Looking for land ideas

This is new to me and it's hard to find info on where to put these types of houses. There's no one site that lists cities where it's legal. It's a f-ing mess. And I have to move ASAP for health reasons.

So it's a nightmare.

I'm in IL and need somewhere w all the hookups. I guess there are trailer parks but those are not for tiny homes.

I know it can be in someone's backyard. But other than that I'm lost.

Hello Brianna.  I don't know Illinois and I'm only semi-educated about Tiny Houses, but a quick google search for 'tiny homes in Illinois' turned up lists of regulations and it looks like it's a county by county thing there.

Tiny Homes in general fall into the same categories as trailers.  They are temporary structures that can be moved.  Some places require they be on wheels, some allow them to be placed on a pad, but must be able to be moved.  In my neck of the woods there are several companies that build 'portable buildings' that many folks insulate, wire up, and turn into tiny homes.  I had one built and placed to use as a fiber shop, then later moved it across the state for my sister-in-law to use as a one-room schoolhouse.

Not sure how helpful this is, but it is what I have.  I wish you luck.

Hi, Brianna. I left Illinois several years ago, partly because of things like your search, and how difficult it is. My best advice for finding something affordable is to get as far away from Chicago and Springfield, and their surrounding suburbs as possible. I don't know where you are in IL, but you might check around Coal City, and west of there, down toward Peoria's outskirts, and the southern & western portions of the state.  

Brianna Kathrinus wrote:This is new to me and it's hard to find info on where to put these types of houses. There's no one site that lists cities where it's legal. It's a f-ing mess. And I have to move ASAP for health reasons.

So it's a nightmare.

I'm in IL and need somewhere w all the hookups. I guess there are trailer parks but those are not for tiny homes.

I know it can be in someone's backyard. But other than that I'm lost.

I am sorry that you are lost.

Do you have a tiny house or are you looking to get one?

We bought our land that we put a tiny house on.

Another option is to look at RV campgrounds.  RV campgrounds have full hookups.  And most will accept tiny homes.

I think that there are some trailer parks that offer full hookup for RVs and will accept tiny homes, too.

Please tell us more about why you are lost.

Brianna,

Can you be more specific about what part of Illinois you need to leave?  If you are in the Chicago metro area or anywhere close to, perhaps you might consider Southern Illinois.

Southern Illinois is practically a different state than the Chicago metro area.  The area is overwhelmingly rural and there is land available for a fraction of the cost of the price near Chicago.  I am sure that you can find land with appropriate hookups and there are nowhere near the regulatory hoops to jump through.  The climate is entirely different than the Chicago, so if you are considering the move, please take that into consideration.

If this sounds helpful, let me know and I can point you in some promising directions.


Eric

I've been in a similar situation and know it's hard to find housing when not feeling well (both in terms of the time and energy required). I would encourage you to focus on the counties.

When you find a land parcel in a county of interest (whether for purchase or rent), call the county Planning & Development Department. It may have a slightly different name, such as Planning & Zoning, etc. The number will be on the county website.

Explain you are wanting to place a tiny home on a parcel in their county and ask what is needed to be compliant. Provide the square footage of the tiny home and any other details (such as whether it will remain on wheels or placed as a foundation).

Each county has slightly different rules and regulations, and this is rarely explained on their website. It's a lot easier and faster to simply call and ask. Most people are kind and will want to help or will direct you to the right person.

Tiny home rules typically vary depending on whether you keep it on wheels (similar to a RV) versus establishing a foundation. The rules can also vary if the square footage is larger, and thus may require a permit.

Spare yourself the online search and call any counties of interest. I can help you with this, if you let me know which counties you are considering.

Sending you strength for this next chapter.

Dave Lucey wrote:Hello Brianna.  I don't know Illinois and I'm only semi-educated about Tiny Houses, but a quick google search for 'tiny homes in Illinois' turned up lists of regulations and it looks like it's a county by county thing there.

Tiny Homes in general fall into the same categories as trailers.  They are temporary structures that can be moved.  Some places require they be on wheels, some allow them to be placed on a pad, but must be able to be moved.  In my neck of the woods there are several companies that build 'portable buildings' that many folks insulate, wire up, and turn into tiny homes.  I had one built and placed to use as a fiber shop, then later moved it across the state for my sister-in-law to use as a one-room schoolhouse.

Not sure how helpful this is, but it is what I have.  I wish you luck.

So they are literally ALL considered mobile? I don't plan on moving mine but ok. I read they are a type of RV.
The co that builds mine would have to be amenable to working w/ a building biologist who knows what materials to avoid to avoid high levels of mold. I took a class on this, from a couple that did just that. I took 25 pages of notes. So it's a f load of work. So all of that I have to find, then a place to put it.
Those just buying a home have no CLUE how easy they have it. Cakewalk. I literally have to plan EVERTHING, not being a contractor, not knowing pages of codes, not knowing architecture besides that of video games. Being chronically ill w/no help.

But, no stress or anything

Carla Burke wrote:Hi, Brianna. I left Illinois several years ago, partly because of things like your search, and how difficult it is. My best advice for finding something affordable is to get as far away from Chicago and Springfield, and their surrounding suburbs. I don't know where you are in IL, but you might check around Coal City, and west of there, down toward Peoria's outskirts, and the southern & western portions of the state.  

Is IL especially difficult? And do you say that b/c every county has their own GD rules?
I'm in Woodridge. By Naperville and Downers Grove. My father is in Lisle. I was hoping not to move far from him.

Why do you rec'd those areas specifically?

Anne Miller wrote:

Brianna Kathrinus wrote:This is new to me and it's hard to find info on where to put these types of houses. There's no one site that lists cities where it's legal. It's a f-ing mess. And I have to move ASAP for health reasons.

So it's a nightmare.

I'm in IL and need somewhere w all the hookups. I guess there are trailer parks but those are not for tiny homes.

I know it can be in someone's backyard. But other than that I'm lost.

I am sorry that you are lost.

Do you have a tiny house or are you looking to get one?

We bought our land that we put a tiny house on.

Another option is to look at RV campgrounds.  RV campgrounds have full hookups.  And most will accept tiny homes.

I think that there are some trailer parks that offer full hookup for RVs and will accept tiny homes, too.

Please tell us more about why you are lost.

No. It would have to be built from scratch b/c it needs to be low mold. I am in a moldy area and 3 of my drs say I will not ever get well from chronic lyme and the handfuls of other infections I have unless I move. So it's moving to a mold free home or eat a g__.

Really? All RV camps will allow tiny homes? I have not read about that. It more seemed they were 2 separate things/areas.
I'm in Woodridge (sw suburb)

And that answer is what I've put in another reply: "The co that builds mine would have to be amenable to working w/ a building biologist who knows what materials to avoid to avoid high levels of mold. (one thing I can remember is it needs wool insulation.) I took a class on this, from a couple that did just that. I took 25 pages of notes. So it's a f load of work. So all of that I have to find, then a place to put it.
Those just buying a home have no CLUE how easy they have it. Cakewalk. I literally have to plan EVERTHING, not being a contractor, not knowing pages of codes, not knowing architecture besides that of video games. Being chronically ill w/no help."

Eric Hanson wrote:Brianna,

Can you be more specific about what part of Illinois you need to leave?  If you are in the Chicago metro area or anywhere close to, perhaps you might consider Southern Illinois.

Southern Illinois is practically a different state than the Chicago metro area.  The area is overwhelmingly rural and there is land available for a fraction of the cost of the price near Chicago.  I am sure that you can find land with appropriate hookups and there are nowhere near the regulatory hoops to jump through.  The climate is entirely different than the Chicago, so if you are considering the move, please take that into consideration.

If this sounds helpful, let me know and I can point you in some promising directions.


Eric

I just have to leave this house b/c it's water damaged w/mycotoxins. I am VERY ill. If I do not move, I do not improve my chronic illness. If I do not improve, no reason to be living. Then I'd need an exit plan.

I cannot be by farms that are not organic as there are so much glyphosate around them I'd never get well. Huge ass problem w/ IL

I'd rather be near my father as he is in Lisle

Brianna,

I understand a bit better now.  Just to be clear though, Southern Illinois is not dominated by vast farmlands the way Central Illinois is.  In fact, Southern Illinois is forested and very hilly—the land looks much like Wisconsin but with a much warmer climate and oak and hickory instead of pines.  But if you are geographically limited to the area around Lisle, then I understand your situation better.  In that region, the land prices are much higher and the ‘cide use is much greater.

I wish I had better news for you.  It seems like the immediate move is to get out of the mold-infested dwelling in which you currently live.  At least that eliminates one problem.  As for the other, ‘cide problem, I respect your desire to live as far away as possible, but it may not be possible to completely eliminate that other one altogether and still live in the geographic area you wish.  But if you move out of the one dwelling you could at least eliminate one problem altogether and still live in the Lisle area.

This might be a case where one needs to manage problems when they cannot be totally eliminated.  In a perfect world, management would not be necessary, but in our imperfect world, management of imperfect situations is often the way we get the most out of life, be most productive, and generally be be happiest.

As I stated in the opening line, I wish that I had a perfect solution, and I don’t.  Ultimately, the way out of your current situation is up to you and you alone.  If I can help you in any way, I will offer that help without any expectations other than if you benefit, sometime in the future, please pay that help forward to someone else in need.  All I can think about right now is to get out of your current dwelling/situation as mold problems are very serious, and are probably (in my estimation) a more immediate threat than the other ‘cides, however undesirable they may be.  This might literally be a case where you have to pick your poison, but again, you make the decision that you think is best.

I wish you the very best.  And if I can help in any way, don’t hesitate to ask.

Eric

I am sorry to hear that you have mold issues.

I am not sure that the tiny homes will be any better though new material are.

What about buying a new home?  Are tiny homes cheaper and that is why you are looking at them?

Why not rent an apartment?  There are mold kits that you can buy and do a mold test before renting.

Brianna Kathrinus wrote:

Carla Burke wrote:Hi, Brianna. I left Illinois several years ago, partly because of things like your search, and how difficult it is. My best advice for finding something affordable is to get as far away from Chicago and Springfield, and their surrounding suburbs. I don't know where you are in IL, but you might check around Coal City, and west of there, down toward Peoria's outskirts, and the southern & western portions of the state.  

Is IL especially difficult? And do you say that b/c every county has their own GD rules?
I'm in Woodridge. By Naperville and Downers Grove. My father is in Lisle. I was hoping not to move far from him.

Why do you rec'd those areas specifically?

I've lived in Downers Grove, Aurora, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Warrenville, Winfield, West Chicago one of my daughters lived in Woodridge & Westmont,, one in Carol Stream, and my son is down in Peoria. I've shopped for land and houses all over that area plus the surrounding areas, both during times when I didn't have a pot to piss in, and times when I could have possibly afforded *something*, even it if was small. There are a couple areas in Aurora, where there are trailer parks - but they're not safe areas. As in, gunfire is common. There is little, if anything in DuPage county (as of 6yrs ago) even welcoming to structures considered 'non-permanent', and the building codes make it damn near impossible. Coal City, and the surrounding areas, and south and west, were more affordable, and at least somewhat more lenient/open to alternative housing.

The closer you get to the bigger cities (and this applies pretty much all over the country, not just in IL), the more expensive the land, the higher the taxes, and the more stringent the building codes.

Anne Miller wrote:I am sorry to hear that you have mold issues.

I am not sure that the tiny homes will be any better though new material are.

What about buying a new home?  Are tiny homes cheaper and that is why you are looking at them?

Why not rent an apartment?  There are mold kits that you can buy and do a mold test before renting.

Yes it'd have to be a new home. I have a mold specialist and 25 pages of notes on materials.
Yes b/c they are cheaper
NO APT is safe from high mold. So if have that issue whatsoever, rest assured you WILL NEVER GET BETTER. They are built w/the crappiest cheapest shit materials so, your health is not even on the list. Guaranteed.

Eric Hanson wrote:Brianna,

I understand a bit better now.  Just to be clear though, Southern Illinois is not dominated by vast farmlands the way Central Illinois is.  In fact, Southern Illinois is forested and very hilly—the land looks much like Wisconsin but with a much warmer climate and oak and hickory instead of pines.  But if you are geographically limited to the area around Lisle, then I understand your situation better.  In that region, the land prices are much higher and the ‘cide use is much greater.

I wish I had better news for you.  It seems like the immediate move is to get out of the mold-infested dwelling in which you currently live.  At least that eliminates one problem.  As for the other, ‘cide problem, I respect your desire to live as far away as possible, but it may not be possible to completely eliminate that other one altogether and still live in the geographic area you wish.  But if you move out of the one dwelling you could at least eliminate one problem altogether and still live in the Lisle area.

This might be a case where one needs to manage problems when they cannot be totally eliminated.  In a perfect world, management would not be necessary, but in our imperfect world, management of imperfect situations is often the way we get the most out of life, be most productive, and generally be be happiest.

As I stated in the opening line, I wish that I had a perfect solution, and I don’t.  Ultimately, the way out of your current situation is up to you and you alone.  If I can help you in any way, I will offer that help without any expectations other than if you benefit, sometime in the future, please pay that help forward to someone else in need.  All I can think about right now is to get out of your current dwelling/situation as mold problems are very serious, and are probably (in my estimation) a more immediate threat than the other ‘cides, however undesirable they may be.  This might literally be a case where you have to pick your poison, but again, you make the decision that you think is best.

I wish you the very best.  And if I can help in any way, don’t hesitate to ask.

Eric

Wow that sounds awesome!
Yes the mold is more impt than the RU.
One other consideration is my drs. I do do mostly virtual visits w/my lyme dr now but my pcp or ent or whathaveyou I may need to travel to. Also need a nearby hospital.
I was told by the Building and Zoning dept that any property (least in DuPage--I've not called the other counties) that a normal home can be on, a tiny home can be on. But they have to meet the building codes. So I have to message someone there gain to know what they are.

Brianna,

If it is codes that you are concerned about, most of Southern Illinois is pretty much devoid of them.  It is nothing like the Chicago metro area.

And yes, the geography of Southern Illinois is truly beautiful—I am trying to attach some pictures of a hike I took this weekend that look nothing like the stereotypical image of an Illinois landscape.

As for healthcare, if you are in the Jackson County area (Carbondale), then there is a robust healthcare system.  There is a local hospital with an attached medical school residency program and a bundle of specialists.  I have to admit that I am a touch biased on this subject as my wife is a doctor who went through the local residency program.

And a word of note/caution:  I don’t know how far south you have traveled through Illinois, but Southern Illinois is truly far removed from the Chicago area and suburbs.  Illinois is about 380 miles north-south.  I have known many people from the Chicago area who consider anything south of I-80 to be Southern Illinois.  I-80 is very, very far from where I live.  I have known people who referred to Carbondale as being “down south by Champaign.”  Champaign is closer to Chicago than Carbondale.  This might not be you, but for anyone reading and only associates Illinois with Chicago, Southern Illinois might seem like a world away.

At any rate, I am glad that you can appreciate Southern Illinois natural beauty and I hope that you can get out of your predicament.  As always, let me know if I can point you in any directions.


Eric

**Edited to add link**

https://permies.com/t/279353/southern-illinois/Easter-Hike-Garden-Gods-Pictures#2934485

Eric Hanson wrote:Brianna,

If it is codes that you are concerned about, most of Southern Illinois is pretty much devoid of them.  It is nothing like the Chicago metro area.

And yes, the geography of Southern Illinois is truly beautiful—I am trying to attach some pictures of a hike I took this weekend that look nothing like the stereotypical image of an Illinois landscape.

As for healthcare, if you are in the Jackson County area (Carbondale), then there is a robust healthcare system.  There is a local hospital with an attached medical school residency program and a bundle of specialists.  I have to admit that I am a touch biased on this subject as my wife is a doctor who went through the local residency program.

And a word of note/caution:  I don’t know how far south you have traveled through Illinois, but Southern Illinois is truly far removed from the Chicago area and suburbs.  Illinois is about 380 miles north-south.  I have known many people from the Chicago area who consider anything south of I-80 to be Southern Illinois.  I-80 is very, very far from where I live.  I have known people who referred to Carbondale as being “down south by Champaign.”  Champaign is closer to Chicago than Carbondale.  This might not be you, but for anyone reading and only associates Illinois with Chicago, Southern Illinois might seem like a world away.

At any rate, I am glad that you can appreciate Southern Illinois natural beauty and I hope that you can get out of your predicament.  As always, let me know if I can point you in any directions.


Eric

**Edited to add link**

https://permies.com/t/279353/southern-illinois/Easter-Hike-Garden-Gods-Pictures#2934485

Wow. I can't imagine that. I guess I will call every freakin county we have to ask what the codes are. I don't know another way. So thats....102 phone calls....That's insane. No one should have to do this amt of work to freakin find land....wtf
My father's gf has a 2nd home, her mom's, in Glen Ellyn. Her back yard is pretty big and technically I can put it there. She seems iffy on the idea. She uses well water so I dont know if that would be an issue. But using her yard would save so much work...

I did look up Coal city and it's not as far as I thought. About 45 min from me.

I think I've been to Carbondale long time ago. I forgot for what. My family used to drive from Lisle to St Louis as most of our family is there. But just remember a lot of fields. I hated that drive. 5 hrs.

That's good about the drs. Many of mine are functional, as in, they look for a cause, not medicate symptoms w/a pill. Only a functional dr caught my late stage lyme and my mthfr, and so many other things. Relying on apparently clueless drs all my life led me to the lifeless hell I'm in now. So, I have zero faith in them. I'd say more but I'd get kicked off the board.
So dunno how many of those are there. Also none take insurance so my appts are 150-450 per appt.

Those pics are nice. I used to rock climb, tho only inside.

Melissa James wrote:I've been in a similar situation and know it's hard to find housing when not feeling well (both in terms of the time and energy required). I would encourage you to focus on the counties.

When you find a land parcel in a county of interest (whether for purchase or rent), call the county Planning & Development Department. It may have a slightly different name, such as Planning & Zoning, etc. The number will be on the county website.

Explain you are wanting to place a tiny home on a parcel in their county and ask what is needed to be compliant. Provide the square footage of the tiny home and any other details (such as whether it will remain on wheels or placed as a foundation).

Each county has slightly different rules and regulations, and this is rarely explained on their website. It's a lot easier and faster to simply call and ask. Most people are kind and will want to help or will direct you to the right person.

Tiny home rules typically vary depending on whether you keep it on wheels (similar to a RV) versus establishing a foundation. The rules can also vary if the square footage is larger, and thus may require a permit.

Spare yourself the online search and call any counties of interest. I can help you with this, if you let me know which counties you are considering.

Sending you strength for this next chapter.

I really have no idea what counties. I've been told south is good but search me. I only know ones ive been to which is sw suburbs of IL.
There are 102 counties in IL. That's a f-load of calls.

And is having it mobile a better idea in terms of cost of things? I won't be moving it but...

Brianna,

At the risk of going off topic, I can give you a bit more of an explanation of where Carbondale/Southern Illinois sits in regards to St. Louis.

Carbondale is about 90 miles south-southeast of St. Louis.  Personally, I don’t consider the St. Louis suburbs in Illinois to be in Southern Illinois.  But to be fair, there is no clearly defined northern boundary that defines Southern Illinois, just as there is no clearly defined boundary that defines Northern Illinois.  And having grown up in Central Illinois, the boundaries were always fuzzy.

But geologically, things are different.  Those corn fields that you hated to look at (which I personally liked) continue right down to Illinois-13.  I-13 is the last east-west state highway that crosses the state before reaching the section of the state that was never glaciated.  And in some places, I-13 runs less than a quarter mile before the un-glaciated area becomes obvious—the plains of Illinois run directly and dramatically into the sharply rising hill area where the hills rise sometimes hundreds of feet above the surrounding plains.  Some people erroneously refer to these hills as mountains (they aren’t mountains, but they are dramatic!).

I-13 bisects several medium sized cities-Murphysboro, Carbondale, Carterville, Marion, Harrisburg.  I live just to the south of Carbondale where the un-glaciated land becomes hilly and my land is on rolling countryside adjacent to state forest with the Shawnee National Forest (750,000 acres) nearby.  Further south, the land has more in common with Missouri or Kentucky than with the rest of the state.

And it is a drive!  When I was dating wife, the entire courtship was long distance.  She was a medical student in Chicago and I was a teacher in Carbondale.  I would see her on average every other weekend.  On Friday at 3:00, I told students that if they had any questions, ask on Monday!  I beat them out the door and my drive to my wife’s apartment was a 5 hour, 37 minute drive.  Long, but doable.  Today when we go to see her family west of Rockford, it is about a 9 hour drive.

So to sum this whole post up, if you are willing to get to what I call the “real” Southern Illinois (as defined by geology), then there is a world wholly different from the Chicago area or even much of Central Illinois.  And just to be clear, Carbondale is well south of St. Louis (whose suburbs I don’t consider to be in Southern Illinois).  Also to be clear (and again Brianna, this might not be you), I have met a great many number of people from the Chicago area who cannot conceptualize the size of Illinois, how far south it extends from Chicago or just how to define the very notion of what Southern Illinois even is.  Recently I took my daughter on a college visit to Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois (I grew up 15 minutes from the campus!),  We were paired with a prospective student and father from Palatine).  They considered ISU to be in Southern Illinois, despite ISU being located in the northern third of the state.  My point is that the region and distance are hard to conceptualize for many and though the area is beautiful, proximity to familiar places should be considered.

Again I have rambled on.  Maybe you can get something useful from this.  If not, then maybe you can find something humorous?

Eric

Eric Hanson wrote:Brianna,

At the risk of going off topic, I can give you a bit more of an explanation of where Carbondale/Southern Illinois sits in regards to St. Louis.

Carbondale is about 90 miles south-southeast of St. Louis.  Personally, I don’t consider the St. Louis suburbs in Illinois to be in Southern Illinois.  But to be fair, there is no clearly defined northern boundary that defines Southern Illinois, just as there is no clearly defined boundary that defines Northern Illinois.  And having grown up in Central Illinois, the boundaries were always fuzzy.

But geologically, things are different.  Those corn fields that you hated to look at (which I personally liked) continue right down to Illinois-13.  I-13 is the last east-west state highway that crosses the state before reaching the section of the state that was never glaciated.  And in some places, I-13 runs less than a quarter mile before the un-glaciated area becomes obvious—the plains of Illinois run directly and dramatically into the sharply rising hill area where the hills rise sometimes hundreds of feet above the surrounding plains.  Some people erroneously refer to these hills as mountains (they aren’t mountains, but they are dramatic!).

I-13 bisects several medium sized cities-Murphysboro, Carbondale, Carterville, Marion, Harrisburg.  I live just to the south of Carbondale where the un-glaciated land becomes hilly and my land is on rolling countryside adjacent to state forest with the Shawnee National Forest (750,000 acres) nearby.  Further south, the land has more in common with Missouri or Kentucky than with the rest of the state.

And it is a drive!  When I was dating wife, the entire courtship was long distance.  She was a medical student in Chicago and I was a teacher in Carbondale.  I would see her on average every other weekend.  On Friday at 3:00, I told students that if they had any questions, ask on Monday!  I beat them out the door and my drive to my wife’s apartment was a 5 hour, 37 minute drive.  Long, but doable.  Today when we go to see her family west of Rockford, it is about a 9 hour drive.

So to sum this whole post up, if you are willing to get to what I call the “real” Southern Illinois (as defined by geology), then there is a world wholly different from the Chicago area or even much of Central Illinois.  And just to be clear, Carbondale is well south of St. Louis (whose suburbs I don’t consider to be in Southern Illinois).  Also to be clear (and again Brianna, this might not be you), I have met a great many number of people from the Chicago area who cannot conceptualize the size of Illinois, how far south it extends from Chicago or just how to define the very notion of what Southern Illinois even is.  Recently I took my daughter on a college visit to Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois (I grew up 15 minutes from the campus!),  We were paired with a prospective student and father from Palatine).  They considered ISU to be in Southern Illinois, despite ISU being located in the northern third of the state.  My point is that the region and distance are hard to conceptualize for many and though the area is beautiful, proximity to familiar places should be considered.

Again I have rambled on.  Maybe you can get something useful from this.  If not, then maybe you can find something humorous?

Eric

Oh I wasnt saying they're close. Just that I'd traveled semi south to St louis...b/c the southern word reminded me. Nothing to do w/ Carbondale.
And I hated the drive b/c I was scared of getting ill (I've been ill since a girl) and had an emotionally abusive dad so 5 mf hrs w/him could be hell. 5 hrs in car period is nerve wracking.
And yah I get that it's like another world. I've been up here my whole life. Sans the 1 mo I lived in CA w/an abusive bf.

It seems like it's easier if you have a location and property in mind. While I'm really trying to find an area that accepts these and is not expensive. I cannot call 102 counties to ask. So I"m not sure what to do.

You can probably eliminate half of the counties simply for being too urban or other considerations. Look at the rest and see whether they have positive characteristics that you might like. Then start calling the ones you feel best about, and expand your inquiries as needed.

We traveled full time in an RV and now are stationary on our land but still live in the same RV.

We researched and invested in a better quality RV since we expected to use it for a long time. We purchased an "Aluminum Toy Hauler" aka ATC. My previous experience and that of other folks, is that the standard RV is a disaster waiting to happen with water intrusion and eventual mold and rot. The ATC does not use any wood, whatsoever, in its construction.

Over time, we have learned that a lot of people buy these RV's to help them recover in a mold free environment. They purchase and park them.

I can say that after over 4 years, we have no issues with water damage or mold on or in the RV itself. We have a lot of friends that travel, some of them are on their 3rd RV in a handful of years because of water intrusion.

The only issue with the ATC is that they have increased significantly in price, like most everything else, since we bought one.

+1 to Josh Hoffman's comment.

I purchased a (very small 8' x 6' x 6') aluminum trailer to heal from mold + chemical illness.

It was made without high VOC products. It is too small for longer-term, but it provided an option when desperately needed. It was custom built to be mold and mildew resistant with metal walls and a metal floor. It does not have a subfloor or any paneling.

The brand is WeeRoll. He has a waiting list for production. If you'd like to buy mine, PM me, and we can come up with a fair price that works for you. It has electricity (15 AMP) and can be powered by a 110V outlet.

Mine is similar to this, except with fewer windows for less chance of moisture intrusion. It has a new window A/C unit that fits in the opening of the backdoor: https://weeroll.com/weeroll-nomad-8/

Glenn Herbert wrote:You can probably eliminate half of the counties simply for being too urban or other considerations. Look at the rest and see whether they have positive characteristics that you might like. Then start calling the ones you feel best about, and expand your inquiries as needed.

Well tbh I'm not familiar w/ much past coal city. I've no clue. So I cannot say one way or another if its too this or too that.

Josh Hoffman wrote:We traveled full time in an RV and now are stationary on our land but still live in the same RV.

We researched and invested in a better quality RV since we expected to use it for a long time. We purchased an "Aluminum Toy Hauler" aka ATC. My previous experience and that of other folks, is that the standard RV is a disaster waiting to happen with water intrusion and eventual mold and rot. The ATC does not use any wood, whatsoever, in its construction.

Over time, we have learned that a lot of people buy these RV's to help them recover in a mold free environment. They purchase and park them.

I can say that after over 4 years, we have no issues with water damage or mold on or in the RV itself. We have a lot of friends that travel, some of them are on their 3rd RV in a handful of years because of water intrusion.

The only issue with the ATC is that they have increased significantly in price, like most everything else, since we bought one.

I have heard of all metal housing. The issue there is if in cold climates, there can be condensation which can cause mold, and that's not based on my common sense, but I read it on a site called my chemical free house. Here it can get to 30 below zero. So, thats not really an option.

Melissa James wrote:+1 to Josh Hoffman's comment.

I purchased a (very small 8' x 6' x 6') aluminum trailer to heal from mold + chemical illness.

It was made without high VOC products. It is too small for longer-term, but it provided an option when desperately needed. It was custom built to be mold and mildew resistant with metal walls and a metal floor. It does not have a subfloor or any paneling.

The brand is WeeRoll. He has a waiting list for production. If you'd like to buy mine, PM me, and we can come up with a fair price that works for you. It has electricity (15 AMP) and can be powered by a 110V outlet.

Mine is similar to this, except with fewer windows for less chance of moisture intrusion. It has a new window A/C unit that fits in the opening of the backdoor: https://weeroll.com/weeroll-nomad-8/

Thats wonderful to hear. But see my comment to what he said. That is what i'm afraid of.

Something I also just thought of...
If I contact a tiny home builder, he would probably know all the zoning and codes for IL right? Maybe he can suggest an area to move to.
I got the name of the codes from the building dept and did a search--not sure how we're supposed to understand this. I guess we just ask the builder--can you adhere to this?

An article I just saw today...IL just wants us homeless. All I can think of.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicagos-housing-policy-still-promotes-exclusion/

Brianna Kathrinus wrote:Something I also just thought of...
If I contact a tiny home builder, he would probably know all the zoning and codes for IL right? Maybe he can suggest an area to move to.
I got the name of the codes from the building dept and did a search--not sure how we're supposed to understand this. I guess we just ask the builder--can you adhere to this?

An article I just saw today...IL just wants us homeless. All I can think of.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicagos-housing-policy-still-promotes-exclusion/

Am I wrong in this assumption? Would save me a lot of work for which I was not trained, and they are. Maybe why I cant read it. I caht be the only one here.

Brianna,
There is a line from the great movie "The Princess Bride" where Wesley says "Life is pain. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something." Navigating building regulations, constructing a house with integrity, and making a living at doing that are each a full time job that requires extensive investments of tools, time and experience to do right, so anyone who can speak with some knowledge on the subject is probably selling their time or a product. As such I would strongly urge you to continue educating yourself so you can at least see where the people you enlist to build for you are making their money, and whether their product is right for you.

Natural Building details vary a bit more geographically than industrial building details because generally more attention is given to climate appropriate design. The principles and skills and materials required to build a low chemical natural house are fairly straightforward, but demand is pretty low and the demand for industrial contractors is pretty high so very few of us can afford to tool up for and focus on building natural buildings despite our passion for them.

Most building regulations are broadly similar across the country, based on subtly different flavors of the same building code, with little regard (maybe even some latent hostility toward) climate appropriateness, chemical sensitivity or environmental footprint, There are also building regulations (like building size zoning rules and most trade licenses and insurance and banking and contractor relationships) that are particular to each specific town or county. Generally for a builder to make a living they will have to be licensed and insured to work in a particular town to build houses that meet that town's particular building code and insurance requirements in order for the client to get bank funding. Outside these norms your trail leads into metaphorical briar patches pretty quickly.

If you wanted a standard sized, bank sanctioned industrial chemical house you could find a contractor to build you something at least 1500 square feet in size for around $200 to $300 per square foot (before tariff craziness). My experience is that all of the most reliable industrial contractors will be very busy with a backlog of months or years. They will most likely not have the expertise to build a natural house or the time to talk to you about it. If they have time it might be to try to sell you something other than what you want--for that reason alone you need to educate yourself.

The demand for natural homes or low chemical homes is tiny, so finding a bank to loan money on one and a contractor to build one for you is a rare and beautiful thing. You may have to import that builder, which significantly boosts your costs. The locations that welcome tiny homes are few and far between, so often these tiny houses are built on trailers far away by specialty builders, most of whom do not have prior knowledge of the particular zoning and codes for your area, so they have to rely on you or a local contractor to tell them what the rules are there, or somehow charge you for the time it takes to find out, assuming we take the time to find out.

Many tiny homes get installed without local permissions, which is a risky but sometimes useful strategy. Technically there will be state wide building and septic and electric code requirements anywhere you go. Practically you will find pockets (mostly rural and impoverished) where the rules are not enforced consistently and you can do what you want. Somewhere you will find a contractor who can help you. Be patient and wary. Building code and zoning requirements you weren't expecting can be the death of your dreams.  Building without approval is risky but so is a 30 year loan, and so is renting a house that is full of mold or chemicals that are wrecking your body and peace of mind. I go into that more here if you want to go down that rabbit hole webpage  

The number of contractors who build homes that are code approved, low chemical, natural and tiny is vanishingly small, but not zero. Tiny homes are generally expensive per square foot--naturally tiny homes doubly so. I have seen many that are amazing little gems, but the road to success can be long. My building partners and I are based in Ohio but often travel as far as California or Washington or Idaho or Massachusetts or Virginia or Alabama to build natural buildings. It can cost a lot of money for the client and we don't get rich doing it, but it can be worth importing a builder or a building if it gets you what you need.

I'm sure this was not what you wanted to hear, but I am not trying to sell you anything. I would rather teach someone how to build something by doing it with them any day. That's my primary joy and I've done my time long enough to be a little choosy about my builds.

I wish for you to get the house you need. Please keep your head up. The fine people who are also replying here are mainly speaking kindly from experience.  

--Uncle Mud (aka Chris McClellan)

I did a little bit of research based on Glenn’s post about which countries to eliminate.

You made reference to Coal City, and this is a good starting point as we can get an extreme outer perimeter of Chicago and its suburbs.

If you look on a map or if you can visualize the broader Chicago area, starting with Coal City and drawing a line due north, that line would run just west of Elgin.  Past that line are mostly small towns and countryside until you would hit Rockford, about 30 miles away.  The Rockford area is about 15 miles across, after which there is about 60 miles till the border at the Mississippi River.

Now starting at Rockford again and this time drawing the line due east, the line pretty much runs through rural countryside, thought Kankakee is a few miles to the south and the suburbs of Chicago begin about 10-15 miles to the north.

Within that zone is by far the most urbanized region of Illinois, but even there exist pockets of rural land, but I bet the land prices are steep.

Outside of this zone, almost all of Illinois is dominated by rural land and rural, Midwestern norms.  I like the way that Glenn was thinking about eliminating half of the counties by excluding the ones dominated by urban areas, but really, the only counties that I would exclude would be the ones in that zone as defined by Coal City, and even then there are some exceptions.

The good news is that you have a lot of places to look.  The downside is that this does not really narrow the choices and only adds to the zoning issues.  As has been already mentioned, most building codes will be broadly similar, but exact placement (how far from the road, etc.) will differ from location to location, even city to city.  Generally, the further south you go the cheaper the land will be, but obviously individual parcels will go for their own price.

Good luck,

Eric