County Building Permits

McHenry County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated McHenry County, Illinois. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Illinois Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Serves ALL unincorporated areas of McHenry County.

Department
Department of Planning and Development
Address
667 Ware Rd, Room 208, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone
(815) 334-4560
Website
https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/departments/planning-development

Online Permit Portal

Open McHenry County Permit Portal

Platform: McHenry County Permit Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only

Application Process

  1. Submit application and documents through the Permit Portal.
  2. Concurrent review by Planning, Building, and Stormwater (approx. 10 days).
  3. Notification of approval and fee payment request.
  4. Permit issued electronically.

Typical processing time: 10 business days for complete applications.

Source: Department of Planning and Development

General Requirements

Any construction, additions, remodeling, decks, fences, sheds, pools.

Required Documents

  • Application
  • Plans
  • Plat of survey
  • Stormwater review documents
Permit validity
2 years; must begin within 6 months.
Building code
2021 IBC/IRC/IFC/IMC/IFGC, 2020 NEC, latest IL Plumbing/Energy/Accessibility.
Owner-builder
Owner-builders permitted for primary residence.
Contractor requirements
State licenses for plumbing, roofing, electrical. Others must register.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$30 (Sheds); $25 (Fences)
Plan check fee
$80 (standard residential)
Permit fee formula
$0.25 per sq ft + plan review ($80) + plumbing fees.
Trade permit fee
$25 base
Reinspection fee
Penalty fees apply for unpermitted work.
Payment note
Accepts credit card, check, or exact cash.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026-03).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Sheds under 150 sq. ft. (but still requires zoning setback review)
  • Minor repairs not involving structural or systems work

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with Planning and Development before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours
Monday - Friday standard hours.
Time windows
Monday - Friday standard hours

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Footing/Foundation, Rough (E/M/P), Framing, Insulation, Stormwater, Final.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Department of Planning and Development before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Unincorporated McHenry County can be complicated.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.
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