Bolthole Index

Clark County, Illinois

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

77Index Score / 100
#5 of 102 in Illinois

Unincorporated Clark County, Illinois does not require a county building permit, but statewide baseline building-code requirements still apply12. Clark County does not appear to administer countywide zoning, though the county has not published an express no-zoning statement3. Septic plans go through the Clark County Health Department, and a driveway from a county highway requires a permit from the county superintendent of highways45.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Clark County1
Zoning
No countywide zoning administration confirmed for unincorporated land3
Septic permit
$100 permit required from the Clark County Health Department67
Septic soils
About 0% of the county's soils have no severe limits for a conventional drain field8
Off-grid sanitation
Approved options include composting and incinerating toilets, subject to state design rules and local approval9
Farm buildings
The zoning exemption is conditional on agriculture being the land's principal activity10
County-highway driveway
Permit required from the county superintendent of highways5

Who to call

Also useful

Clark County Clerk & Recorder / County Board

General county contact, courthouse records and the first call for anything not assigned to another county office, since the county lists no building or zoning department

217-826-8311

501 Archer Ave., Marshall, IL 62441

Roads & driveways

Clark County Highway Department

Truck, utility and culvert permits for the county's 165 miles of county roads and bridges, under County Highway Engineer Dallas Richardson

217-826-8311

[email protected]

Online permits →

Septic permits

Clark County Health Department (Environmental Health)

Private sewage (septic) system plan review, permits and installation inspections for Clark County

217-967-2243

997 N York St, Martinsville, IL 62442

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

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

Unincorporated Clark County does not require a county building permit1. Illinois does not issue building permits, perform building inspections or issue occupancy certificates for privately funded work; those functions belong to the applicable local government when required111213. A permit answer is not the same as a code answer: statewide baseline building-code requirements took effect in 2025, local codes must comply with the Capital Development Board Act, and jurisdictions without an adopted code are treated as non-building-code jurisdictions under the state framework2. Before construction, call the County Clerk & Recorder / County Board to confirm the parcel is outside a municipality and that Clark County has not adopted a local permit process since the county published its current permits page14.

Who do you contact about county permits and land questions in Clark County?

Clark County lists no building or zoning department, so the County Clerk & Recorder / County Board is the practical first call for parcel jurisdiction and local construction questions: 217-826-8311 at 501 Archer Ave., Marshall, IL 6244114. The Clark County Highway Department handles the county's published truck, utility and culvert permits and accepts completed forms at [email protected]15. State law separately requires a permit from the county superintendent of highways before laying out a private or public driveway from a county highway; that rule does not answer access from a township road5. Septic plan review, permits and installation inspections go through the Clark County Health Department at 217-967-2243, 997 N York St, Martinsville, IL 624426.

Does Clark County have zoning?

Clark County appears not to administer countywide zoning in unincorporated areas because its official directory lists no planning or zoning office3. The county has not published an express no-zoning statement, so ask the County Clerk & Recorder / County Board to confirm the parcel's status before relying on that answer14. We could not confirm Clark County standards for setbacks, building height, minimum lot size or minimum dwelling size. Illinois allows those standards to vary by locally adopted zoning district rather than imposing one countywide number from the state1617. The agricultural exemption is also narrower than a general farm label: where county zoning powers are exercised, agriculture must be the principal activity on the land; agricultural buildings can still be subject to building or setback lines, and a county may set a minimum lot size for a residence on agricultural land10.

How do septic permits work in Clark County?

Before installing a private sewage system in Clark County, contact the Clark County Health Department's Environmental Health division; the permit application fee is $10067. Clark County's local health agency reviews plans within the Illinois Department of Public Health regulatory system, which covers systems with no surface discharge and qualifying ground-surface discharges of up to 1,500 gallons per day4. A homeowner or an Illinois-licensed private sewage contractor may install the system, and approval may require analysis by a certified soil scientist7. About 0% of Clark County soils are rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so obtain the site evaluation before choosing a system8. Plan approval is required before construction, and the responsible state or local authority must receive at least 48 hours' notice before work begins18.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home on your land in Clark County?

We could not confirm a Clark County rule allowing or restricting full-time RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy on private land in unincorporated areas; ask the County Clerk & Recorder / County Board before buying for one of those uses14. Illinois campground licensing covers temporary RV parking at regulated campgrounds, not permission to live in an RV on private land19. Illinois does recognize off-grid sanitation options including privies, chemical, recirculating, incinerating and composting toilets and holding tanks, but each must meet state design, construction, operation and maintenance rules, and Clark County approval may still be required9. Those options address human waste, not land-use permission or all household wastewater. Manufactured homes remain subject to statewide installation and anchoring rules, while local zoning, floodplain and utility requirements can also apply20.

Building a home in Clark County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm with the County Clerk & Recorder / County Board that the parcel is unincorporated and ask whether a local building code, permit or zoning rule applies14.
  2. Plan the home to satisfy the applicable Illinois baseline building-code framework even though Clark County does not require a county building permit21.
  3. Ask the Clark County Health Department to review the septic plan and site conditions before fixing the house location64.
  4. Obtain septic plan approval, then give the responsible authority at least 48 hours' notice before installation begins18.
  5. Obtain a county permit before laying out a driveway from a county highway, or an IDOT permit before work in a state-highway right-of-way521.
  6. Check for regulated floodway work before construction near a stream22.

What to check before you buy land in Clark County

Start with soils and wastewater: about 0% of Clark County soils are rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make Health Department review a purchase contingency when the parcel has no approved system86. Confirm legal access and identify who maintains the road; a driveway from a county highway requires a county permit, while work in a state-highway right-of-way requires IDOT approval521. Check flood mapping because construction in a regulated rural floodway may require a state permit22. If a farm-use plan matters, verify that agriculture will be the principal activity instead of assuming every rural structure receives the agricultural zoning exemption10. Clark County's effective property-tax rate is about 1.7%, and the median annual bill is about $2,0732324.

Watch-outs

  • Clark County's building-permit and zoning answers are not express ordinance statements; call the County Clerk & Recorder / County Board at 217-826-8311 before relying on them1314.
  • No official rule on RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy on private land was found for unincorporated Clark County; that silence is not a confirmed yes, so ask the County Clerk's office before you buy with that plan in mind14.
  • A composting toilet or other approved off-grid toilet does not by itself establish permission to occupy a parcel or dispose of other household wastewater9.

Sources

  1. Clark County, IL — Permits (2026 county census)
  2. Building Codes and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  3. Clark County, IL — Departments (2026 county census)
  4. Private Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  5. 605 ILCS 5/5-413 — Access roads and driveways, quoted and re-checked
  6. Clark County Health Department (Environmental Health) (clarkhd.org)
  7. Septic – Clark County Health Department, quoted and re-checked
  8. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  9. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.30 Approved Private Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  10. 55 ILCS 5/ Counties Code, Division 5-12 Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  11. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Clark County Clerk & Recorder / County Board (clarkcountyil.org)
  15. Clark County Highway Department (clarkcountyil.org)
  16. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Manufactured & Modular Homes/Mobile Structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Permit Program (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Clark County in Illinois

77
County map
Clark County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How Clark County scores

Seclusion61100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency72100% ev.
Admin Boringness8090% ev.
Durability63100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost60100% ev.

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

$150kTypical home
1.7%Property tax
$7,770Land / acre
43.9"Annual rain
1.9% of yrsSevere drought
8.2 / yr (+7.5)Mid-century 100°F days
14.3 daysMid-century dry spell
1.93" (+6.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.84×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,583Home insurance / yr
4.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.97%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
9,169People within 30 min
2,028,488People within 2 hr
21,910Radius comparison (15 mi)
30.1People / sq mi
1.6%Federal land
88.4%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
76 acWorkable land screen
26.5%Wooded land
66.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
53.8°FAvg temp

Scout Clark County

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

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

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

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

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

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

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

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

Working estimate

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

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

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

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

Answers from the rulebook for Clark County

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

Clark County rules

  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction or installation of private sewage systems in Clark County, Illinois.

    • Environmental Health must review and approve plans before construction.
    • Before installation, the owner or contractor must contact Environmental Health to obtain an application.
    • Only an Illinois-licensed private sewage installation contractor or the homeowner may install the system.
    • A soil analysis by a certified soil scientist may be required before approval.
    • A $100.00 permit application fee payable to the Clark County Health Department is required.
    • The system must conform to the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code.

    permit application fee: 100 USD

    “A $100.00 Permit Application fee payable to the Clark County Health Department is also required.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The official county departments directory lists no zoning or planning department, indicating the county does not administer countywide zoning in unincorporated areas.

    Clark County, IL — Departments ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

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.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

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

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

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

    “The State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide building codes effective 1/1/2025. [...] Commercial buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code AND state funded buildings. [...] Starting 1/1/25 local codes must regulate the structural design in a manner that is at least as stringent as the IBC© for new buildings or IEBC© for existing buildings. [...] Residential buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code where agreed to by the home purchaser and home builder. [...] Residential buildings in jurisdictions that have adopted a building code. [...] Starting 1/1/25 local codes must regulate the structural design in a manner that is at least as stringent as the IRC©.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — Statewide Illinois baseline building-code requirements, including jurisdictions in Clark County, subject to whether the local jurisdiction has adopted a compliant building code.
      “Locally adopted building codes must comply with the requirements of the Act.”
    • Adopted — Statewide baseline building-code requirements for residential construction in Illinois, including jurisdictions with and without locally adopted building codes.
      “Please be advised that the State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide baseline building codes effective 1/1/2025. Locally adopted building codes must comply with the requirements of the Act.”
  • InspectionsLimited

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

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

    Occupancy permits or certificates for privately funded construction in Illinois.

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

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

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

    County zoning districts outside municipalities with municipal zoning ordinances.

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

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

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

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

    “designed and situated so as to permit its occupancy as a dwelling place for one or more persons”
  • Who permits septicMixed

    Private sewage disposal systems in Clark County subject to Illinois Department of Public Health regulation and local health-agency review.

    • IDPH regulates installation of private sewage systems with no surface discharge and systems discharging treated effluent up to 1,500 gallons per day to the ground surface.
    • Local health agencies may review plans by local ordinance or as an agent of IDPH.

    ground-surface discharge limit: <= 1500 gallons per day (Systems with no surface discharge are also covered.)

    “The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates [...] There are about 90 local health agencies in Illinois that also review sewage disposal system construction plans”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Mixed — Installation and plan approval for private sewage disposal systems statewide in Illinois.
      “There are about 90 local health agencies in Illinois that also review sewage disposal system construction plans”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

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

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

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

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

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

    “Privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets and compost toilets are approved for private sewage disposal of human wastes.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Off-grid sanitation systems in Clark County that qualify as approved private sewage disposal systems under Illinois law.
      “The following systems are approved for private sewage disposal when designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with this Part: [...] compost toilets.”
  • 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.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural land and agricultural buildings in counties exercising zoning powers under Division 5-12 of the Illinois Counties Code, including Clark County if such county zoning powers are exercised.

    • The agricultural purpose must constitute the principal activity on the land.
    • The statute lists agricultural activities including 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 cover 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 contiguous counties, or 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 a minimum lot size for residences on agricultural land.
    • Extraction of sand, gravel, or limestone is not included in agricultural purposes and may be regulated by county zoning ordinance.
    • Agricultural-purpose building permits must be issued free of charge under the statute.

    permit fee for agricultural-purpose buildings: 0 USD (The statute says permits shall be issued free of charge.) · minimum lot size for agricultural residences: county may establish (This is an authorization, not a Clark County-specific numeric standard.)

    “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 Clark County, including unincorporated areas, under the Illinois Plat Act.

    • When land is subdivided into 2 or more parts and any part is less than 5 acres, the Act requires a survey and subdivision plat by an Illinois Registered Land Surveyor.
    • The Act does not apply, and no subdivision plat is required, for specified 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 exchanges; certain utility, railroad, public-purpose, corrective-description, and historic-parcel conveyances; and a single lot under 5 acres from a larger tract when surveyed, subject to the stated no-subsequent-lots and local-requirements limitations.
    • Counties may establish standards or ordinances reducing the acreage minimum to less than 5 acres but not less than 2 acres, or may supplement the Act's requirements.
    • For land outside a city, village, or town and not affected by an official municipal plan, the plat must be submitted to the county board for approval.
    • Approval also requires the statutory drainage statement and written approvals concerning roadway access and, where applicable, sewage disposal; the reviewing authority generally has 90 days to respond to the relevant application.

    trigger parcel size: < 5 acres (Subdivision into 2 or more parts; statutory exceptions apply.) · possible county acreage minimum: >= 2 acres (A county may reduce the Act's 5-acre threshold by local standards or ordinance.) · review response period: 90 days (May be changed by mutual agreement.)

    “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 accessRequired

    Private or public access roads and driveways laid out from a county highway, including county highways in Clark County, Illinois.

    • A permit must be obtained from the county superintendent of highways before the access road or driveway is laid out from a county highway.
    • The work must comply with regulations adopted by the county board.
    • This rule is for access roads and driveways from a county highway; the cited provision does not establish requirements for state-highway or township-road access.
    “Sec. 5-413. Access roads and driveways for private and public use may, upon receipt of a permit from the county superintendent of highways, be laid out from a county highway in accordance with regulations adopted by the county board.”
    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 activities in regulated Illinois floodways and, where a floodway has not been delineated, generally work anywhere in the floodplain.

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

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

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

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

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

    rental period: < 30 consecutive days

    “Beginning July 1, 2025, hosting platforms for short-term rentals that meet the definition of “re-renter” are subject to Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax.”
  • 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 authorityGeneral

    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 a building code.
    • A county that does not adopt a building code is treated as a non-building-code jurisdiction, and section 10.09-1 of the Capital Development Board Act applies.
    • A county that adopts a building code must comply with section 10.18 of the Capital Development Board Act.
    • Locally adopted codes must regulate residential structural design at least as stringently as the baseline International Residential Code.
    • For privately funded projects, the local code official is the authority having jurisdiction; the State does not issue private-project building permits, perform plan reviews, or perform inspections.
    “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.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from building permits or building-code requirements in Clark County, Illinois.
  • Local zoning — Local zoning within Clark County, including incorporated municipalities and any township or other local zoning authorities.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts administered by Clark County, Illinois.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Clark County, Illinois.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Clark County, Illinois.
5 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup

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 Clark County, Illinois

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

Clark County scores 77/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and workable self-sufficiency basics (43.9″/yr rainfall).

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

Clark 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 Clark County Health Department (Illinois), Environmental Health (under Illinois Dept of Public Health). 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 Clark County, Illinois?

Land in Clark County runs about $7,770 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Clark County?

Clark County gets about 43.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.9% of years.

How remote is Clark County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,169 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,028,488 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.

Off-grid gear

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

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

How Clark compares in Illinois

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