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Illinois Statewide Rule

Illinois Has No Adopted Rainwater Harvesting Standard

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Illinois (2026)

Key Facts

Statewide standard
None adopted
Proposed
Dec. 28, 2018 (IDPH)
Would have required
CSA B805-17/ICC 805-2017 design
Proposed plan-review trigger
Over 5,000 gallons storage
Plumbing Code today
Subparts A-M only
Last verified: August 10, 2026Source: Illinois General Assembly

Summary

Illinois has never adopted a statewide plumbing standard for rainwater harvesting. The Department of Public Health proposed one in December 2018, but it never took effect, and the Illinois Plumbing Code still contains no harvested-water subpart.

SUBPART O: HARVESTED WATER SYSTEMS -- Section 890.3000 On-Site Collected Rainwater and Stormwater. This Section shall apply to the design, installation, construction, alteration, operation, maintenance, or repair of rainwater and stormwater harvesting systems intended to supply applications such as water closets, urinals, and lawn sprinkler systems with sprinkler heads at single family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, and non-residential buildings. a) Rainwater harvesting systems shall be designed in accordance with CSA B805-17/ICC 805-2017 based upon end use application. ... (Source: Added at 43 Ill. Reg. ______, effective ____________)

Source: Illinois General AssemblyView official code

Full Breakdown

On December 28, 2018 the Illinois Department of Public Health published a Notice of Proposed Amendments to the Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890) adding a new Subpart O, Harvested Water Systems. Proposed Section 890.3000 would have covered rainwater and stormwater systems feeding water closets, urinals and lawn sprinklers, required design to CSA B805-17/ICC 805-2017, required IDPH plan approval above 5,000 gallons of storage, and required owners to keep maintenance records for five years. It was never adopted. The Plumbing Code in force today runs Subparts A through M and ends near Section 890.1950; Sections 890.3000, 890.3010 and 890.3050 do not exist in it.

Violations & Penalties

No state penalty applies, because no rainwater harvesting standard was ever adopted. Local building, plumbing and stormwater permits still apply to the work itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Illinois regulate rainwater harvesting?
No statewide plumbing standard governs it. IDPH proposed Subpart O of the Illinois Plumbing Code in December 2018, but the rule was never adopted and is not in force.
What would the proposed rule have required?
Design to CSA B805-17/ICC 805-2017, IDPH plan approval for systems storing over 5,000 gallons, and five years of maintenance records available to the Department on request.
Do local rules still apply?
Yes. Cities and counties set their own plumbing, building and stormwater permit requirements, so check the municipality where the system will be installed.

Sources

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