Bolthole Index

McHenry County, Illinois

Zoning, RV rules and septic permits in the Village of McCullom Lake, Illinois

The Village of McCullom Lake, Illinois, in McHenry County, has its own zoning code with residential districts R-1, R-2 and R-31. Sleeping in an RV or tent is limited to three nights in any 30-day period, and only on a lot with a habitable home2. Septic permits for McHenry County, including incorporated areas, come from the McHenry County Department of Health3. We could not confirm the village's building permit rules.

At a glance

Zoning
Village zoning with residential districts R-1, R-2 and R-31
Building permit
Not confirmed; ask the village hall4
Septic permit
McHenry County Department of Health3
RV living
Limited: 3 nights per 30 days, only on a lot with a habitable home2
Minimum home size (R-1)
850 sq ft one-story ground floor; 2,000 sq ft for two stories5
Minimum lot (R-1)
6,250 sq ft and 70 ft wide6
Front setback
30 ft in R-1, R-2 and R-3789
Max height
25 ft and no more than 2½ stories for a one-family dwelling10

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

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

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does McCullom Lake, Illinois have zoning?

Yes. The Village of McCullom Lake adopted its own zoning, with residential districts R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5 and R-61. Its R-1 district applies only to existing lots that were subdivided and zoned when the village incorporated1. Zoning inside the village is the village's decision, not McHenry County's: the county's zoning ordinance excludes land in municipalities that have adopted their own11.

District rules differ, so check yours. In R-1, a lot needs at least 6,250 square feet and 70 feet of width at the building line6. In R-2 it is 10,890 square feet and 75 feet12. In R-3 it is 20,000 square feet and 100 feet13. Front yards are at least 30 feet in R-1, R-2 and R-3789. One-family dwellings are capped at 25 feet and 2½ stories10.

What is the minimum house size in McCullom Lake?

Minimum sizes are set by district. In R-1, a one-story home needs 850 square feet on the ground floor and a two-story dwelling needs at least 2,000 square feet of living space5. In R-2, a one-story home needs 1,800 square feet and a multi-story home 2,20014. In R-3, the figures are 2,000 and 2,400 square feet15. Floor area ratio also caps building size: 0.3 in R-116 and 0.2 in R-2 and R-31718. These are large minimums for tiny homes; we found no village tiny home provision and could not confirm one, so ask the village hall before planning one.

Do you need a building permit in McCullom Lake, and who issues it?

We could not confirm the Village of McCullom Lake's building permit rules or fees. The village zoning code refers to a Village Building Inspector, so the village, not the county, is the place to ask. Call the Village of McCullom Lake village hall before you start work.

The McHenry County Building Division issues building permits only for unincorporated land. Its own page tells people inside village limits to contact that village's building division or administrative offices4. Illinois itself does not issue building permits for private construction; any requirement comes from the local government19. Statewide baseline building codes took effect in 202520.

Can you live in an RV or camp in McCullom Lake?

Only briefly. Under the village code, camping or sleeping in a tent, RV, camper or travel trailer is allowed for three nights in any 30-day period, and only on lots with a habitable primary residence2. A village permit can extend this to seven nights in any 30-day period and 21 days per calendar year, if you owe the village nothing and have no prior complaints2. RVs must sit wholly within the driveway2. Tent camping is allowed only in the rear yard21.

Living in an RV on an empty lot while you build is therefore not allowed under this rule. Inside a mapped 100-year floodplain, an RV on site more than 180 days is treated like a building22.

How do septic permits work in McCullom Lake?

A septic permit is required before a system is installed, repaired, extended, replaced or abandoned anywhere in McHenry County3. The McHenry County Department of Health reviews the application; the county's septic ordinance covers the whole county, not just unincorporated land23. Systems must be installed by a licensed contractor, and a new-home site first needs a soil boring report from a certified soil classifier24. Whether the village has a public sewer connection requirement is unconfirmed; ask the village hall. USDA rates only 2.5% of McHenry County's soils as not limited for a conventional drain field25, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system.

Building a home in McCullom Lake: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your lot's zoning district (R-1, R-2 or R-3) with the village hall, then check lot size, setbacks and minimum home size above1.
  2. Ask the village hall which building permit and inspections apply; we could not confirm them.
  3. Check whether your lot is in a 100-year floodplain; the village has special rules there22.
  4. If you need a septic system, get a county site evaluation and permit from the McHenry County Department of Health3.
  5. For a well, Illinois requires a permit from the Illinois Department of Public Health or an approved local health department before work begins26.

What stays with McHenry County?

Septic permits come from the McHenry County Department of Health3. A driveway that connects to a McHenry County highway needs a permit from the McHenry County Division of Transportation27. For land outside village limits, the county's own rules apply; see the McHenry County page. Property taxes are high: McHenry County's effective rate is 2.5%28.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the village's building permit, inspection, certificate of occupancy or fee rules; call the Village of McCullom Lake village hall before buying or building.4
  • The village's minimum home sizes are large, such as 2,000 square feet for a two-story home in R-15.
  • Do not use McHenry County's unincorporated-area RV or building rules inside village limits; they apply only outside municipalities29.

Sources

  1. Zoning Sec. 10.2 R-1 One Family Residence District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  2. McCullom Lake Code Sec. 9-36 Prohibition on camping (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  3. So You Are Applying for a Septic Permit, quoted and re-checked
  4. McHenry County Planning & Development, Building Division (mchenrycountyil.gov)
  5. Zoning Sec. 10.2 R-1 One Family Residence District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  6. Zoning Sec. 10.2 R-1 One Family Residence District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  7. Zoning Sec. 10.2 R-1 One Family Residence District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  8. Zoning Sec. 10.3 R-2 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  9. Zoning Sec. 10.4 R-3 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  10. Zoning Sec. 10.2 R-1 One Family Residence District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  11. codelibrary.amlegal.com, quoted and re-checked
  12. Zoning Sec. 10.3 R-2 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  13. Zoning Sec. 10.4 R-3 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  14. Zoning Sec. 10.3 R-2 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  15. Zoning Sec. 10.4 R-3 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  16. Zoning Sec. 10.2 R-1 One Family Residence District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  17. Zoning Sec. 10.3 R-2 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  18. Zoning Sec. 10.4 R-3 One-Family Dwelling District (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  19. Illinois Codes FAQ (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Building Codes and Regulations (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. McCullom Lake Code Sec. 9-36 Prohibition on camping (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  22. Flood Hazard Prevention Sec. 5.5-134 Protecting buildings (Village of McCullom Lake), quoted and re-checked
  23. § 8.04.370 General Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  24. McHenry County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division (mchenrycountyil.gov)
  25. 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
  26. 77 Ill. Admin. Code 920.130, Water Well Permit Requirements (Illinois statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Highway Access Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. McHenry County Code § 16.56.050, Accessory Structure and Use Standards, quoted and re-checked

Written October 16, 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 McCullom Lake

Village of McCullom Lake’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside McCullom Lake village

    • Residential districts R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-6 appear in Appendix B - Zoning.
    “it is intended that the zoning district shall only be applicable to existing lots that were subdivided and zoned as part of the original incorporation of the municipal limits of the village of mccullom lake.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residence District, McCullom Lake village

    • Measured from exterior faces of exterior walls, excluding open porches, garages, basements etc.

    one-story ground floor living area: >= 850 sq ft · two-story dwelling living space: >= 2000 sq ft

    “dwellings of two (2) stories shall have not less than two thousand (2,000) square feet of living space.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-2 One-Family Dwelling District, McCullom Lake village

    • Limits do not apply to lots of record at adoption
    • 90%/80% elevation requirements apply

    minimum lot area: >= 10890 sq ft (lots of record) · minimum width at building line: >= 75 ft

    “every lot upon which any dwelling is hereafter erected shall have an area of not less than ten thousand eight hundred ninety (10,890) square feet and a lineal width of not less than seventy five (75) feet measured at the building line.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 One Family Residence District, McCullom Lake village
      “Every lot upon which any dwelling is hereafter erected shall have an area of not less than six thousand two hundred fifty (6,250) square feet”
    • Specified — R-3 One-Family Dwelling District, McCullom Lake village
      “Every lot upon which any dwelling is hereafter erected shall have an area of not less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residence District, McCullom Lake village

    • Side yard: 10 ft or 10% of lot width, whichever is greater
    • Corner lots: side yard on street side at least 20 ft
    • Rear yard: 30 ft or 30% of lot depth, whichever is greater

    front yard: >= 30 ft

    “a) front yard. there shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than thirty (30) feet.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 One-Family Dwelling District, McCullom Lake village
      “d) rear yard. except as hereinafter provided there shall be a rear yard having a depth of not less than thirty (30) feet or thirty (30) percent of the depth of the lot, which[ever] is greater.”
    • Specified — R-3 One-Family Dwelling District, McCullom Lake village
      “there shall be a side yard on each side of a building having a width of not less than ten (10) feet or ten (10) percent of the width of the lot whichever is greater.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residence District, McCullom Lake village (floor area ratio, not footprint coverage)

    • Expressed as floor area ratio

    floor area ratio: <= 0.3

    “10.2-7 floor area ratio. the floor area ratio shall not exceed 0.3.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    One-family detached dwellings in R-1 district (R-2 and R-3 apply the same R-1 regulations), McCullom Lake village

    • Churches 75 ft tower, 45 ft main structure; schools etc. 35 ft and 3 stories

    max height: <= 25 ft (and not over 2½ stories)

    “a) one family detached dwellings, rectories, parish houses golf course clubhouse: twenty-five (25) feet and not over two and one-half (2½) stories.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RV/travel trailer sleeping or habitation inside McCullom Lake village

    • Only on lots improved with a habitable primary residential structure
    • Additional time by village permit: max seven nights in any 30-day period and 21 days per calendar year; no outstanding debt to village and no prior complaints
    • RVs, campers and travel trailers must be wholly located within the driveway

    nights without permit: <= 3 nights per 30 days (up to 7 nights per 30 days and 21 days per year with permit)

    “camping or sleeping in any tent, rv, camper, travel trailer, or other accessory structure anywhere in the village shall only be allowed for three nights in any 30-day period and shall only occur on lots that are improved with a habitable primary residential structure.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Tent and other camping inside McCullom Lake village

    • Only on lots improved with a habitable primary residential structure
    • Tent camping only in the rear yard
    • Permit may extend to max seven nights in any 30-day period and 21 days per calendar year

    nights without permit: <= 3 nights per 30 days (permit up to 7 nights per 30 days, 21 days per year)

    “tent camping shall occur only in the rear yard of the residence.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Buildings in the 100-year floodplain (SFHA) inside McCullom Lake village

    • Applies to new buildings or additions valued over $1,000 or 70 sq ft, substantial improvements, manufactured homes, and RVs/travel trailers on site more than 180 days
    • RVs on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, licensed and highway-ready, are exempt from elevation requirements
    “they are on site for fewer than 180 consecutive days; and, b. they are fully licensed, ready for highway use, and used only for recreation, camping, travel or seasonal use rather than as a permanent dwelling.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside McCullom Lake village
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside McCullom Lake village
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside McCullom Lake village
  • Inspections — Building inspection inside McCullom Lake village
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside McCullom Lake village
15 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
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 McCullom Lake publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. McHenry County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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