Bolthole Index

Greene County, Illinois

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

74Index Score / 100
#11 of 102 in Illinois

Unincorporated Greene County, Illinois has no building, zoning or planning department, so there's no countywide permit to pull before you build a house, barn or shop1. There's also no county zoning ordinance, so the county itself sets no minimum lot size, setback or home-size rule outside its towns2. The one permit almost everyone here does need is a septic permit, issued by the Greene County Health Department before any private sewage system goes in34.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required countywide; Greene County has no building, zoning or planning department1
Zoning
No county zoning ordinance for unincorporated land2
Septic permits
Greene County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health; no permit fee stated in its packet34
Owner-builder
No county permit program exists to require an exemption from; not confirmed by an official source5
Local roads
The county highway department maintains 109 miles and 18 bridges; 13 townships maintain another 650 miles and 103 bridges6
Driveway onto a state route
Needs an IDOT permit before work starts7
State-mandated residential code
None from the state unless Greene County has adopted its own building code; commercial buildings in non-code jurisdictions still need a qualified inspection8

Who to call

Septic permits

Greene County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health

Private sewage disposal (septic) system permits and installation inspections for Greene County, Illinois

(217) 942-6961

310 Fifth St., Carrollton, IL 62016

Roads & driveways

Greene County Highway Department (County Engineer)

County highways and bridges; for the 13 townships' own roads, the township road commissioner is the contact, not the county

217-942-6941

[email protected]

377 E State Rt. 108, Carrollton, Illinois 62016

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 24, 2026.

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

No. Unincorporated Greene County has no building, zoning or planning department listed among its county departments, and as a rural, non-home-rule Illinois county it does not run a countywide residential building-permit program1. Illinois' 2025 statewide building-code law (Public Act 103-0510) does not change that for a home here: it exempts new residential construction from a state inspection requirement and only sets a code floor for jurisdictions that have already adopted their own code, so in a non-code county like Greene the International Residential Code only attaches through a builder-purchaser contract, not a county permit desk18. The State of Illinois itself doesn't step in either — it does not issue building permits, run inspections, or issue occupancy permits for privately funded construction anywhere in the state9. A commercial building is a different story: in a jurisdiction that hasn't adopted a building code, new or substantially improved commercial construction still needs an inspection by a qualified inspector confirming it meets the applicable codes10.

Who do you call about building and land questions in Greene County?

There's no county building department to call, because Greene County doesn't run one1. For septic, the office is the Greene County Health Department's Division of Environmental Health, based at 310 Fifth St. in Carrollton with a second office in Roodhouse11. For roads, the Greene County Highway Department handles the 109 miles of county highway and 18 county bridges, but most local roads here belong to one of the county's 13 townships — 650 miles of township roads and 103 township bridges in all — so a driveway onto a township road goes through that township's road commissioner, not the county highway department6. If your access road is a state route, expect a different call entirely: IDOT requires its own permit, obtained before work starts, for any driveway or work within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. route, Illinois route or other state-maintained road7.

Does Greene County have zoning?

Not countywide. Greene County's department listing shows no zoning or planning office, meaning unincorporated land in the county is not governed by a county zoning ordinance2. That's genuinely unconfirmed territory rather than a green light for anything, though: no official Greene County page states a minimum lot size, setback distance, building-height limit or minimum dwelling size for unincorporated land, and none states a rule for RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings either2. Illinois law does let counties set building and setback lines and regulate structure height by district, so if Greene County does have district-specific rules on the books somewhere, they weren't found on its official website1213. Practically, that means: before you assume a use is unrestricted, call the County Board or Health Department to confirm nothing else applies to your specific parcel.

How do septic permits work in Greene County?

Every private sewage disposal system in Greene County needs a permit from the Greene County Health Department before installation, and the county's own application packet states there is no permit fee at this time4. The completed application has to be submitted and approved before you install anything, and the Health Department must inspect the installation — with at least 48 hours' notice — before it's covered14. If your soil isn't suitable for a standard subsurface seepage field, the county's own packet allows a sandfilter or aeration system as the alternative15. Statewide, only about 35% of Greene County's soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so plan on a site evaluation early rather than assuming a standard trench system will work16. Illinois regulates septic through both the state (IDPH) and local health departments acting as its agents, and IDPH's own rule requires plan approval before any construction of a new system begins, with 48 hours' notice before work starts — consistent with what Greene County's own packet requires1718.

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

This isn't confirmed one way or the other by an official Greene County source, and it shouldn't be assumed just because the county has no zoning ordinance. No Greene County page states a rule allowing, limiting or banning long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on private land, so the honest answer is: call the County Board or Health Department before you plan to live in one full-time. What is confirmed statewide is different from a personal-land answer — Illinois' campground licensing law governs commercial campgrounds and RV parks that host paying guests, and manufactured-home communities with five or more sites need an IDPH license — but neither of those rules says anything about parking your own RV on your own unincorporated land1920. Whatever you place will still need a compliant septic system if it has plumbing, since that permit runs through the county regardless of what kind of structure it serves4.

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

  1. Confirm your parcel is unincorporated. Greene County's few incorporated towns (Carrollton, Roodhouse, White Hall, Greenfield) may have their own building and zoning rules that don't show up in this guide, since city rules never apply outside their own limits2.
  2. Check soils and site conditions early. Only about 35% of the county's land is free of severe septic limitations, and a poor site can force an engineered system16.
  3. Apply for a septic permit with the Greene County Health Department before you install any system, and budget time for the required pre-cover inspection with 48 hours' notice11414.
  4. Sort out your driveway access. If it's a township road, contact that township's road commissioner; if it's a state route, apply for an IDOT permit before starting any work in the right-of-way67.
  5. Check floodway status. If any part of the build sits in a floodway or an undelineated floodplain, budget for an IDNR floodway permit, since the state generally requires one for construction anywhere in a floodplain without a delineated floodway21.
  6. Build. Because there's no county building department, there's no final county inspection or certificate of occupancy to schedule for a single-family home outside a municipality1.

What to check before you buy land in Greene County

Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside one of Greene County's towns, since only the towns are likely to run their own zoning and permitting2. Get a soil evaluation before you count on a conventional septic field — with only about 35% of county soils free of severe limitations, a sandfilter or aeration system is a real possibility and costs more than a standard drain field1615. Check whether the access road is county, township or state maintained, since that determines who issues a driveway permit and, for a state route, whether IDOT approval is required before you can improve or add an entrance67. Ask whether any part of the property lies in a stream's regulated floodway — the state's jurisdiction reaches rural streams with 10 square miles of drainage area or more, and undelineated floodplains are generally treated as requiring a permit for construction anyway2221. And budget for property tax: Greene County's effective rate is about 1.7%, with a median annual bill near $1,5642324.

Watch-outs

  • No official Greene County source confirms or denies a rule on RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, minimum lot size, setbacks or building height for unincorporated land — call the County Board or Health Department before you build or move onto a parcel2.
  • The county highway department maintains 109 miles of road while the county's 13 townships maintain 650 miles between them, so for most rural addresses the driveway permit contact is the township road commissioner, not the county6.

Sources

  1. Greene County IL Government (2026 county census)
  2. Greene County IL Government (2026 county census)
  3. Private Sewage Disposal System Permit Application / Information Packet (2026 county census)
  4. Private Sewage Disposal System Permit Application / Information Packet, quoted and re-checked
  5. (2026 county census)
  6. Greene County Highway Department (County Engineer) (greenecountyil.org)
  7. Highway Permits, quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Codes and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  9. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Codes and Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  11. Greene County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health (greenecountyhd.org)
  12. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Private Sewage Disposal System Permit Application / Information Packet, quoted and re-checked
  15. Private Sewage Disposal System Permit Application / Information Packet, quoted and re-checked
  16. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  17. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Private Sewage Disposal, 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. F.A.Q.'s - Water Resources, quoted and re-checked
  22. Permit Program, quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 24, 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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County locator

Greene County in Illinois

74
County map
Greene County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How Greene County scores

Seclusion51100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency66100% ev.
Admin Boringness8090% ev.
Durability70100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost61100% 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 →

$105kTypical home
1.7%Property tax
$7,667Land / acre
40.3"Annual rain
1.7% of yrsSevere drought
10.5 / yr (+9.4)Mid-century 100°F days
15.8 daysMid-century dry spell
1.87" (+6.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.82×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,600Home insurance / yr
4.4% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
14,222People within 30 min
3,408,428People within 2 hr
15,245Radius comparison (15 mi)
21.3People / sq mi
0.5%Federal land
88.7%Land at 15% slope or less
35.4%Septic soil without severe limits
121,332 acWorkable land screen
21.3%Wooded land
48.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
54.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Greene County

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

Greene County rules

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal systems in Greene County, Illinois.

    • The Greene County Health Department requires its permit application to be completed, submitted, and approved before installation.
    • The packet states there is no permit fee at the time of the packet.
    • Installation inspection by the Greene County Health Department is required before covering, with at least 48 hours' notice.
    • If soil is unsuitable for a subsurface seepage system, a sandfilter or aeration system is an alternative.

    permit fee: 0 USD (At the time stated in the packet.) · inspection notice: >= 48 hours (Notice before inspection of the installation.)

    “GREENE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT – DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of private sewage disposal systems in Greene County, Illinois.

    • The permit application must be completed, submitted, and approved before installation.
    • The packet states there is no permit fee at the time of the packet.
    • Subsurface seepage systems require an approved soil investigation; unsuitable soil may require a sandfilter or aeration system.

    permit fee: 0 USD (At the time stated in the packet.)

    “the permit application is required [...] prior to any installation.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation of private sewage disposal systems in Greene County, Illinois.

    • Inspection by the Greene County Health Department is required before the installation is covered.
    • At least 48 hours' notice is required to allow a timely inspection.

    inspection notice: >= 48 hours (Notice before inspection.)

    “An inspection [...] prior to covering is required”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    No county zoning or planning department exists in Greene County's department listing, indicating no countywide zoning for unincorporated areas.

    Greene County IL Government ↗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 — State building-code requirements applicable in Greene County, including the distinction between jurisdictions that have and have not adopted local building codes.
      “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

    Commercial buildings in Illinois jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code, including a possible non-building-code jurisdiction within Greene County.

    • Applies to new or substantially improved commercial buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code.
    • The building must be inspected by a qualified inspector stating that it complies with the listed applicable codes and rules.
    • The cited page identifies the requirements as required by 20 ILCS 3105/10.09-1.
    • This claim does not establish that Greene County is a non-building-code jurisdiction or that the rule applies inside any incorporated municipality.
    “Commercial buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code AND state funded buildings. [...] Non-state buildings must be inspected by a qualified inspector stating the building complies with the above codes.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Not required — Building-code-compliance inspections performed by the State of Illinois for privately funded construction.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    • Limited — Privately funded construction statewide in Illinois, as to inspections performed by the State rather than by a local authority having jurisdiction.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Occupancy permits or certificates for privately funded construction in Illinois.

    • The State does not issue occupancy permits for privately funded construction.
    • If an occupancy permit is required, it is addressed by the applicable unit of local government.
    “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Not required — State-issued occupancy permits for privately funded construction in Illinois, including projects in Greene County.
      “Does the State perform plan reviews, issue building permits, perform inspections for building code compliance or issue occupancy permits for privately funded construction? No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    • Not required — Issuance of occupancy permits or certificates by the State of Illinois for privately funded construction.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

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

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

    County zoning districts outside municipalities with municipal zoning ordinances.

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

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

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

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

    “designed and situated so as to permit its occupancy as a dwelling place for one or more persons”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

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

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

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

    “Privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets and compost toilets are approved for private sewage disposal of human wastes.”
  • 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.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway or other non-utility work within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. route, Illinois state route, or state-maintained roadway in Greene County.

    • The permit must be obtained before work starts.
    • A copy of the approved permit must remain at the worksite.
    • IDOT requirements may vary by district, and the applicant must contact the applicable district office.
    • The application process may require a request letter, location map, detailed drawings, traffic studies, traffic-control plan, and other information; a bond may be required after review.
    “IDOT requires a permit when working within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state maintained roadway.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Work within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state-maintained roadway, including access-driveway requests to State highways.
      “Per 605 ILCS 5/4 209, IDOT requires a permit when working within the right-of-way of an Interstate, U.S. state route, Illinois state route, or state maintained roadway. A permit must be obtained prior to the start of any work and a copy of the approved permit must be at the worksite at all times.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction and other development activities in regulated floodways and, where no floodway has been delineated, generally anywhere in the floodplain in Greene County.

    • IDNR jurisdiction covers urban streams with drainage areas of 1 square mile or more and rural streams with drainage areas of 10 square miles or more.
    • Construction includes placement, construction, or reconstruction of buildings or structures, filling, excavating, channel modification, material storage, levees, bridges, culverts, and roads.
    • Some minor activities may be automatically authorized by statewide permits if all terms and conditions are met.
    • Local floodplain regulations may apply to the entire floodplain in addition to state requirements.

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

    “If no delineated floodway is shown, the Division generally requires permits for work anywhere in the floodplain.”
    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 feesPublished (with conditions)

    Illinois Department of Natural Resources permit application review fees for activities in Illinois public waters, floodways, and covered dam-related activities applicable in Greene County.

    • The fee applies when a permit is required and the activity is not already authorized by a Statewide Permit.
    • Applications and written inquiries are reviewed free of charge to determine whether authorization is required when sufficient information is provided.
    • The fee is non-refundable except for overpayments.
    • Standard activity fees range from $200 to $5,000; the fee is adjusted annually on July 1 for inflation and capped at $5,000.
    • The fee is determined after initial review and payment is required for continued review; applications are deemed withdrawn if payment is not received within 90 days after notice.

    standard permit application review fee: $200-$5,000 USD (The fee is adjusted annually and capped at $5,000.) · fee effective date: 2014-01-15

    “A fee structure for standard activities, ranging between $200 and $5,000, has been developed by the IDNR”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Variable (with conditions) — Applications and written inquiries for Illinois Department of Natural Resources public-water, dam, and floodway work requiring authorization.
      “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)

    Illinois Department of Natural Resources floodway and public-water permit process applicable to qualifying projects in Greene County.

    • Construction in regulated floodways must be permitted before construction.
    • The state rule covers streams in rural areas with drainage areas of 10 square miles or more and urban areas with drainage areas of 1 square mile or more.
    • If no floodway has been delineated, IDNR generally requires permits for work anywhere in the floodplain.
    • Projects covered by a statewide or regional permit may not require an application if they meet all terms and conditions.
    • Local governing bodies may impose additional floodplain permit requirements; federal and Illinois EPA approvals may also be required.

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

    “The Division's jurisdiction includes all streams in urban areas where the stream drainage area is one square mile or more”
    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 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 Greene County building-permit, inspection, or occupancy requirements.
  • Zoning districts — Countywide zoning districts in Greene County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for residential development in unincorporated Greene County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for residential development in unincorporated Greene County.
  • Lot coverage — Residential lot coverage in unincorporated Greene County.
5 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • 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 Greene County, Illinois

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

Greene County scores 74/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and mixed durability signals.

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

Greene 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 Greene County Health Department (Environmental 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 Greene County, Illinois?

Land in Greene County runs about $7,667 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Greene County?

Greene County gets about 40.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.7% of years.

How remote is Greene County?

A representative private-land location has about 14,222 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,408,428 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 Greene County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Greene compares in Illinois

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