Zoning, building permits and septic rules in McHenry Township, Illinois

McHenry Township’s own rules

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway, culvert and other work in the McHenry Township road right-of-way

  • A township right-of-way and driveway/culvert permit fee and deposit is set by township action; the amounts were not opened.
  • Applies to work in township road right-of-way; driveways off county roads or state highways are not covered by this township permit.

  “permit fee and deposit for r.o.w./driveway/culvert parking regulations general and snowfall”

Rules another office applies inside McHenry Township

McHenry Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Construction on land in unincorporated McHenry County, including unincorporated land inside McHenry township. The county Building Division issues the permits.

  • Land inside village or city limits within the township requires contacting that jurisdiction's building office instead.

  “the building division reviews construction documents, issues building permits and conducts inspections of all construction activities in unincorporated mchenry county.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New construction in unincorporated McHenry County, including unincorporated land inside McHenry township

  • Land inside village or city limits within the township is handled by that municipality's building office.
  • Specific code editions and effective dates were not verified on an opened page.

  “a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion will be issued for all construction projects regulated by the building codes adopted by mchenry county.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction on land in unincorporated McHenry County, including unincorporated land inside McHenry township

  • Inspections are conducted by the county Building Division for all construction activities in unincorporated land.

  “the building division reviews construction documents, issues building permits and conducts inspections of all construction activities in unincorporated mchenry county.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Projects in unincorporated McHenry County, including unincorporated land inside McHenry township

  • Applies to construction projects regulated by the building codes adopted by McHenry County.
  • Certificate of completion is the alternative document named by the county.

  “a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion will be issued for all construction projects regulated by the building codes adopted by mchenry county.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in unincorporated McHenry County that lies inside McHenry township. The county UDO is county zoning, not a township ordinance.

  • Land inside a village or city within the township is governed by that municipality's own zoning ordinance instead.
  • Relied on because no township zoning ordinance was found; the township's non-adoption of zoning was not confirmed by an official statement.

  “the udo regulates only land that is outside of municipal boundaries, generally referred to as unincorporated mchenry county.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts and zoning map for land in unincorporated McHenry County inside McHenry township

  • Districts apply only to unincorporated land; municipalities within the county have their own zoning ordinances.
  • The district list and map itself were not opened; the county page only states the map exists.

  “a zoning map identifies the location of these districts, thereby specifying the development requirements affecting each parcel of land within the county.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside McHenry township, administered by the McHenry County Department of Health

  • Septic requirements are set by the county public health ordinance, Article IV.
  • Well and other water supply requirements are set in Article V of the same ordinance.

  “provides the requirements for onsite wastewater treatment systems in mchenry county.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing, modifying, extending, repairing, replacing or abandoning a septic system on land inside McHenry township

  • Permit applications are submitted in person or by mail to the Environmental Health Division.
  • Materials required with the application vary by permit type.

  “a permit is required from the mchenry county department of health to install, modify, alter, extend, repair, replace or abandon a septic system in mchenry county.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions on land in unincorporated McHenry County inside McHenry township

  • Subdivision rules sit in the county UDO, which combines zoning and subdivision regulations.
  • Municipalities within the county have their own subdivision regulations.

  “the unified development ordinance (udo) integrates zoning, subdivision, and related development regulations into one consolidated ordinance.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application and review process for land in unincorporated McHenry County inside McHenry township

  • Application must be complete; incomplete applications are rejected.
  • The county's published summary covers the building permit path; the detailed checklist and septic plan steps were not opened.

  building permit review target: <= 10 business days (county target from application date, not a guarantee)

  “the department strives to complete building permit reviews within 10 business days of the application date.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home on unincorporated McHenry County land inside McHenry township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size on land in unincorporated McHenry County inside McHenry township, by zoning district
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for single-family residential and agricultural districts on land in unincorporated McHenry County inside McHenry township
• Setbacks — Yard setbacks for single-family residential and agricultural districts on land in unincorporated McHenry County inside McHenry township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for residential and agricultural districts on land in unincorporated McHenry County inside McHenry township

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.