Bolthole Index

Lake County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of North Barrington, Illinois

The Village of North Barrington, Illinois adopts its own zoning ordinance and requires building permits through its village Building Department12. Septic permits for homes without public sewer come from the Lake County Health Department, not the village3. In the R-1 district, a single-family lot needs at least 5 acres4.

At a glance

Zoning
Village zoning ordinance (Code Title 10) applies inside village limits1
Building permit
Required; issued through the village Building Department2
Certificate of occupancy
Required before anyone sleeps or cooks in a building5
R-1 minimum lot
5 acres, 200 feet at the front lot line, 300 feet average width4
R-1 height limit
3 stories and 35 feet6
Septic
Lake County Health Department, where there is no public sewer3
RV living (R-1)
Owners' travel trailers and motorhomes may be parked but not occupied7
Wells
Lake County Health Department well permit8

Who to call

Building permits

Village of North Barrington Building Department

Plan review, building permits and inspections inside North Barrington village limits; the building permit application form is linked from the department page

(847) 381-6000

111 Old Barrington Road North Barrington, IL 60010

Septic permits

Lake County Health Department, Onsite Wastewater Treatment System program

Septic system review, permits and construction inspections for properties without public sewer service; also well permits

847-377-8020

[email protected]

500 West Winchester Road Libertyville, IL 60048

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does North Barrington, IL have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and RVs?

Yes. The Village of North Barrington adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Title 10 of the village code, and divides all land within village limits into districts1. The districts include R-1 (five acre residential), R-2 (two acre residential) and R-3 (40,000 square foot residential), plus golf course, office, business, planned and equestrian estate districts9. District boundaries are on the village zoning map, so confirm a parcel's district with the Building Department before you buy.

In the R-1 district, a single-family lot needs at least 5 acres, 200 contiguous feet at the front lot line and an average width of at least 300 feet4. Buildings may not exceed 3 stories or 35 feet6.

For RVs, the R-1 district excludes trailers from single-family residences, and an owner's travel trailer or motorhome may be parked on the premises but not otherwise used or occupied7. Rules for other districts, tiny homes and temporary camping were not confirmed; ask the Building Department. The village also reports a zoning code update in draft, with final approval expected in early 2027, so the current code governs until then1.

Do you need a building permit in North Barrington, and who issues it?

Yes. Inside the Village of North Barrington, the village Building Department coordinates plan review, permit issuance and on-site inspection of building projects210. Inspection services are performed by B&F Technical Services for the village11. Land divisions and subdivisions are also regulated by the village12.

A certificate of occupancy must be secured before a building is occupied by persons sleeping or cooking in it. The Building and Zoning Officer issues it after inspection, and may allow a temporary occupancy permit of up to 6 months5.

Illinois itself does not issue building permits for privately funded construction; any permit requirement comes from the local government13. We could not confirm the village's permit fees, the exact projects that trigger a permit, or the building codes it applies, so call the village Building Department before you plan a project10.

How do septic permits work inside North Barrington?

Septic permits are a county matter, not a village one. The Lake County Health Department regulates treatment and dispersal of sewage from septic systems on properties not served by a public sewer1415. Its permit process covers incorporated and unincorporated Lake County where public sewers do not exist3.

The steps: a licensed soil classifier completes a soil evaluation, a licensed designer or engineer designs the system, the plans go to the Health Department, and a licensed septic contractor applies for the construction permit, which is valid for 120 days3. The Health Department inspects construction, and no portion of the system may be backfilled until it is inspected and approved16.

We could not confirm whether a specific North Barrington address is on public sewer or must use a septic system, so ask the village Building Department and the Health Department. New private wells also need a Lake County Health Department permit, in incorporated and unincorporated areas alike8.

Building a home in North Barrington: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district on the village zoning map with the Building Department, and check the lot against the district's minimum size, for example 5 acres in R-1410.
  2. Ask the Lake County Health Department whether the lot needs a septic system and a well, and start the soil evaluation and system design38.
  3. Submit the building permit application, linked from the village Building Department page, for plan review17.
  4. Build with village inspections during construction11, and Health Department inspection of the septic system16.
  5. Secure a certificate of occupancy before anyone sleeps or cooks in the building5.

What stays with Lake County, and what to check before you buy in North Barrington

The village sets zoning and building permits inside its limits, but Lake County keeps septic and well permitting148. Lake County's own zoning ordinance covers only unincorporated land, and municipalities regulate lands within their boundaries18. For land outside village limits, use the Lake County page.

Before you buy, confirm the zoning district and lot dimensions with the village, and ask the Lake County Health Department whether a septic system and well are feasible on the lot. USDA soil ratings show 0% of Lake County soils as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system19. Lake County's effective property tax rate is 2.7%20.

Watch-outs

  • Setbacks, minimum dwelling size, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals, driveway permits and floodplain rules inside the village were not confirmed; ask the Building Department at (847) 381-600010.
  • A draft zoning code update is in progress, with final approval expected in early 2027, so check the current code before relying on a district rule1.
  • Do not send a North Barrington address to Lake County Planning, Building and Development for building permits: that office's rules apply to unincorporated Lake County only21.

Sources

  1. North Barrington Code Title 10 Zoning, Chapter 3 Zoning Districts and Map (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of North Barrington Building Department (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  3. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. North Barrington Code 10-6-1 R-1 District (5 Acre Residential) (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  5. North Barrington Code 8-4-1 Certificate of Occupancy (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  6. North Barrington Code 10-6-1 R-1 District (5 Acre Residential) (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  7. North Barrington Code 10-6-1 R-1 District (5 Acre Residential) (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  8. Environmental Health Permit Applications and Forms, quoted and re-checked
  9. North Barrington Code Title 10 Zoning, Chapter 3 Zoning Districts and Map (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of North Barrington Building Department (northbarrington.org)
  11. Village of North Barrington Building Department (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of North Barrington Building Department (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  13. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Onsite Wastewater Treatment System, quoted and re-checked
  15. Lake County Health Department, Onsite Wastewater Treatment System program (lakecountyil.gov)
  16. Septic System Construction Inspection, quoted and re-checked
  17. Village of North Barrington Building Department (Village of North Barrington), quoted and re-checked
  18. Unified Development Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of North Barrington

Village of North Barrington’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building projects inside North Barrington village, administered by the village Building Department.

    • The Building Department coordinates plan review and permit issuance for building projects.
    • Permit fees and the exact permit triggers were not located (see permit_fees).
    “this building department coordinates plan review, permit issuance, and on-site inspection of all building projects in compliance with the village's subdivision, zoning and building codes.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building projects inside North Barrington village, inspected by village Building Department staff and B&F Technical Services.

    • Inspection services are performed by B&F Technical Services for the village, per the Building Department page.
    “this building department coordinates plan review, permit issuance, and on-site inspection of all building projects in compliance with the village's subdivision, zoning and building codes.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings inside North Barrington village that will be occupied by persons sleeping or cooking therein.

    • The Building and Zoning Officer issues the certificate after inspection confirms all construction is completed in compliance with the building permit and village provisions.
    • At the officer's discretion, a temporary occupancy permit for up to six (6) months may be issued, with a bond if appropriate.

    temporary occupancy permit maximum period: <= 6 months (at discretion of building and zoning officer; bond if appropriate)

    “a certificate of occupancy must be secured before a building is occupied by persons sleeping or cooking therein.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside North Barrington village limits; the village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Code Title 10, Zoning).

    • The adopted zoning ordinance is Title 10 of the village code; chapter 3 divides all land within village limits into zoning districts.
    • The village website reports a comprehensive zoning code update in draft; final Village Board approval is expected late winter or early spring 2027, so the current adopted code governs until then.
    “10-3-1: classification of districts: for the purposes of this title, all land lying within the limits of the village is hereby divided into the following districts”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Land inside North Barrington village limits.

    • Section 10-3-1 lists the districts (R-1 five acre residential, R-2 two acre residential, R-3 40,000 sq ft residential, C golf course and club, O and R office and research, B-1, B-2, B-3, planned, regular golf course, premier golf course, premier equestrian estate).
    • The zoning map is incorporated by reference in 10-3-2 and was not opened, so district boundaries are not verified.
    “10-3-1: classification of districts: for the purposes of this title, all land lying within the limits of the village is hereby divided into the following districts, listed and designated as follows: r-1 district: five (5) acre residential tracts r-2 district: two (2) acre residential tracts r-3 district: forty thousand (40,000) square feet residential tracts”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family residence lot in the R-1 (five acre residential) district inside North Barrington village.

    • Lot must have at least 200 contiguous feet at the front lot line and an average width of at least 300 feet.
    • The minimum area excludes any portion of a vacated village roadway, street or road easement vacated after October 1, 2001.
    • Single-family residences only in this district, excluding trailers.

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres (excludes vacated village roadway or road easement vacated after October 1, 2001) · minimum front lot line width: >= 200 feet · minimum average lot width: >= 300 feet

    “single-family residences, excluding trailers, provided the building plot or lot has a width of at least two hundred (200) contiguous feet at the front lot line, an average width of at least three hundred feet (300') and an area of at least five (5) acres, and said minimum area shall not include any portion of a vacated village roadway, street or road easement vacated after october 1, 2001.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings and structures in the R-1 (five acre residential) district inside North Barrington village.

    • Height is measured under the code definitions of predevelopment grade and building, height of in section 10-2-1.

    maximum stories: <= 3 stories · maximum height: <= 35 feet

    “no building or structure shall have more than three (3) stories. the maximum height shall not exceed thirty five feet (35') as determined pursuant to the definitions of "predevelopment grade" and "building, height of" in section 10-2-1 of this title.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Travel trailers, motorhomes and similar vehicles on private land in the R-1 (five acre residential) district inside North Barrington village.

    • Vehicles may be parked on the premises only under the other provisions and restrictions of Title 10.
    • Such vehicles may not otherwise be used or occupied for any purpose.
    • Single-family residences exclude trailers in this district.
    “travel trailers, trucks, buses, hauler trailers, motorized homes and boats of the owners of the premises may be parked on portions of the premises pursuant to the other provisions and restrictions of this title but may not otherwise be used or occupied for any purpose.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions and subdivisions inside North Barrington village.

    • The village's subdivision ordinance is administered alongside its zoning and building codes; the subdivision text itself (Title 9, Development Standards) was not opened.
    “this building department coordinates plan review, permit issuance, and on-site inspection of all building projects in compliance with the village's subdivision, zoning and building codes.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit process inside North Barrington village.

    • The Building Department coordinates plan review, permit issuance, and on-site inspection; the building permit application form is linked from the department page.
    • Step-by-step process and timelines were not located.
    “this building department coordinates plan review, permit issuance, and on-site inspection of all building projects in compliance with the village's subdivision, zoning and building codes.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside North Barrington village.
  • Building code adopted — Building codes applied inside North Barrington village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside North Barrington village.
  • Setbacks — Yard setbacks for buildings inside North Barrington village, R-1 district.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside North Barrington village.
14 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of North Barrington publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lake County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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