Township · Village of Enfield · Gray Township · Hawthorne Township · Heralds Prairie Township · Indian Creek Township · Village of Maunie · Mill Shoals Township · Village of Mill Shoals · Village of Norris City · Phillips Township · Village of Phillipstown · Village of Springerton

Answers from the rulebook for White County

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

White County rules

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    County zoning in the unincorporated area of White County, Illinois.

    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    • If the location is in the flood plain, the builder must comply with White County's adopted flood plain ordinance.
    • The letter addresses the unincorporated area only and does not determine zoning within incorporated municipalities.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Zoning districts · by state lawNot published

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Minimum dwelling size · by state lawNone

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Minimum lot size · by state lawNone

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Setbacks · by state lawNone

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Lot coverage · by state lawNone

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Building height · by state lawNone

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Tiny homes · by state lawUnrestricted

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Manufactured homes · by state lawUnrestricted

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Accessory dwellings · by state lawUnrestricted

    Unincorporated White County: no county rule sets this, because White County's own reviewed answer confirms it has no county-wide zoning ordinance.

    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision and health rules still apply; cities and towns set their own rules inside their limits.
    • The official letter states that the unincorporated area has no zoning ordinances on file.
    • Before building, the location must be checked with the Supervisor of Assessments for floodplain status.
    “This letter is to inform you that at the present time, the unincorporated area of White County does not have zoning ordinances on file and they do not require any type of building permits.”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    Private sewage disposal systems in White County served by the Egyptian Health Department, including new and renovated systems.

    • The program is performed in accordance with each county’s private sewage ordinance.
    • The system must be installed by a licensed contractor or the homeowner.
    • The agency must receive a permit application and construction plan.
    • A permit is issued only after review and approval.
    “EGYPTIAN HEALTH DEPARTMENT Serving Gallatin ? Saline ? White Counties”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Any new or renovated private sewage disposal system in White County served by the Egyptian Health Department.

    • Installation must be by a licensed contractor or homeowner.
    • A permit application and construction plan must be submitted.
    • The permit is issued after review and approval.
    • The program operates under each county’s private sewage ordinance.
    “Any new or renovated system must be installed by a licensed contractor or the homeowner and permitted through EHD. The agency must receive an application for permit and a construction plan from the contractor/homeowner. Once reviewed and approved, a permit is issued and an inspection of the system is conducted during and after construction.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New and renovated private sewage disposal systems in White County served by the Egyptian Health Department.

    • Inspection occurs after the permit application and construction plan have been reviewed and approved.
    • Inspection is conducted during and after construction.
    • The program applies to new or renovated systems.
    “an inspection of the system is conducted during and after construction.”

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) — Statewide Illinois building-code framework applicable to jurisdictions including White 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.”
    • Adopted — Statewide Illinois building-code requirements applicable to jurisdictions including White 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.”
    • 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

    Illinois statutory certification-of-inspection requirement for newly constructed residential buildings in non-building-code jurisdictions, potentially relevant in White County

    • The cited section concerns occupancy of newly constructed or substantially improved commercial buildings in a non-building-code jurisdiction.
    • New residential construction is exempt from this section except as provided in Section 15 of the Illinois Residential Building Code Act.
    • New residential construction means original construction of a single-family home or a dwelling containing 2 or fewer apartments, condominiums, or townhouses.
    • This claim does not determine whether a county or municipality imposes separate local inspections.
    • The changes made by Public Act 103-0510 apply beginning January 1, 2025.
    “Except as provided in Section 15 of the Illinois Residential Building Code Act, new residential construction is exempt from this Section and is defined as any original construction of a single-family home or a dwelling containing 2 or fewer apartments, condominiums, or townhouses.”
    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.”
  • 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
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets, compost toilets, holding tanks, and other approved alternative private sewage systems in White County.
      “Privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets and compost toilets are approved for private sewage disposal of human wastes. Other domestic wastes shall be disposed of in a conventional system (see Section 905.30); however, the size of all components, as designed in accordance with Appendix A, Illustration A, may be reduced 25 percent (except that septic tanks may not be smaller than 750 gallons). Note: Compost toilets may be used to dispose of other organic domestic wastes.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction of a new water well, modification of an existing water well, or sealing of an abandoned water well in Illinois.

    • A permit must be obtained from the Illinois Department of Public Health or an approved local health department before work begins.
    • The application must use Department or approved local health department forms and include a plan and drawing of the proposed construction.
    • The plan must include the lot size, slope, property lines, distances to septic tanks, abandoned wells, property lines, seepage fields, sewers, and other contamination sources; driller license number and name; estimated daily pumping capacity if greater than 100,000 gallons per day; well location; owner name and address; well type; estimated depth; well-use type; and proposed aquifer.
    • The permit is void if construction has not commenced within one year after issuance.
    • The permit fee for constructing, deepening, modifying, or sealing a water well may not exceed $100.
    • The Department will deny a permit request when available information indicates groundwater contamination exceeds Class I groundwater standards, subject to the treatment approval provision in subsection (f)(2).
    • The permittee must notify the Department, approved local health department, or approved unit of local government by telephone or in writing at least two days before work begins.

    maximum water well permit fee: <= 100 USD · permit commencement deadline: 1 year after issuance (Permit is void if construction has not commenced within that period.) · pre-work notification: >= 2 days (Notification may be by telephone or in writing.)

    “A permit to construct a new water well, modify an existing water well or seal an abandoned water well shall be obtained from the Department or approved local health department prior to start of work.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction of private water wells in White County and Illinois generally, excluding community water wells from the quoted IDPH program scope.
      “the IDPH and local health departments review water well installation plans, issue permits for new well construction, and inspect wells.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable

    Agricultural land and agricultural buildings in Illinois, including applicable land in White County, where county zoning powers would otherwise apply.

    • The agricultural purpose must constitute the principal activity on the land.
    • Agricultural purposes include the growing of farm crops, truck garden crops, animal and poultry husbandry, apiculture, aquaculture, dairying, floriculture, horticulture, nurseries, tree farms, sod farms, pasturage, viticulture, and wholesale greenhouses.
    • The exemption does not apply to parcels under 5 acres from which $1,000 or less of agricultural products were sold in a calendar year in counties with populations between 300,000 and 400,000 or counties contiguous to such counties.
    • The exemption does not apply to parcels under 5 acres in counties with populations over 400,000.
    • Agricultural buildings may still be required to conform to building or setback lines, and counties may establish minimum lot sizes for residences on agricultural land.
    • The statute does not treat extraction of sand, gravel, or limestone as an agricultural purpose.
    • This exemption concerns county zoning powers and does not eliminate other applicable state or local requirements outside those powers.

    small-parcel threshold: < 5 acres (The statute contains population- and agricultural-sales-based exceptions.) · agricultural-sales exception threshold: <= 1000 USD per calendar year (Applies to specified under-5-acre parcels in counties with populations between 300,000 and 400,000 or counties contiguous to such counties.)

    “nor shall they be exercised so as to impose regulations, eliminate uses, buildings, or structures, or require permits with respect to land used for agricultural purposes”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land in White County and elsewhere in Illinois where the Illinois Plat Act applies.

    • The general rule applies when land is divided into 2 or more parts and any part is less than 5 acres.
    • No subdivision plat is required for listed exceptions, including divisions into parcels or tracts of 5 acres or more without new streets or easements of access; certain divisions in recorded subdivisions; adjoining-owner conveyances; specified public-purpose conveyances; divisions into no more than 2 parts of a parcel existing on July 17, 1959 without new streets or easements of access; and certain single-lot sales from a larger tract.
    • The single-lot exception does not apply to subsequent lots from the same larger tract and does not invalidate local subdivision requirements.
    • Counties may reduce the acreage minimum to less than 5 acres but not less than 2 acres, or supplement the state requirements, if authorized and if the survey and plat are recorded.
    • If land outside a municipality and not affected by a municipal official plan is subdivided, the plat must be submitted to the county board for approval.
    • Approval also requires applicable topographical, drainage, roadway-access, and local-health-department approvals described in the statute.

    general plat threshold: < 5 acres (The Act contains listed exemptions and permits counties to reduce the acreage minimum to not less than 2 acres.) · minimum county-reduced acreage threshold: >= 2 acres (Only where a county establishes an authorized reduced threshold.)

    “(a) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (b) of this Section whenever the owner of land subdivides it into 2 or more parts, any of which is less than 5 acres, he must have it surveyed and a subdivision plat thereof made by an Illinois Registered Land Surveyor”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Access driveways and other non-utility work connecting to or occurring within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state-maintained roadway in White County.

    • IDOT requires a permit before work begins when the work is within the specified state-road right-of-way.
    • The official page directs applicants to the Handbook for the Policy on Permits for Access Driveways to State Highways.
    • Requirements vary by IDOT district, so the district office must be contacted for specific requirements.
    • The district may require a bond, with the required bond value supplied by the district.
    “The Handbook for the Policy on Permits for Access Driveways to State Highways provides a guide to what is allowable for highway access requests.”
    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 floodplainLimited

    Development in White County, Illinois, when the project is within a regulated floodway or, where a floodway has not been delineated, work anywhere in the applicable floodplain under Illinois Department of Natural Resources floodway rules.

    • The rule applies to all streams and lakes except those in northeastern Illinois regulated under Part 3708; White County is outside the listed northeastern Illinois counties.
    • All construction activities in a floodway must be permitted before construction when the stream drainage area is at least 1 square mile in an urban area or at least 10 square miles in a rural area.
    • If a floodway has not been previously delineated, the Division generally requires permits for work anywhere in the floodplain.
    • Common minor construction activities may be automatically authorized by statewide permits.
    • No permit application submittal to the Division is needed for an activity that meets the terms and conditions of a statewide permit.

    urban stream drainage area threshold: >= 1 square mile (Applies to construction activities in floodways.) · rural stream drainage area threshold: >= 10 square miles (Applies to construction activities in floodways.)

    “All construction activities in the floodways of streams [...] in urban areas where the stream drainage area is one square mile or more [...] must be permitted”
    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)

    Non-utility work, including residential, commercial, and agricultural work, within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state-maintained roadway in White County.

    • A permit must be obtained before work starts and an approved copy must remain at the worksite.
    • The applicant submits a letter of request with a work description, location map, detailed drawings, traffic studies, traffic-control plan, and other information required by the district.
    • Requirements may vary by IDOT district.
    • After review, the district may require a bond; larger developments, subdivisions, or permits with signals or turn lanes may require 9 to 14 months from first submission to issuance.
    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Construction projects in Illinois waterways, floodplains, and wetlands seeking State and Federal authorizations through the joint permit application process.
      “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 staysLimited

    Operation of a campground involving recreational vehicles in White County and elsewhere in Illinois, where the statutory campground threshold is met

    • IDPH inspection and licensing are required for campgrounds.
    • The campground definition applies where three or more tents, cabins, recreational vehicles, or other permanent or non-permanent shelters are erected and maintained for camping, or where space is provided for camping or temporary RV parking for 10 or more persons for six or more camping days during a calendar year.
    • Campgrounds within home-rule units are exempt from the Act.
    • The Act does not govern every single privately parked or occupied RV; the cited rule addresses campground operations meeting the statutory definition.

    campground shelter threshold: >= 3 shelters · occupant threshold: >= 10 persons · camping duration threshold: >= 6 camping days per calendar year

    “State law requires the IDPH to annually inspect and license campgrounds in Illinois. The Campground Licensing and Recreational Area Act defines campground as a recreational area where three or more tents, cabins, recreational vehicles or other permanent or non-permanent type shelters are erected and maintained for camping or where space is provided for camping, temporary parking of recreational vehicles or placing of such tents, cabins, recreational vehicles or other permanent or non-permanent type shelters of any kind for 10 or more persons for six or more camping days during a calendar year.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Temporary camping or temporary RV parking operated as an Illinois campground in White County
      “The terms "campground" and "recreational area" shall not be construed to include buildings, tents, or other structures maintained by an individual or company on their own premises and used exclusively to house their own farm labor, or any military establishment of the United States or this State wherein a recreational vehicle or vehicles may be located or harbored, on any park or State or county fairgrounds for a period during, immediately prior to and immediately subsequent to the holding of a fair or in association with events or activities being sponsored on any State or county fairgrounds, or the area or premises on any farm upon which are harbored recreational vehicles occupied by persons employed upon such farm for not to exceed 90 days in any calendar year in the production, harvesting or processing of agricultural or horticultural products produced on such farm.”
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Overnight camping in Illinois campgrounds subject to the Campground Licensing and Recreational Area Act.
      ““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).”

Inside cities and towns in White County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land and uses within the City of Carmi, White County, Illinois.

    • Carmi's ordinance divides the city into four zones.
    • Zone IV is residential, and business or industry requires a special use permit from the Carmi city council.
    • The cited code page states that the zoning provision was enacted by Ordinance 1370 on February 20, 2007.
    • The code publisher cautions that the online code may not reflect the most current legislation and that the official printed copy should be consulted.

    number of zones: 4 zones · special use permit authority: Carmi city council

    “The city of Carmi, Illinois, is hereby divided into four (4) zones designated as zone I, zone II, zone III, and zone IV.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Land and structures within the City of Grayville, Illinois, subject to the City's zoning chapter and its districts.
      “This chapter shall be known, cited and referred to as the Grayville Zoning Chapter.”
    • Present (with conditions) — Land and uses within the City of Grayville, White County, Illinois.
      “CHAPTER 153: ZONING [...] Establishing districts; zoning map; boundaries [...] Agricultural District [...] Residential Districts [...] Mobile Home District or Park [...] Business Districts [...] Industrial Districts”

Still unanswered

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

  • Mandatory utility hookup — Connection of residential property in White County to public water or public sewer service.

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 White County, Illinois

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

White County scores 72/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost.

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

White County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by White County Health Department. 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 White County, Illinois?

Land in White County runs about $5,590 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in White County?

White County gets about 46.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 2.2% of years.

How remote is White County?

A representative private-land location has about 13,024 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,705,780 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 White compares in Illinois

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