McHenry County Division of Transportation

County Highway Access Permit (Major or Minor Access)

A business that builds or changes a driveway onto a County highway needs an access permit from the McHenry County Division of Transportation, wherever the property sits; access onto municipal streets or State routes is permitted by those road authorities instead. Under the Access Control and Right-of-Way Management Ordinance, minor access carries no more than 50 trips a day with no regular use by vehicles with three or more axles (§4.3.2), and major access carries more than 50 trips a day and requires a Traffic Impact Study (§4.3.3); the ordinance's examples of major access include restaurants, office or service businesses and day care facilities, so most business driveways are major access. County Code §10.12.520 sets $4,500 for every major access permit, plus a possible pass-through cost, and $1,500 for minor access other than a single-family dwelling or field access; a temporary access permit is $450. The fee schedule took effect January 1, 2009, matches the county's posted fee sheet, and §10.12.520.B allows the County Board to enact annual increases.