Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Grayslake, Illinois

Village of Grayslake’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories inside Grayslake village

  • 2009 International Residential Code adopted with local modifications; the chapter controls in conflicts
  • Electrical per National Electrical Code 2011 as adopted by village; plumbing per State of Illinois Plumbing Code as adopted by village

  IRC edition: 2009 (local amendments in Chapter 15.52)

  “While the 2009 Edition of the International Residential Code has been adopted, the following modifications to the 2009 International Residential Code”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Grayslake village limits

  “In all chapters and sections where "International Zoning Code" is written insert "The Grayslake Zoning Ordinance, Title 17";”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Living in an RV, motor home or travel trailer parked on a residential lot inside Grayslake village

  • Motor homes and travel trailers may be parked on residential premises up to 24 hours for loading/unloading and not more than 48 hours in a seven-day period
  • Storage limits: not over 22 feet, behind rearmost facade, 5 ft setback, improved surface, max one motor home/travel trailer/boat
  • Nonpaying guest of the lawful occupant in a mobilehome allowed up to 30 days per year under 15.40.010

  max RV length stored outside: <= 22 feet

  “Shall not be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a residential lot.”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Camping on village-owned property (parks, rights-of-way, lots) inside Grayslake

  • Exceptions only by village manager in emergencies or village board authorization/special event
  • Camping on private residential lots in RVs is separately barred by 8.32.020

  “No person may camp, occupy a campsite, or construct a campsite inconsistent with this chapter unless (i) specifically authorized by the village manager in emergency circumstances, or (ii) upon village board authorization.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Wheeled mobilehomes inside Grayslake village

  • Exceptions: in transit; unoccupied and not offered for lease; nonpaying guest up to 30 days in one year
  • Mobilehome parks authorized by special use permit are exempt
  • Wheels may not be removed or home permanently fixed to ground by occupants
  • Treatment of HUD-code manufactured homes on permanent foundations in zoning not verified

  guest occupancy limit: <= 30 days per year

  “It is unlawful to maintain or allow any mobilehome to be upon private or public property within the village, or to occupy any such mobilehome, but this prohibition shall not apply to the following: 1. Any mobilehome which is in transit; 2. Any mobilehome which is unoccupied and is not offered for lease; 3. Any mobilehome which is occupied by a nonpaying guest of the owner or lawful occupant of private property upon which the same mobilehome is located for an interval of not exceeding thirty (30) days in any one-year period.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Grayslake village

  • Minor subdivision: not more than five lots, fronting an existing improved street, no new street
  • Sales or exchanges between abutting owners that do not change lot count or create nonconformity are excluded if recorded and delivered to village

  minor subdivision max lots: <= 5 lots

  “"Minor subdivision" means any subdivision containing not more than five lots, and fronting on an existing improved street, and not involving any new street or road”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Vehicles crossing public parkways to reach private property inside Grayslake village

  • Crossing must be on a temporary or permanent improved driveway meeting Sections 12.08.060 or 12.08.040
  • Village's own maintenance work excepted

  “No person (except the village in the improvement, maintenance or care of public property) shall drive, or cause to be propelled, any automobile, truck, trailer or similar vehicle across any public parkway in the village, except upon a driveway temporarily or permanently improved”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Grayslake or Lake County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Grayslake village
• Inspections — Inspections inside Grayslake village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Grayslake village
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Grayslake village
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family districts inside Grayslake village

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Grayslake means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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