What do these permits involve in McHenry County?

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Water Well Permit

A business served by a private well needs a Department of Health permit to construct, alter or seal it. Article VII sets $100.00 to construct a new well, $100.00 for an alteration, extension or modification, and $100.00 for well sealing ($50.00 when sealing is done at the time a new well is installed), plus a $175.00 inspection fee for new, extended, modified, replaced or abandoned water wells. Figures are per PHO Article VII §8.04.960 (Fees), approved by the County Board on July 21, 2026 and effective August 1, 2026; Article VII states that fees are in effect from December 1 through November 30 of the following year or until modified by the County Board. A business on a public water supply without a private well has no well permit.

Construction Impact Review (Health Review)

The Department of Health reviews building projects on properties served by a private septic system and/or private well to check the effect on those systems. Article VII sets one Construction Impact Review Fee of $200.00 (its examples include decks, pools, additions, accessory structures and ZBA petitions), per PHO Article VII §8.04.960 (Fees), approved by the County Board on July 21, 2026 and effective August 1, 2026; Article VII states that fees are in effect from December 1 through November 30 of the following year or until modified by the County Board. The county's Construction Impact Review page describes the review types, including non-residential additions and alterations; the fee schedule sets a single amount for all of them. Article VII states that construction impact review fees are non-refundable once the Department has completed its initial review of the file.

Sign Permit

A business sign in unincorporated McHenry County needs a Planning and Development sign permit. An on-premise sign costs $400 and an off-premise commercial advertising sign costs $750, as published in the Planning and Development Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026, which the county's P&D page links as "New Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2026"; the county's Strategic Plan Report Card (published September 15, 2026) states that the County Board adopted an updated P&D fee schedule in May 2026 and approved an ordinance amending it in June 2026. Permit modifications and six-month extensions are 25% of the original permit fee, with a $100 minimum, and an after-the-fact application is charged double. A business inside a city or village applies to that municipality instead.

Temporary Certificate of Occupancy

A business that needs to occupy a building in unincorporated McHenry County before all permitted work is complete can request a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy from Planning and Development, which posts a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Request form on its page. The fee is $300, as published in the Planning and Development Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026, which the county's P&D page links as "New Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2026"; the county's Strategic Plan Report Card (published September 15, 2026) states that the County Board adopted an updated P&D fee schedule in May 2026 and approved an ordinance amending it in June 2026. Inside a city or village the municipality handles occupancy instead.

Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Permit — Non-Residential

A business on a private sewage disposal system rather than a public sewer needs a Department of Health permit to install a new system or alter one. Article VII sets non-residential permit fees by design flow: $400.00 for flows up to 500 gallons a day, $525.00 for 501 to 1,000 gallons and $815.00 above 1,000 gallons. A pre-design meeting is $100.00, an alteration or repair (septic tank, lift station, holding tank, pre-treatment unit or 15% or less of the seepage system) is $155.00, and a six-month permit extension is $75.00. Figures are per PHO Article VII §8.04.960 (Fees), approved by the County Board on July 21, 2026 and effective August 1, 2026; Article VII states that fees are in effect from December 1 through November 30 of the following year or until modified by the County Board. A business on a public sewer has no septic permit.

Commercial Alteration, Change of Use or Tenant Buildout Permit

In unincorporated McHenry County, Planning and Development issues building permits; the P&D page tells owners whose property is in a village or city to contact that municipality instead. A commercial alteration, change of use or tenant buildout costs $1,000 under 500 square feet, $2,000 for 500 to 2,000 square feet, $3,000 for 2,000 to 4,000 square feet and $4,000 over 4,000 square feet. A commercial service upgrade (plumbing, electrical, mechanical or structural) is $200, and an after-the-fact application is charged double. The greater of $100 or 25% of the building and stormwater permit fees is due at submittal and is non-refundable, with the balance due at first resubmittal or at issuance. Figures are as published in the Planning and Development Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026, which the county's P&D page links as "New Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2026"; the county's Strategic Plan Report Card (published September 15, 2026) states that the County Board adopted an updated P&D fee schedule in May 2026 and approved an ordinance amending it in June 2026. Plans are reviewed against the 2021 ICC codes and 2020 NEC.

New Commercial Structure or Commercial Addition Permit

A new commercial building in unincorporated McHenry County costs $2,500 under 1,500 square feet, $4,000 for 1,500 to 4,000 square feet and $5,500 over 4,000 square feet. A commercial addition costs $1,500 under 500 square feet, $3,000 for 500 to 2,000 square feet and $4,500 over 2,000 square feet, and the addition fee includes any alteration to existing portions of the structure. The greater of $100 or 25% of the building and stormwater permit fees is due at submittal and is non-refundable. Figures are as published in the Planning and Development Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026, which the county's P&D page links as "New Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2026"; the county's Strategic Plan Report Card (published September 15, 2026) states that the County Board adopted an updated P&D fee schedule in May 2026 and approved an ordinance amending it in June 2026. Inside a city or village the municipality issues building permits instead.

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.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Water Well Permitonly if it applies to you	McHenry County Department of Health	Construct new well $100.00 plus inspection fee $175.00; alteration, extension or modification $100.00; well sealing $100.00 ($50.00 if done at the time of a new well installation)	per project	2026-10-07
Construction Impact Review (Health Review)only if it applies to you	McHenry County Department of Health	$200 per Construction Impact Review	per project	2026-10-07
Sign Permitonly if it applies to you	McHenry County Department of Planning and Development	$400–$750 per sign permit: on-premise $400; off-premise commercial advertising $750	per sign	2026-10-07
Temporary Certificate of Occupancyonly if it applies to you	McHenry County Department of Planning and Development	$300 per Temporary Certificate of Occupancy	temporary, until the permitted work is completed	2026-10-07
Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Permit — Non-Residentialonly if it applies to you	McHenry County Department of Health	$400–$815 per permit, by design flow: up to 500 gallons a day $400.00; 501 to 1,000 gallons a day $525.00; over 1,000 gallons a day $815.00; also pre-design meeting $100.00, alteration or repair $155.00, 6-month permit extension $75.00	per project	2026-10-07
Commercial Alteration, Change of Use or Tenant Buildout Permitonly if it applies to you	McHenry County Department of Planning and Development	$1,000–$4,000 per permit, by area: under 500 sq. ft. $1,000; 500 to 2,000 sq. ft. $2,000; 2,000 to 4,000 sq. ft. $3,000; over 4,000 sq. ft. $4,000; commercial service upgrade (plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural) $200; after-the-fact application double the permit fee	per project	2026-10-07
New Commercial Structure or Commercial Addition Permitonly if it applies to you	McHenry County Department of Planning and Development	$1,500–$5,500 per permit, by area: new commercial structure under 1,500 sq. ft. $2,500, 1,500 to 4,000 sq. ft. $4,000, over 4,000 sq. ft. $5,500; commercial addition under 500 sq. ft. $1,500, 500 to 2,000 sq. ft. $3,000, over 2,000 sq. ft. $4,500 (addition fees include alterations to existing portions)	per project	2026-10-07
County Highway Access Permit (Major or Minor Access)only if it applies to you	McHenry County Division of Transportation	$1,500–$4,500 application fee per development: Major Access $4,500 (a pass-through cost may also apply; Traffic Impact Study required at the applicant's cost); Minor Access, uses other than one single-family dwelling or field access, $1,500; Temporary Access $450	per development	2026-10-07

Business licenses and permits in McHenry County, Illinois

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Permits that apply to every type of business in McHenry County