Can you live off-grid in Jackson County, Illinois?
88
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes, but water will be the challenge. Wells run deep, near 600 feet, so budget $23,000 to $51,000 for one. The growing season runs about 206 frost-free days. Flood zones are common here, so look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
What the land says
Rain
Rain can supply much of a household's water with a large tank. A garden mostly waters itself in normal years.
About 46 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Deep wells. Get a driller's quote before you offer.
The typical well here is about 600 feet deep; a well typically runs $23,000 to $51,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 206 frost-free days, USDA zone 7a; last frost about April 5, first about October 30
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.9 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones are common here. Look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
FEMA maps flood zones across much of the county
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low here
Storms
Strong tornadoes pass through now and then. A safe room is worth pricing.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 3 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Earthquakes
Strong shaking is possible. Build to the seismic code and brace the water tank.
USGS seismic hazard map: high
Terrain
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 4%, about 390 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, moderately well drained (USDA soil survey). A standard system typically runs $5,000 to $10,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 1.4 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check an Illinois parcel, or plan the one you own
Get a free 0-100 off-grid score.
A step-by-step build plan, sizing your solar, water, garden, septic, heat, and buildings.
Is it legal here?
Zoning
Jackson County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
Illinois does not require counties or cities to adopt a building code, and where a county has none there is no county building permit for a house. Since January 1, 2025, any local code that is adopted must be at least as strong as the International Residential Code on structural design.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed with a permit and an approved unit.
Water rights
Owners of land along a creek or lake can make reasonable use of its water.
Drilled to about 600 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$5,000 to $10,000
Standard system
Solar and batteries
$18,000 to $34,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$3,000 to $8,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$51,000 to $107,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones are common here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Well cost
Get a driller's quote.
Wells here run near 600 feet, so the well is a large cost.
Zoning
Look up the parcel's zoning district with our free tool.
The county publishes its zoning map.
Nearby counties
52,141 people live in Jackson County, about 89.3 per square mile. It ranks tied for 66th of the 102 Illinois counties we scored, and Illinois ranks 11th of 50 states.