Bolthole Index

Madison County, Illinois

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

50Index Score / 100
#69 of 102 in Illinois

Unincorporated Madison County, Illinois requires a building permit before covered construction begins, and the county reviews plans and inspects work at selected milestones12. County zoning also regulates land use in designated districts3. The county reviews and approves private sewage systems, but we could not confirm the complete permit and inspection process4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before covered construction begins in unincorporated Madison County1
Zoning
County zoning applies in unincorporated Madison County3
Septic approval
County review and approval apply; ask Planning & Development for the current permit and inspection steps4
Water well permit
Required; the county ordinance lists a $100 non-refundable water-well permit fee5
RV or tiny-home living
A general private-land occupancy rule could not be confirmed; ask Zoning Administration for the parcel's district rule6
Owner-builder exemption
Could not be confirmed; ask Building & Zoning before relying on one7
Minimum lot size
County rules include minimum lot specifications, but the parcel's numeric minimum must be confirmed8
Conventional septic soils
Only 9.2% of county soils are rated without severe limitations9

Who to call

Building permits

Madison County Building & Zoning Department — Building Permits & Inspections

Building permit applications, plan review and construction inspections in unincorporated Madison County

(618) 296-6200

[email protected]

157 N. Main Street, Suite 254, Edwardsville, IL 62025

Zoning

Madison County Zoning Administration

Zoning administration, map amendments, special-use permits and variances

(618) 296-4985

[email protected]

157 N. Main Street, Suite 254, Edwardsville, IL 62025

Septic permits

Madison County Planning & Development — Private Sewage Permits & Inspections

Private sewage permits, installation inspections and installer licensing

(618)296-4663

[email protected]

157 N. Main Street, Suite 254, Edwardsville, IL 62025

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 Madison County, Illinois?

Yes. Covered construction in unincorporated Madison County requires a building permit before work starts1. The contractor submits project plans, waits for county review and permit issuance, and then may begin construction10. Inspectors check work at selected milestones for code compliance2. Madison County has adopted and administers building codes for unincorporated areas, including the listed international, electrical, Illinois plumbing and private-sewage codes11. Ask Building & Zoning which project types require permits and what the current application documents and fees are, because the available county material does not provide the complete packet, fee schedule or all exceptions10.

Who is the Madison County building department, and how do you reach it?

Madison County Building & Zoning handles building-permit applications, plan review and construction inspections in unincorporated Madison County12. The office is at 157 N. Main Street, Suite 254, Edwardsville, IL 62025, and its main number is (618) 296-620012. Email the building-permit office at [email protected]12. Submit plans before work begins and do not start until the county has reviewed them and issued the permit10. Once construction starts, coordinate inspections at the selected milestones2. We could not confirm an owner-builder exception, so ask Building & Zoning whether an owner may apply or perform work without the contractor described in the county process7.

Does Madison County have zoning?

Yes. Madison County zoning regulates land use and development in unincorporated areas through designated districts with permitted and special uses3. Confirm the parcel's district with Zoning Administration before deciding that a house, manufactured home, accessory use or other project is allowed6. County zoning and subdivision rules include minimum lot specifications, but the available county fact does not state the numeric limits8. We also could not confirm a general minimum dwelling size, maximum building height, lot-coverage limit or countywide setback. Ask Zoning Administration for the parcel's dimensional schedule and whether a variance or special-use permit is needed. Incorporated municipalities may apply different rules, so first confirm whether the land is inside municipal limits3.

How do septic permits work in Madison County?

Madison County Building & Zoning reviews and approves private sewage systems and enforces the private sewage code4. The county's current fact identifies Planning & Development as the authority, but we could not confirm the complete permit application or required inspection sequence; ask the private-sewage office for the current steps before committing to a building site13. Illinois requires approval of plans by the applicable authority before a new private sewage system is built14. Only 9.2% of Madison County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make soil suitability an early contingency in a land purchase9. Do not assume acreage alone makes a parcel buildable; septic approval and zoning are separate reviews43.

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

We could not confirm a general Madison County rule allowing long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on private land. Unincorporated land is divided into zoning districts with permitted and special uses, so ask Zoning Administration whether the parcel's district allows the proposed structure and residential use6. Illinois campground rules apply to qualifying campgrounds and do not establish a general right to occupy an RV on a private parcel15. A tiny home also does not bypass building review: covered construction in unincorporated Madison County requires a permit, adopted building codes apply, and private sewage systems require county approval1114. Get written zoning and sewage answers before placing or buying the unit.

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

  1. Confirm that the parcel is unincorporated, then ask Zoning Administration for its district, allowed use and dimensional requirements36.
  1. If the parcel will be divided, ask about preliminary-plat, improvement-plan and final-plat review before relying on a proposed lot line16.
  1. Submit the private-sewage proposal to Planning & Development for review and approval; ask which permit and inspections apply4.
  1. Obtain the required water-well permit before construction or deepening, and arrange the required pre-work notice517.
  1. Submit project plans and the building-permit application, then wait for review and issuance before starting10.
  1. Coordinate the required building inspections at selected milestones2.
  1. Ask Building & Zoning what final occupancy approval applies because we could not confirm a county certificate-of-occupancy requirement.

What should you check before buying land in Madison County?

Start with jurisdiction and zoning because county rules apply to unincorporated land, while incorporated municipalities may administer their own ordinances3. If a seller proposes a split, confirm subdivision review and the applicable minimum lot specifications before treating it as a buildable parcel168. Check sewage feasibility early because only 9.2% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, and private systems need county review and approval94. Water-well construction or deepening requires a permit, with a $100 non-refundable county fee, and the Health Department must receive at least 48 hours' notice before covered work begins517. County driveway access and floodplain-development procedures could not be confirmed, so identify the road authority and ask Planning & Development about floodplain review before closing.

Watch-outs

  • Madison County's owner-builder exception, if any, could not be confirmed; ask Building & Zoning before assuming the owner may replace the contractor named in the permit process7.
  • Madison County reviews and approves private sewage systems, but the complete permit and inspection sequence could not be confirmed; ask Planning & Development before choosing a house site4.
  • A driveway onto an Illinois state-maintained roadway requires IDOT approval before right-of-way work begins18.

Sources

  1. Building Permits & Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  2. Building Permits & Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  3. Zoning Administration, quoted and re-checked
  4. Private Sewage - Permits, Inspections & Complaints, quoted and re-checked
  5. Madison County water well ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  6. Zoning Administration, quoted and re-checked
  7. (2026 county census)
  8. Zoning Administration, quoted and re-checked
  9. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  10. Building Permits & Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permits & Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  12. Madison County Building & Zoning Department — Building Permits & Inspections (madisoncountyil.gov)
  13. Building and Zoning Code Enforcement, quoted and re-checked
  14. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Subdivision Platting, quoted and re-checked
  17. Madison County water well ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  18. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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.

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County locator

Madison County in Illinois

50
County map
Madison County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How Madison County scores

Seclusion23100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency70100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability63100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost62100% 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 →

$202kTypical home
1.9%Property tax
$6,940Land / acre
42.3"Annual rain
1.7% of yrsSevere drought
9.8 / yr (+8.6)Mid-century 100°F days
15.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.91" (+8.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.85×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,699Home insurance / yr
4% / yrInsurance growth
0.5%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
85,285People within 30 min
3,771,028People within 2 hr
176,626Radius comparison (15 mi)
367.2People / sq mi
0%Federal land
89.5%Land at 15% slope or less
9.2%Septic soil without severe limits
38,841 acWorkable land screen
29.8%Wooded land
58.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.6°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Madison County

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

Madison County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction requiring a building permit in unincorporated Madison County

    • The contractor must submit proposed-project plans; construction may begin only after plan review and permit issuance.
    “Prior to commencing construction, a contractor is required to apply for a building permit and submit plans of the proposed project.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building-code adoption and administration for construction in unincorporated Madison County

    • The page lists the 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Property Maintenance, Energy Conservation, and Fire Codes; the 2023 National Electrical Code; Illinois Plumbing Code; and Illinois Private Sewage Code.
    “The Building & Zoning Department administers the International Building Code for construction in the unincorporated areas of Madison County. The following codes have been adopted:”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building inspections during construction in unincorporated Madison County

    • Inspections occur at selected milestones and verify code compliance.
    “A building inspector will check progress at selected milestones to ensure that all codes are adequately met.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land use and development in unincorporated Madison County.

    • The county zoning ordinance specifies permitted and special land uses within designated districts.
    • Zoning map amendments, special use permits, and variances may change or vary land-use or bulk regulations.
    “The Zoning Ordinance is used to regulate land use and development”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — County zoning ordinance and land-use regulation in unincorporated Madison County
      “The Planning & Development Department is responsible for property-related code enforcement in unincorporated Madison County. Madison County inspectors regularly receive complaints for potential code violations, which begins the code enforcement process. The inspector will log the complaint, visit the site, and determine if a violation exists. If a violation is present, the inspector will contact the property owner and send a violation notice requesting corrective action. If the property owner fails to address the violations within the adjudication hearing cycle, the matter will be forwarded to the administrative judge for review. The Planning & Development Department is responsible for enforcing several ordinances, including zoning, building, fill & grading, property maintenance, private sewage, and open dumping.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    County zoning districts in unincorporated Madison County.

    • The county zoning page states that permitted and special uses are assigned within designated districts and links to the zoning ordinance and related development codes.
    • A complete district schedule or map was not extracted in this research.
    “permitted and special land uses permitted within designated districts”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — County zoning districts used for land-use and development regulation in unincorporated Madison County.
      “The ordinance specifies permitted and special land uses permitted within designated districts”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Minimum lot-size requirements under Madison County zoning and subdivision regulations

    • The official pages establish lot specifications but do not state the numeric limits.
    “The ordinance also requires minimum lots specifications and road improvements, and through the review process, ensures adequate access to utilities and services.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Review, approval, and code enforcement for private sewage systems in Madison County

    • Illinois IDPH also regulates private sewage statewide and local health departments may act under local ordinance or as IDPH agents.
    “The Building & Zoning Department is responsible for reviewing and approving all private sewage systems in Madison County. In addition, the Building & Zoning Department is also responsible for private sewage code enforcement in Madison County.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • County (with conditions) — Private sewage code enforcement in unincorporated Madison County.
      “The Building & Zoning Department is responsible for reviewing and approving all private sewage systems in Madison County.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Water wells and closed-loop wells in Madison County.

    • A non-community water system requires a permit from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
    • Closed-loop well applications must be signed by the registered closed-loop well contractor.
    • Applications must include specified site-location and contamination-source distances when within 200 feet.
    • Failure to obtain a permit before commencement is a violation.

    water well permit fee: 100 USD (non-refundable) · closed-loop well fee: 100 USD (up to 5 boreholes; $20 for each borehole thereafter)

    “it shall be unlawful to proceed with such work unless a permit has first been obtained from the Health Department.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction or deepening of water wells in Madison County.
      “unless a permit has first been obtained from the Health Department.”
    • Required — Inspection-related notice and access for permitted water wells and closed-loop wells in Madison County.
      “The Health Department shall be notified at least 48 hours”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision platting and development in unincorporated Madison County

    • The process includes preliminary plat, improvement-plan, or final-plat review.
    “The Subdivision Ordinance is used to ensure the orderly platting of lots for future development and to provide a record for the ownership of a property.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit process in unincorporated Madison County

    • The contractor applies before construction, submits project plans, waits for plan review and issuance, and then begins construction; the cited page does not provide the full application packet, fees, or all exceptions.
    “Prior to commencing construction, a contractor is required to apply for a building permit and submit plans of the proposed project. Once the plans have been reviewed and a permit has been issued, the contractor may start construction.”

Illinois rules that apply here

  • 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”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction of a new private sewage disposal system statewide, including systems where a septic tank is replaced, a major component is added or removed, or the absorption field changes by at least 25 percent.

    • Plan approval must be obtained from IDPH or the applicable local authority before construction begins.
    • Persons constructing, installing, repairing, or modifying the system must notify the Department or local authority at least 48 hours before work begins.
    • The rule requires submission of plans, site and system information, bedroom count or design volume, soil or percolation information, owner information, and applicant signature.

    notice before commencement: >= 48 hours · absorption-field change threshold: >= 25 percent (The rule treats increasing the field by 25% or more, or removing and replacing 25% or more, as a new system.)

    “Plan approval shall be obtained from the Department or local authority prior to beginning any construction of a new private sewage disposal system.”
  • 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.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    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.

    • A permit must be obtained before work begins.
    • Requirements may vary by IDOT district; the applicant must contact the district office for specific requirements.
    • IDOT's access-driveway handbook guides what is allowable for highway access requests.
    “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.”
  • 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-permit or contractor requirements in unincorporated Madison County.
  • Local zoning — Municipal or other local zoning within Madison County beyond the county's unincorporated-area zoning jurisdiction.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in Madison County zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage requirements in Madison County zoning districts.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land in unincorporated Madison County.
5 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption

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 Madison County, Illinois

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

Madison County scores 50/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: workable self-sufficiency basics (42.3″/yr rainfall) and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: about 85,285 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

Madison County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Madison County Planning & Development Department, Code Enforcement (Solid Waste/Private Sewage Inspector). 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 Madison County, Illinois?

Land in Madison County runs about $6,940 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Madison County?

Madison County gets about 42.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.7% of years.

How remote is Madison County?

A representative private-land location has about 85,285 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,771,028 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 Madison County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Madison compares in Illinois

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