Bolthole Index

McDonough County, Illinois

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

73Index Score / 100
#13 of 102 in Illinois

McDonough County, Illinois has no confirmed countywide building-permit rule for unincorporated land; Illinois leaves private-project permits to the local government with jurisdiction12. The McDonough County Health Department reviews and permits private septic systems34. Confirm the parcel's local jurisdiction before designing or building because countywide zoning also remains unconfirmed5.

At a glance

Building permit
Countywide requirement not confirmed; ask the local government with jurisdiction12
Zoning
Countywide zoning not confirmed for unincorporated land5
Septic permit
McDonough County Health Department reviews plans, evaluates sites, and issues permits34
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the authority governing the parcel5
Owner-builder exemption
No McDonough County exemption confirmed6
Private well
Permit required before construction, modification, or sealing7
County-road entrance
Entrance permits are issued by the County Highway Department8
Conventional septic soils
About 23% of soils rate without severe limitations9

Who to call

Health department

McDonough County Health Department

Private sewage disposal plan review, site evaluation, permits, and inspections for new or renovated systems

(309) 837-9951

[email protected]

505 E. Jackson Street Macomb, IL 61455

Roads & driveways

McDonough County Highway Department

Entrance, utility, and oversize or overweight permits involving county highways

(309)833-4196

204 S. Western Ave. Macomb, IL 61455

Also useful

McDonough County Clerk and Recorder

County government contact when the applicable local building or zoning authority is unclear

(309)833-2474

[email protected]

#1 Courthouse Square Macomb, IL 61455

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

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

A countywide building-permit requirement for unincorporated McDonough County could not be confirmed1. Illinois does not issue building permits for privately funded construction; any permit requirement is handled by the municipality, village, city, or county with jurisdiction2. Illinois likewise leaves private-project inspections and occupancy certificates to the applicable local government1011. That means the safe answer depends on the parcel, not simply the county name. Ask the McDonough County Clerk and Recorder which local authority governs the address, then get that authority's permit, inspection, and occupancy requirements in writing12. Illinois's statewide building-code baseline applies even where no locally adopted code has been confirmed13.

Who handles building permits in McDonough County, and how do you reach them?

No general McDonough County building or zoning office could be confirmed, so begin with the McDonough County Clerk and Recorder at (309)833-2474, [email protected], or #1 Courthouse Square Macomb, IL 6145512. Ask which city, village, county, or other local authority has jurisdiction over the parcel because Illinois assigns private-project permitting to local government2. For septic work, call the McDonough County Health Department at (309) 837-9951; its private-sewage page directs callers to extension 20004. For an entrance or utility installation involving a county highway, contact the McDonough County Highway Department at (309)833-4196 or 204 S. Western Ave. Macomb, IL 614558.

Does McDonough County have zoning?

Countywide zoning for unincorporated McDonough County could not be confirmed from an authoritative county source5. An unanswered countywide zoning question is not permission to build or occupy any structure. Ask the County Clerk and Recorder to identify the authority for the parcel, especially when land lies inside or near an incorporated community12. Illinois law allows county zoning districts to establish setbacks and building-height limits, but the applicable local ordinance supplies the actual dimensions1415. McDonough County-specific minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, lot coverage, accessory-dwelling, subdivision, and agricultural-building rules also remain unconfirmed. Owner-builder treatment is unresolved as well6. Confirm the governing rules before relying on a seller's description of land as unrestricted.

How do septic permits work in McDonough County?

The McDonough County Health Department handles private sewage disposal locally3. Its official page says the department reviews the application and system plan, conducts a site evaluation, issues the private-sewage permit, and inspects new or renovated systems4. Illinois requires plan approval from the state or local authority before construction of a new private sewage system begins, including qualifying tank replacements and major absorption-field changes16. Contact the department before choosing a system or excavating. Only about 23% of McDonough County soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility a purchase contingency rather than assuming a standard field will work9. Illinois also approves certain off-grid human-waste systems conditionally, but other domestic wastewater still requires a conventional private sewage disposal system17.

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

McDonough County rules for residential RV use and tiny-home occupancy on private land could not be confirmed. Illinois campground licensing governs qualifying campgrounds, but it does not answer whether someone may live in an RV on an individual parcel18. Countywide zoning is also unresolved, so ask the authority governing the parcel about dwelling classification, occupancy duration, setbacks, minimum size, and utility connections5. A manufactured home follows separate Illinois installation requirements, and local zoning, building, floodplain, and utility rules may also apply19. Any permitted dwelling still needs a lawful wastewater solution: private sewage construction requires advance plan approval, and the McDonough County Health Department evaluates the site and inspects new or renovated systems164.

What are the steps to build a home in McDonough County?

  1. Ask the McDonough County Clerk and Recorder which local government has jurisdiction over the parcel12.
  2. Ask that authority in writing about zoning, building permits, inspections, setbacks, and an occupancy certificate because the countywide answers remain unconfirmed15.
  3. Design the home to the applicable Illinois building-code baseline13.
  4. Submit the private-sewage plan to the McDonough County Health Department and arrange its site evaluation and inspections4.
  5. Obtain a permit before constructing, modifying, or sealing a private well7.
  6. Obtain an entrance permit from the County Highway Department for county-highway access, or contact IDOT before work in a state-road right-of-way820.
  7. Determine whether floodway or floodplain authorization applies before construction21.

What should you check before buying land in McDonough County?

Make septic suitability a contract contingency because only about 23% of McDonough County soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional drain field9. Confirm the parcel's building-permit and zoning authority before closing because neither countywide answer is settled15. Check the road jurisdiction too: the County Highway Department issues entrance permits for county roads, while work in a state-maintained right-of-way requires an IDOT permit before it begins820. Review mapped flood hazards and determine whether state authorization applies to proposed floodway or floodplain work21. A private well requires a permit before construction, modification, or sealing7. McDonough County's effective property-tax rate is about 2.2%, with a median annual bill of about $2,2382223.

Watch-outs

  • McDonough County-specific rules for building permits, zoning, RV occupancy, tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, setbacks, and owner-builder treatment could not be confirmed; ask the County Clerk and Recorder to identify the authority for the parcel15612.
  • Conventional drain fields face severe soil limitations across most of McDonough County, so arrange the Health Department's site evaluation before committing to a house location94.
  • A county-road entrance goes through the McDonough County Highway Department, while access work in a state-road right-of-way requires an IDOT permit before work begins820.

Sources

  1. Illinois Codes FAQ (2026 county census)
  2. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  3. Illinois Department of Public Health - Private Sewage Disposal (2026 county census)
  4. McDonough County Health Department (mchdept.com)
  5. (2026 county census)
  6. (2026 county census)
  7. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. McDonough County Highway Department (mcg.mcdonough.il.us)
  9. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  10. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. McDonough County Clerk and Recorder (mcg.mcdonough.il.us)
  13. Building Codes and Regulations (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.130 Human Waste Disposal (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Manufactured & Modular Homes/Mobile Structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Permit Program (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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

McDonough County in Illinois

73
County map
McDonough County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How McDonough County scores

Seclusion59100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency57100% ev.
Admin Boringness7468% ev.
Durability76100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost55100% ev.

Evidence strength: 95%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$99kTypical home
2.2%Property tax
$9,948Land / acre
39.3"Annual rain
3.9% of yrsSevere drought
7.7 / yr (+7)Mid-century 100°F days
14.9 daysMid-century dry spell
1.73" (+7.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.77×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,455Home insurance / yr
4.8% / yrInsurance growth
1.06%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
27,293People within 30 min
1,294,549People within 2 hr
28,553Radius comparison (15 mi)
45.5People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
93%Land at 15% slope or less
23.3%Septic soil without severe limits
87,484 acWorkable land screen
14.9%Wooded land
42.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.7°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for McDonough County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and 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
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Statewide Illinois building-code framework applicable to construction in McDonough County, subject to the applicable local code jurisdiction and project type.
      “The State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide building codes effective 1/1/2025.”
    • Adopted — Statewide baseline building-code requirements for residential construction in Illinois, including jurisdictions with and without locally adopted building codes.
      “Please be advised that the State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide baseline building codes effective 1/1/2025. Locally adopted building codes must comply with the requirements of the Act.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    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

    Installation and plan approval for private sewage disposal systems statewide in Illinois.

    • IDPH regulates private sewage disposal systems within the described scope.
    • About 90 local health agencies also review construction plans under local ordinances or as agents of IDPH.

    surface discharge threshold: <= 1500 gallons per day (Systems with no surface discharge are also regulated.)

    “There are about 90 local health agencies in Illinois that also review sewage disposal system construction plans”
  • 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.”
  • 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

    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.”
  • 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 for construction in McDonough County.
  • County-wide zoning — Countywide zoning authority in McDonough County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning across McDonough County municipalities and unincorporated areas.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts and maps in McDonough County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in McDonough County.
9 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land

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 McDonough County, Illinois

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

McDonough County scores 73/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: a durable current and mid-century hazard profile and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

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

McDonough County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones). Onsite septic is permitted by McDonough County Health Department (under IDPH 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 905). 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 McDonough County, Illinois?

Land in McDonough County runs about $9,948 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in McDonough County?

McDonough County gets about 39.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 3.9% of years.

How remote is McDonough County?

A representative private-land location has about 27,293 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,294,549 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 McDonough County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How McDonough compares in Illinois

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