Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-10
1 of Illinois's 102 counties — 1% — allow tiny homes as a dwelling. That is the 8th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Effingham County (70/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 269 counties nationwide → Illinois: no building codes → Illinois: no zoning → Illinois: no codes, no zoning → Illinois: owner-builder → Illinois: rv living → Illinois: no minimum home size → Full Illinois profile →
1 of 102 Illinois counties · sorted by Index score
Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Effingham County, as regulated by county zoning. This conclusion is limited to the absence of county zoning; zoning may exist in incorporat…
Effingham County Highway Department — No Zoning ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Illinois state page for all 102 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
