Bolthole Index

Stephenson County, Illinois

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

47Index Score / 100
#78 of 102 in Illinois

Unincorporated Stephenson County, Illinois has not adopted a residential building code, but construction of 120 square feet or larger generally requires a county Zoning Certificate before work begins.1 The county regulates land use through zoning, and the Health Department handles private well and septic permits and inspections.23

At a glance

Building permit
No conventional county building permit; a Zoning Certificate is generally required at 120 square feet or larger1
Zoning
County zoning applies in unincorporated areas2
Septic
Plan approval is required before construction; start with the county Health Department34
RV living
Not confirmed for a private parcel; ask Building and Zoning before relying on RV occupancy2
Tiny home
Not confirmed; zoning and statewide residential requirements still need review25
Private well
A permit is required before a new well, modification or abandoned-well sealing6

Who to call

Zoning

Stephenson County Department of Building and Zoning

Zoning certificates, zoning, flood-hazard and subdivision regulations in unincorporated Stephenson County

815-599-0344

295 W. Lamm Rd. Freeport, IL 61032

Health department

Stephenson County Health Department Environmental Office

Environmental-health questions for private septic systems and wells

(815)-599-0344

50 W Douglas Ave, Ste 902 Freeport IL 61032

Roads & driveways

Stephenson County Highway Department

Entrance permits for county and township highways

(815) 235-7497

[email protected]

295 W. Lamm Road Freeport, IL 61032-9628

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

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

Unincorporated Stephenson County does not use a conventional residential building permit because the county has not adopted a uniform building code.7 Instead, the county generally requires a Zoning Certificate before construction begins when a project is 120 square feet or larger.1

The distinction matters: county review addresses zoning compliance rather than a structural building-code inspection.1 Illinois nevertheless has statewide baseline building-code requirements, including rules for residential work in jurisdictions without an adopted local code.8 A completed project that needed county zoning authorization also needs a county Certificate of Occupancy unless it is an agricultural building.9

Who handles building and zoning permits in Stephenson County?

The Stephenson County Department of Building and Zoning regulates construction activity in unincorporated areas and administers zoning, flood-hazard and subdivision regulations.10 Contact the department before building outside a city, village or town; incorporated municipalities may have their own permit offices and rules.10

The office is at 295 W. Lamm Rd. in Freeport and can be reached at 815-599-0344.10 For county or township highway access, use the Highway Department's entrance-permit process; an entrance permit is not valid until signed by the County Engineer or an authorized agent.11 Work in a state-road right-of-way requires an IDOT permit before it begins.12

Does Stephenson County have zoning?

Yes. Stephenson County administers zoning for construction and land use in unincorporated areas.2 Building setbacks vary by zoning district and road classification, and violating a setback can require a variance that is not guaranteed.13 Height limits likewise depend on the applicable district or use rather than one statewide measurement.14

That makes the parcel's zoning classification the starting point for a house, accessory building, tiny home or unusual land use.2 The county materials reviewed do not confirm countywide rules for minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size or lot coverage, so ask Building and Zoning for the parcel-specific standards before designing or buying. The county also has not confirmed a general owner-builder exemption, so an owner planning to perform the work should ask the same office what authorization and completion documentation will apply.

How do septic and well permits work in Stephenson County?

The Stephenson County Health Department provides technical assistance, permits and inspections for new or repaired wells and septic systems.3 Illinois requires plan approval from the state or applicable local authority before construction of a new private sewage system begins, including specified major repairs and absorption-field changes.4 Start with the Health Department Environmental Office at (815)-599-0344.15

Only 42.2% of mapped county soils avoid a “very limited” rating for a conventional septic drain field, so a parcel-level soil evaluation belongs early in the buying process.16 A new well, well modification or abandoned-well sealing also requires a permit from Illinois or an approved local health department before work starts.6 Illinois permits several alternative human-waste systems, but other domestic wastewater still requires a conventional private sewage system.17

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Stephenson County?

Stephenson County's published materials reviewed for this guide do not confirm that an RV may be occupied on a private unincorporated parcel, either temporarily or while a home is being built. Ask the Department of Building and Zoning about the parcel's district, the proposed length of stay and required sanitation before relying on an RV plan.

A tiny home is not automatically exempt from land-use review: Stephenson County requires zoning authorization for construction and land use in unincorporated areas, while statewide residential baseline requirements may also apply.25 The county materials likewise do not confirm a minimum dwelling size or a special tiny-home occupancy rule. Manufactured homes can be occupied as dwellings under Illinois rules when applicable installation, community, zoning, floodplain and utility requirements are satisfied.18

Building a home in Stephenson County: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm that the parcel is outside a city, village or town, then ask the Stephenson County Department of Building and Zoning for its zoning district, allowed use and setbacks.1013
  1. Apply for the county Zoning Certificate before starting qualifying construction.1
  1. Send the septic design for approval before construction and coordinate any private-well permit with the Health Department.46
  1. Obtain an entrance permit from the Highway Department for access onto a county or township highway, or contact IDOT before work in a state-road right-of-way.1112
  1. Ask Building and Zoning whether floodway authorization applies; regulated Illinois floodway construction can require approval before work.1019
  1. After completion, obtain the county Certificate of Occupancy when required; agricultural buildings are the stated exception.9

What should you check before buying land in Stephenson County?

Verify zoning, setbacks and legal road access before making the purchase contingent-free.213 A proposed entrance onto a county or township highway goes through the Stephenson County Highway Department, while work in a state-road right-of-way goes through IDOT.1112

Treat septic suitability as a site question: 42.2% of mapped soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field, which means countywide averages cannot replace a parcel evaluation.16 Check mapped floodplain or floodway conditions before choosing a house pad because regulated construction may require state authorization.19 Stephenson County's effective property-tax rate is about 2.5%, and the median annual property-tax bill is $3,140, but a specific parcel's assessment and exemptions can differ.2021

Watch-outs

  • A Zoning Certificate is not a structural building inspection; Illinois statewide baseline requirements can still apply in a county without an adopted residential code.18
  • Stephenson County has not confirmed private-land RV occupancy or a tiny-home occupancy rule, so get a parcel-specific zoning answer from Building and Zoning before purchase.2
  • A county Certificate of Occupancy is required after projects needing zoning authorization, except agricultural buildings.9

Sources

  1. Stephenson County Zoning FAQs (2026 county census)
  2. Stephenson County Zoning FAQs (2026 county census)
  3. Stephenson County Health Department Programs & Services Directory, quoted and re-checked
  4. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Codes and Regulations (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Zoning FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  8. Illinois Codes (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Zoning FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  10. Stephenson County Department of Building and Zoning (stephensoncountyil.gov)
  11. Stephenson County Highway Department (stephensoncountyil.gov)
  12. Highway Permits (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Stephenson County Building Permit, 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. Stephenson County Health Department Environmental Office (stephensoncountyil.gov)
  16. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  17. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.130 Human Waste Disposal (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Manufactured & Modular Homes/Mobile Structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Permit Program (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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

Stephenson County in Illinois

47
County map
Stephenson County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How Stephenson County scores

Seclusion34100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency31100% ev.
Admin Boringness5690% ev.
Durability60100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost58100% 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 →

$162kTypical home
2.5%Property tax
$9,230Land / acre
38.5"Annual rain
5.5% of yrsSevere drought
2.4 / yr (+2.3)Mid-century 100°F days
13.7 daysMid-century dry spell
1.95" (+11.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.74×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,392Home insurance / yr
3.3% / yrInsurance growth
0.53%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
43,135People within 30 min
5,365,374People within 2 hr
45,877Radius comparison (15 mi)
76.4People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
98.8%Land at 15% slope or less
42.2%Septic soil without severe limits
151,090 acWorkable land screen
7.6%Wooded land
67.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
48.1°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Stephenson County

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

Stephenson County rules

  • Building code adoptedNot adopted

    Uniform county building-code adoption in unincorporated Stephenson County.

    • The county zoning ordinance remains applicable.
    • The county permit form states that, in the absence of Stephenson County Code, the most current International Building Code or National Electric Code shall be used.
    “has not adopted a uniform building code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Projects requiring county zoning authorization in unincorporated Stephenson County.

    • Required for all projects except agricultural buildings.
    • The County Zoning Administrator issues or refuses the certificate after completion.
    “issue or refuse a CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Building setbacks by zoning district in unincorporated Stephenson County.

    • Setbacks vary by zoning district and road classification.
    • The county form identifies exceptions by zoning-ordinance section for some residential districts.
    • A variance may be required and may not be granted if setbacks are violated.
    “building setbacks for my zoning district”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Private sewage systems and septic systems in Stephenson County.

    • The Stephenson County Health Department provides the identified services to contractors and the general public.
    • The source also states that failing private sewage systems throughout the county are investigated and corrective actions instituted.
    “Technical assistance, permits and inspections for new or repaired wells and septic systems”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Stephenson County administers a county zoning ordinance and requires a Zoning Certificate for construction and land use in unincorporated areas.

    Stephenson County Zoning FAQs ↗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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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 exemption from county construction authorization or inspections.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size requirements in unincorporated Stephenson County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements in unincorporated Stephenson County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements in unincorporated Stephenson County.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land in unincorporated Stephenson County.
4 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 Stephenson County, Illinois

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

Stephenson County scores 47/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (38.5″/yr rainfall) and about 43,135 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

Stephenson County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Stephenson County Health Department. 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 Stephenson County, Illinois?

Land in Stephenson County runs about $9,230 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Stephenson County?

Stephenson County gets about 38.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 5.5% of years.

How remote is Stephenson County?

A representative private-land location has about 43,135 people within a 30-minute drive and 5,365,374 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 Stephenson County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Stephenson compares in Illinois

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