Bolthole Index

McHenry County, Illinois

Building permits, zoning and land rules in McHenry County, Illinois

33Index Score / 100
#96 of 102 in Illinois

McHenry County, Illinois requires a building permit for construction in unincorporated parts of the county, issued by the Planning & Development Building Division after zoning, stormwater and plan review12. The county administers its own zoning ordinance over unincorporated land through the Unified Development Ordinance34. Septic systems go through the McHenry County Department of Health, not the state directly, and the county's soils make conventional drain fields the exception rather than the rule here56.

At a glance

Building permit
Required in unincorporated McHenry County1
Zoning
County zoning ordinance (UDO) applies to unincorporated land3
Septic permit
McHenry County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division57
Owner-builder exemption
Not confirmed for McHenry County; ask the Building Division before assuming one applies8
Certificate of occupancy
Required before occupying a permitted single-family residence9
Manufactured homes
Allowed statewide with installation and siting conditions10
Septic-friendly soils
Only 2.5% of county soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field6

Who to call

Building permits

McHenry County Planning & Development, Building Division

Building permit review, issuance and inspections for construction in unincorporated McHenry County

(815) 334-4000

2200 North Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098

Zoning

McHenry County Planning & Development, Planning, Zoning and Land Use Division

Zoning petitions, rezoning, conditional use permits, variations, and zoning-use determinations for unincorporated McHenry County under the Unified Development Ordinance

(815) 334-4000

2200 North Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098

Septic permits

McHenry County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division

Septic (onsite wastewater treatment) system permits for installation, modification, repair, replacement and abandonment in McHenry County

(815) 334-4000

2200 North Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098

Floodplain permits

McHenry County Planning & Development, Water Resources Division

Stormwater management permits, drainage and flooding concerns, and floodplain review of building permits in unincorporated McHenry County

(815) 334-4000

2200 North Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098

Roads & driveways

McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT)

Road Access Approval Permits for driveways and entrances connecting to McHenry County highways

815/334-4960

[email protected]

16111 Nelson Road, Woodstock, IL 60098

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in McHenry County, Illinois?

Yes, if your land is in unincorporated McHenry County: the Building Division reviews construction documents, issues building permits and conducts inspections of construction there12. If your property sits within a village or city's limits, that municipality's own building office handles the permit instead of the county2. Illinois has required a statewide building-code baseline since 2025, while local governments may adopt and administer compliant local codes11. The Building Division aims to complete permit reviews within 10 business days of the application date2. A permitted single-family residence must receive a Certificate of Occupancy before anyone moves in; a temporary certificate is limited to safe, substantially complete work and requires Health Department approval of the septic and well systems9.

Who is the McHenry County building department, and how do you reach them?

The McHenry County Planning & Development Building Division is the building department for unincorporated county land, based at the McHenry County Government Center, 2200 North Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098, phone (815) 334-40002. The division reviews construction documents, issues permits and conducts construction inspections in unincorporated McHenry County2. Ask the Building Division what plans and trade approvals your project needs before applying, especially because we could not confirm a general owner-builder exemption8. If your parcel is inside a village or city, contact that municipality's building or administrative office instead of the county2.

Does McHenry County have zoning?

Yes. McHenry County administers zoning in unincorporated parts of the county through the Planning, Zoning and Land Use Division and the Unified Development Ordinance34. The ordinance includes a "Zoning District Uses" table showing uses by zoning district; for an unlisted use, ask the Zoning Enforcement Officer to determine which district allows it4. Setback distances and building-height limits depend on the applicable county zoning district rather than one statewide measurement1213. We could not confirm countywide numeric minimums for dwelling size, lot size or setbacks, so obtain the parcel's district and written answers from the Planning, Zoning and Land Use Division before designing a house. A zoning petition typically takes a minimum of three months4.

How do septic permits work in McHenry County?

Septic permits in McHenry County go through the county, not the state directly: a permit is required from the McHenry County Department of Health to install, modify, alter, extend, repair, replace or abandon a septic system anywhere in the county57. All septic work, including installation and repairs, must be done by an Illinois Department of Public Health licensed septic contractor; homeowners cannot self-install7. Before you can get a permit for a new system, a site evaluation with a soil boring report from a certified soil classifier is typically required7. That soil testing matters here more than in most counties: only 2.5% of McHenry County's soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field under USDA survey data, so plan on engineering, a larger system, or an aerobic treatment unit on most rural parcels6. Surface-discharging systems are not allowed in the county, and holding tanks are limited to narrow situations such as under 180 days while waiting for sewer connection7. Statewide, plan approval is required before any new system is built, and whoever does the work must give at least 48 hours' notice before starting14.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in McHenry County?

There is no confirmed McHenry County rule allowing or barring long-term RV or tiny-home living on a private rural parcel, so this guide does not have a county-specific answer to give. Illinois' statewide campground law regulates licensed campgrounds, defined around groups of 10 or more people camping 6 or more days a year, and a "camping day" it recognizes is any 24-hour period participants remain overnight at a licensed site; that law governs campgrounds, not whether you can live in an RV on land you own, and should not be read as settling that question15. Because a use not listed in the Unified Development Ordinance's "Zoning District Uses" table requires a determination from the Zoning Enforcement Officer, that is the reliable way to get a real answer for a specific parcel before you buy or move a unit onto it4. A manufactured home is a more defined path: Illinois requires manufactured homes to be secured with IDPH-standard tie-down equipment if moved since 1980, and to be installed by a state-licensed installer, on top of whatever the county's local zoning, building and floodplain rules require10.

Building a home in McHenry County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and whether the proposed use appears in the ordinance's Zoning District Uses table; ask the Zoning Enforcement Officer about an unlisted use4.
  2. If the site is not on public sewer, apply to the McHenry County Department of Health for septic approval and arrange the required soil evaluation and licensed installer57.
  3. Ask the Water Resources Division about grading, drainage, wetlands and floodplain review because it checks building permits for stormwater compliance16.
  4. For a driveway connecting to a county highway, apply to the McHenry County Division of Transportation with a site plan or sketch; work in county right-of-way requires a permit17.
  5. Submit construction documents to the Building Division; the office aims to complete its review within 10 business days of the application date2.
  6. Complete inspections and obtain the required Certificate of Occupancy before occupying a permitted single-family residence9.

What to check before you buy land in McHenry County

Test the soil before you count on a standard septic system: only 2.5% of McHenry County's soils are rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, and the county requires a soil boring evaluation and an Illinois-licensed contractor for permitted septic work67. Confirm the zoning district and allowed uses with the Planning, Zoning and Land Use Division before closing because an unlisted use needs a determination from the Zoning Enforcement Officer4. Check drainage, wetlands and floodplain status with the Water Resources Division, which reviews building permits for stormwater compliance16. Most county land has a slope of 15% or less, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 18 miles from the county's center1819. Budget for a typical effective property-tax rate of about 2.5% and a median annual property-tax bill near $7,1532021.

Watch-outs

  • McHenry County requires permits in unincorporated areas, while incorporated villages and cities direct owners to their own building offices12.
  • We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption for McHenry County; ask the Building Division whether an owner may pull the permit and perform the proposed work8.
  • RV or tiny-home living on a private rural parcel is not confirmed one way or the other for McHenry County; get a written zoning-use determination for the specific parcel before assuming it is allowed4.

Sources

  1. McHenry County Planning & Development - Building Division (2026 county census)
  2. McHenry County Planning & Development, Building Division (mchenrycountyil.gov)
  3. McHenry County Planning & Development - Ordinances (2026 county census)
  4. McHenry County Planning & Development, Planning, Zoning and Land Use Division (mchenrycountyil.gov)
  5. McHenry County Health Department - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (2026 county census)
  6. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  7. McHenry County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division (mchenrycountyil.gov)
  8. (2026 county census)
  9. Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Request, quoted and re-checked
  10. Manufactured & Modular Homes/Mobile Structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Illinois Codes (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. 55 ILCS 5/5-12001 — Authority to regulate and restrict location and use of structures (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905.190 Installation Approval (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Youth Camps and Campgrounds (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. McHenry County Planning & Development, Water Resources Division (mchenrycountyil.gov)
  17. Highway Access Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  18. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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.

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County locator

McHenry County in Illinois

33
County map
McHenry County highlighted among the Illinois counties · colored by Index score

How McHenry County scores

Seclusion10100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency56100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability68100% ev.
Property Autonomy42100% ev.
Carry Cost51100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$372kTypical home
2.5%Property tax
$8,304Land / acre
37.4"Annual rain
7.8% of yrsSevere drought
3 / yr (+2.9)Mid-century 100°F days
13.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.7" (+7.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.71×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,672Home insurance / yr
3.4% / yrInsurance growth
1.1%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
361,985People within 30 min
12,745,880People within 2 hr
385,974Radius comparison (15 mi)
518.4People / sq mi
0.2%Federal land
96.7%Land at 15% slope or less
2.5%Septic soil without severe limits
9,317 acWorkable land screen
25.6%Wooded land
50.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
48.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for McHenry County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

McHenry County rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy of a single-family residence structure subject to a McHenry County building permit

    • A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued only when the portion to be occupied is safe and the permitted work is substantially complete.
    • A TCO is not issued for correction items involving life-safety requirements or substantial completion.
    • Written approval from the McHenry County Department of Health is required for septic and well systems for a TCO.
    • Commercial projects require written approval from the fire district having jurisdiction.
    • The TCO period may not extend beyond the permit expiration date.
    • Violating TCO conditions may revoke the TCO and trigger legal action.
    “Violating any of the conditions will result in revocation of the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy and a violation of IRC Sec. 110.1, occupying a single family residence structure without a Certificate of Occupancy.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway and other access connections onto McHenry County highways, including major commercial or subdivision access, minor access for a driveway serving 1-4 homes or a field entrance, temporary access, and emergency access.

    • The application must be returned to the McHenry County Division of Transportation with a site plan or preliminary engineering plan.
    • For minor access, the applicant must provide a sketch showing the property location and proposed driveway.
    • The permit requirement applies to work within the County right-of-way and is administered under the Illinois Highway Code, McHenry County Access Management Ordinance, and Utility Placement Policy.
    • The applicant must comply with MCDOT policies, conditions, and requirements and all applicable federal, state, county, subdivision, and agency requirements.
    • MCDOT may require engineering plans, sight-distance and traffic studies, performance and maintenance guarantees, and a certificate of insurance.
    • Submitting an application does not guarantee approval; insufficient room in the County highway right-of-way may be cause for denial.
    • Proposals become inactive after six months without an applicant response, after which the applicant must reapply and comply with then-current conditions, policies, and standards.
    • Separate Utility Consent Permit applications are required for utilities within the County highway right-of-way.
    • A Facility Installation Application, signed by the local municipality with jurisdiction, is additionally required for specified facilities within the County highway right-of-way.
    “For a Minor Access, provide a sketch, available from the Division, showing the property location and the proposed driveway. In accordance with the Illinois Highway Code, McHenry County Access Management Ordinance and Utility Placement Policy, a permit is required for any work within the County right-of-way.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    McHenry County zones unincorporated land; zoning is one of the required permit reviews and is governed by county ordinances.

    McHenry County Planning & Development - Ordinances ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Illinois rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Privately funded construction in Illinois; the State does not itself issue building permits, while any required permit is addressed by the applicable local government.

    • Permit requirements may be imposed and administered by the municipality, village, city, or county having jurisdiction.
    • The Illinois Capital Development Board states that statewide building codes became effective 1/1/2025, while local code officials remain the best source for project-specific answers.

    statewide building-code effective date: 2025-01-01

    “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required — Issuance of building permits by the State of Illinois for privately funded construction.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building-code requirements statewide in Illinois, including residential and commercial construction subject to the Capital Development Board Act baseline requirements.

    • Effective 2025-01-01, Illinois requires statewide baseline building-code requirements.
    • Local governments may adopt building codes, but they are not required to adopt codes; jurisdictions that do not adopt a code are treated as non-building-code jurisdictions and must follow the applicable state-law baseline requirements.
    • For jurisdictions with adopted codes, local codes must regulate structural design at least as stringently as the applicable IRC, IBC, or IEBC baseline.
    • Commercial buildings in non-building-code jurisdictions and state-funded buildings are subject to the state-listed codes and qualified-inspection requirements.
    • Residential requirements differ depending on whether the jurisdiction has adopted a compliant building code and whether the home purchaser and builder agree to an alternative code.

    statewide baseline effective date: 2025-01-01 · local code structural minimum for residential buildings: IRC minimum structural requirements · local code structural minimum for commercial new buildings: IBC minimum structural requirements · local code structural minimum for existing commercial buildings: IEBC minimum structural requirements

    “The State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide building codes effective 1/1/2025. [...] Commercial buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code AND state funded buildings. [...] Starting 1/1/25 local codes must regulate the structural design in a manner that is at least as stringent as the IBC© for new buildings or IEBC© for existing buildings. [...] Residential buildings in jurisdictions that have not adopted a building code where agreed to by the home purchaser and home builder. [...] Residential buildings in jurisdictions that have adopted a building code. [...] Starting 1/1/25 local codes must regulate the structural design in a manner that is at least as stringent as the IRC©.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted — Statewide baseline building-code requirements for residential construction in Illinois, including jurisdictions with and without locally adopted building codes.
      “Please be advised that the State of Illinois recently passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510) changing the Capital Development Board Act to require statewide baseline building codes effective 1/1/2025. Locally adopted building codes must comply with the requirements of the Act.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Privately funded construction statewide in Illinois, as to inspections performed by the State rather than by a local authority having jurisdiction.

    • The Illinois Capital Development Board does not perform building-code inspections for privately funded construction.
    • If inspections are required, they are addressed by the applicable unit of local government.
    • A local municipality or county may be a non-building-code jurisdiction, in which case applicable state baseline requirements and inspection-certification provisions may apply.
    “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required — Building-code-compliance inspections performed by the State of Illinois for privately funded construction.
      “No. If any of these are required, they would be addressed by the unit of local government.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    County zoning regulations for building or setback lines outside municipalities with municipal zoning ordinances.

    • The actual setback distances are established by applicable county zoning districts or other local ordinances.
    • Agricultural buildings may be required to conform to building or setback lines.
    “to establish building or setback lines”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    County zoning districts outside municipalities with municipal zoning ordinances.

    • The applicable county zoning ordinance determines the actual height limit by district or use.
    • No single statewide height measurement was identified.
    “including height of buildings and structures”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Occupancy of manufactured homes as dwellings, including occupancy in manufactured home communities regulated by IDPH.

    • Manufactured home communities with 5 or more sites must be licensed by IDPH, except communities located in home rule units.
    • IDPH annually inspects licensed communities for renewal, including water, sewage disposal, electrical systems, lighting, roads, spacing of homes, and garbage disposal.
    • Manufactured homes moved since January 1, 1980 must be secured using equipment meeting IDPH standards.
    • Effective December 31, 2001, manufactured homes must be installed by an Illinois licensed manufactured home installer or the homeowner and installed according to manufacturer instructions; if unavailable, the IDPH Manufactured Home Installation Code applies.
    • Local zoning, building, floodplain, and utility requirements may also apply.

    manufactured home community license threshold: >= 5 sites (Communities located in home rule units are excepted from this IDPH licensing statement.) · moved-home tiedown requirement effective date: >= 1980-01-01 · installation requirement effective date: >= 2001-12-31

    “designed and situated so as to permit its occupancy as a dwelling place for one or more persons”
  • Who permits septicMixed

    Installation and plan approval for private sewage disposal systems statewide in Illinois.

    • IDPH regulates private sewage disposal systems within the described scope.
    • About 90 local health agencies also review construction plans under local ordinances or as agents of IDPH.

    surface discharge threshold: <= 1500 gallons per day (Systems with no surface discharge are also regulated.)

    “There are about 90 local health agencies in Illinois that also review sewage disposal system construction plans”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction of a new private sewage disposal system statewide, including systems where a septic tank is replaced, a major component is added or removed, or the absorption field changes by at least 25 percent.

    • Plan approval must be obtained from IDPH or the applicable local authority before construction begins.
    • Persons constructing, installing, repairing, or modifying the system must notify the Department or local authority at least 48 hours before work begins.
    • The rule requires submission of plans, site and system information, bedroom count or design volume, soil or percolation information, owner information, and applicant signature.

    notice before commencement: >= 48 hours · absorption-field change threshold: >= 25 percent (The rule treats increasing the field by 25% or more, or removing and replacing 25% or more, as a new system.)

    “Plan approval shall be obtained from the Department or local authority prior to beginning any construction of a new private sewage disposal system.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    New and replacement surface-discharging private sewage disposal systems covered by Illinois EPA general NPDES Permit ILG62.

    • Coverage under the general permit is limited to eligible dischargers.
    • Systems not eligible for general-permit coverage may require an individual NPDES permit.
    • Periodic inspection, monitoring, and reporting are required under the permit.
    “The permit sets discharge limits and requires periodic inspection, monitoring and reporting.”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Off-grid disposal of human wastes through privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets, and compost toilets statewide in Illinois.

    • Other domestic wastes must be disposed of in a conventional private sewage disposal system.
    • Compost toilets may also be used for other organic domestic wastes.
    • Privies have construction, capacity, venting, maintenance, and abandonment requirements.
    • A privy pit must have a minimum capacity of 50 cubic feet per seat.
    • A privy must be pumped when filled to within 18 inches of the bottom of the riser.
    • Vault privies are required where groundwater or limestone formations are within 4 feet of the bottom of the pit.
    • Recirculating toilets must meet NSF International/ANSI Standard 41 and residuals must go to an approved public or private sewage disposal system.
    • Incinerator and compost toilets have separate maintenance and disposal requirements; compost toilets must meet NSF International/ANSI Standard 41.

    privy pit minimum capacity: >= 50 cubic feet per seat · privy pumping trigger: <= 18 inches from bottom of riser (Pump when filled to within this distance.) · vault-privy groundwater or limestone separation: < 4 feet from bottom of pit (Watertight, non-metal vaults are required where the condition applies.)

    “Privies, portable toilets, recirculation toilets, incinerator toilets and compost toilets are approved for private sewage disposal of human wastes.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction of a new water well, modification of an existing water well, or sealing of an abandoned water well in Illinois.

    • A permit must be obtained from the Illinois Department of Public Health or an approved local health department before work begins.
    • The application must use Department or approved local health department forms and include a plan and drawing of the proposed construction.
    • The plan must include the lot size, slope, property lines, distances to septic tanks, abandoned wells, property lines, seepage fields, sewers, and other contamination sources; driller license number and name; estimated daily pumping capacity if greater than 100,000 gallons per day; well location; owner name and address; well type; estimated depth; well-use type; and proposed aquifer.
    • The permit is void if construction has not commenced within one year after issuance.
    • The permit fee for constructing, deepening, modifying, or sealing a water well may not exceed $100.
    • The Department will deny a permit request when available information indicates groundwater contamination exceeds Class I groundwater standards, subject to the treatment approval provision in subsection (f)(2).
    • The permittee must notify the Department, approved local health department, or approved unit of local government by telephone or in writing at least two days before work begins.

    maximum water well permit fee: <= 100 USD · permit commencement deadline: 1 year after issuance (Permit is void if construction has not commenced within that period.) · pre-work notification: >= 2 days (Notification may be by telephone or in writing.)

    “A permit to construct a new water well, modify an existing water well or seal an abandoned water well shall be obtained from the Department or approved local health department prior to start of work.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction activities in regulated Illinois floodways and, where a floodway has not been delineated, generally work anywhere in the floodplain.

    • For downstate streams, IDNR Division permitting applies to floodways of streams draining at least one square mile in urban areas or ten square miles in rural areas.
    • In northeastern Illinois, Part 3708 applies to identified floodways in Cook County excluding Chicago, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
    • Some minor activities are automatically authorized by statewide or regional permits if their terms and conditions are met.
    • For State-owned property, Part 3710 requires a permit for all development activity in FEMA-mapped floodplains.

    urban stream drainage area threshold: >= 1 square mile (regulated floodways under Part 3700) · rural stream drainage area threshold: >= 10 square miles (regulated floodways under Part 3700)

    “All construction activities in the floodways of streams (the channel and the adjacent portion of the floodplain that is needed to safely convey and store flood waters) in urban areas where the stream drainage area is one square mile or more or in rural areas where the stream drainage area is ten square miles or more must be permitted by the Division prior to construction.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals in Illinois where at least one room is rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days and accommodations are reserved in advance, when the hosting platform meets the statutory definition of a re-renter.

    • Beginning July 1, 2025, qualifying hosting platforms are subject to Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax.
    • The source establishes tax and registration obligations, not statewide land-use permission; local zoning and licensing may separately apply.

    rental period: < 30 consecutive days

    “Beginning July 1, 2025, hosting platforms for short-term rentals that meet the definition of “re-renter” are subject to Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Applications and written inquiries for Illinois Department of Natural Resources public-water, dam, and floodway work requiring authorization.

    • The Department reviews applications and written inquiries free of charge to determine whether authorization is required when sufficient information is provided.
    • A permit application fee may apply under the Department's permit fee schedule.
    “January 15, 2014, a new Permit Application Fee went into effect. All applications and written inquiries received will be reviewed free of charge to determine whether the Public Water, dam and/or floodway work proposed requires authorization by the Department, so long as sufficient information is provided for the Department to make that determination.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction projects in Illinois waterways, floodplains, and wetlands seeking State and Federal authorizations through the joint permit application process.

    • The joint application seeks authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources, and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
    • The joint application form replaced the former Protecting Illinois Waters application package.
    “Construction projects in Illinois' waterways, floodplains and wetlands often require both State and Federal authorization. This joint application is designed to simplify the approval process for the applicant seeking project authorizations from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Water Resources and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.”
  • Campground & park staysAllowed (with conditions)

    Overnight camping in Illinois campgrounds subject to the Campground Licensing and Recreational Area Act.

    • IDPH annually inspects and licenses campgrounds in Illinois.
    • The state campground definition includes camping and temporary parking of recreational vehicles.
    • Campgrounds within home rule units of government are exempt from the state campground licensing requirement.
    • Recreational areas without overnight camping, such as highway rest stops and picnicking areas, are subject to the rules but are not licensed or routinely inspected.

    minimum persons for statutory campground threshold: >= 10 persons · minimum camping duration for statutory campground threshold: >= 6 camping days per calendar year

    ““Camping Day” means any 24 hour period or portion thereof during which the participants remain overnight at the site.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Illinois counties adopting and enforcing building codes and issuing building permits for residential construction in unincorporated areas, subject to the statewide baseline framework.

    • A municipality or county is not required to adopt a building code.
    • A county that does not adopt a building code is treated as a non-building-code jurisdiction, and section 10.09-1 of the Capital Development Board Act applies.
    • A county that adopts a building code must comply with section 10.18 of the Capital Development Board Act.
    • Locally adopted codes must regulate residential structural design at least as stringently as the baseline International Residential Code.
    • For privately funded projects, the local code official is the authority having jurisdiction; the State does not issue private-project building permits, perform plan reviews, or perform inspections.
    “A municipality or county is not required to adopt building codes. If they do NOT adopt a building code then they are considered a non-building code jurisdiction and section 10.09-1 of the Capital Development Board Act (20 ILCS 3105) applies. If they do adopt a building code(s) then it must comply with section 10.18 of the Capital Development Board Act (20 ILCS 3105).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from McHenry County building requirements
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning across McHenry County municipalities and unincorporated areas
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts and zoning-district maps
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size requirements
8 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land

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.

Living off-grid in McHenry County, Illinois

Is McHenry County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

McHenry County scores 33/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: about 361,985 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in McHenry County, Illinois?

McHenry County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by McHenry County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in McHenry County, Illinois?

Land in McHenry County runs about $8,304 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in McHenry County?

McHenry County gets about 37.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 7.8% of years.

How remote is McHenry County?

A representative private-land location has about 361,985 people within a 30-minute drive and 12,745,880 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How McHenry compares in Illinois

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