Gently rolling farmland on the Chicagoland fringe with corn and soybean fields, a cattail wetland in a hollow and an oak grove on a rise.
McHenry County, Illinois County building code & permit

Barndominium Builders in McHenry County, Illinois

We design and build barndominiums, pole barn homes and shop houses on acreage across unincorporated McHenry County. Tell us about your parcel and we will scope the build, the county permit path and a price range for your land.

McHenry County at a glance

Region
Chicago's Collar Counties
Residential permits
McHenry County Planning & Development, Building Division

Barndominium services in McHenry County

We supply barndominium kits, custom plans and turnkey builds for McHenry County owners, from shop houses with a large bay to finished post-frame homes. On unincorporated acreage the county's Building Division is the permit office and the McHenry County Department of Health handles the septic system. The first step is a free survey of your parcel so the plan and the budget match your ground.

Barndominium Kits in McHenry County

Barndominium kits for Illinois land: shell kits or fuller packages, sized to your county's snow load and frost line, delivered and put up by our crew.

Custom Plans in McHenry County

Custom and modified barndominium plans drawn for your Illinois lot, your county's code and the kit or build we quote — sealed where your county requires.

Turnkey Builds in McHenry County

One contract from land to keys. We coordinate permits, septic, well, site work, shell and finish for your barndominium anywhere in Illinois.

Pole Barn Homes (Post-Frame) in McHenry County

Pole barn homes built post-frame for Illinois acreage: wide clear spans, fewer footings, and posts and footings set to your county's rules.

Steel Construction in McHenry County

Red-iron clear-span steel frames for homes, shops and commercial barndominiums in Illinois, with sealed drawings wherever your county requires them.

Shouses in McHenry County

Shouse and shop house builds in Illinois: a heated shop and a finished home under one roof, planned around your doors, your county and your land.

Metal Homes in McHenry County

Metal building homes for Illinois winters: steel or wood frame, metal skin, and an insulation plan that stops condensation before it starts.

Site Preparation in McHenry County

Barndominium site preparation in Illinois: pad, footings, driveway, septic and well coordination, planned around your county's rules and your soil.

Permitting & Approvals in McHenry County

Barndominium permits in Illinois, handled: we find out who has authority over your parcel and take the zoning, building, septic and well approvals through.

Before you build in McHenry County

Building in McHenry County: the local facts

County building code & permit

In unincorporated McHenry County the Planning & Development Building Division issues permits under the International Residential Code 2021 with local amendments; cities and villages issue their own.

Residential permits
McHenry County Planning & Development, Building Division

Source: Permit FAQs | McHenry County, IL

Frost depth
42 inches

Source: § 15.08.010 Adopted - Amendments

Ground snow load
30 psf

Source: § 15.08.010 Adopted - Amendments

Septic permits
McHenry County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division

Source: Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Systems) | McHenry County, IL

  1. 01

    McHenry County adopts the International Residential Code 2021 with local amendments. Its design table lists a ground snow load of 30 and a frost line depth of 42 inches for the unincorporated county.

    Source: § 15.08.010 Adopted - Amendments

  2. 02

    Permits are applied for through the county's online SmartGov portal. A McHenry County building permit is valid for a maximum of two years from issuance.

    Source: Permit FAQs | McHenry County, IL

  3. 03

    A permit from the McHenry County Department of Health is required to install a septic system. To find out whether a new home can be served, a site evaluation needs a soil boring report from a certified soil classifier.

    Source: Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Systems) | McHenry County, IL

  4. 04

    Post-frame construction is inspected, not ruled out: the county's amended code calls for the footing inspection before placement of any piers, footings or poles.

    Source: § 15.08.010 Adopted - Amendments

  • Agricultural exempt structures skip the building permit only with an Agricultural Exempt Structure Construction Card. A barndominium used as a home is a dwelling and needs the regular permit. § 15.08.010 Adopted - Amendments

Tell us what you want to build in McHenry County and we will price it against your land.

Building in McHenry County: common questions

Who builds barndominiums in McHenry County?
We do. We supply barndominium kits, custom plans, pole barn homes and turnkey builds on unincorporated McHenry County acreage. Send us your parcel and we will return a scope, the permit steps and a price range.
Do I need a permit for a barndominium in unincorporated McHenry County?
Yes. The county's Building Division issues residential permits under the International Residential Code 2021 with local amendments, applied for through the SmartGov portal. Inside a city or village, that municipality issues the permit.
Can a lot in McHenry County take a septic system for a barndominium?
The McHenry County Department of Health decides that. A site evaluation with a soil boring report from a certified soil classifier shows whether a septic permit can be issued for a new home, so do it before you commit to the land.
How much does a barndominium cost in McHenry County?
The size, finish level, foundation and site work (well, septic, driveway) drive the price. We price each build against your parcel after a free survey rather than quoting a flat number.

Ready to build in McHenry County?

Answer a few questions about your land, size and budget. We will come back with a plan, a price range for your parcel, and the permit path for where you are building.