Short-Term Rental Regulations
in McHenry County, IL

Airbnb listings are allowed in McHenry County, IL, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are permitted by right if they do not exceed 12 rental periods or 90 total days per calendar year. Rentals exceeding these limits require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and are restricted to Agriculture, Residential, and B-1 zoning districts; no services other than space rental may be provided. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are permitted by right if they do not exceed 12 rental periods or 90 total days per calendar year. Rentals exceeding these limits require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and are restricted to Agriculture, Residential, and B-1 zoning districts; no services other than space rental may be provided.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in McHenry County. 1. File a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application with the Department of Planning & Development including a site plan. 2. Attend a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) within 180 days of a complete application. 3. Obtain final approval from the County Board; permits are typically valid for 10 years.

1. File a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application with the Department of Planning & Development including a site plan. 2. Attend a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) within 180 days of a complete application. 3. Obtain final approval from the County Board; permits are typically valid for 10 years.

Vrbo is permitted in McHenry County, IL under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in McHenry County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for McHenry County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.