Jurisdiction and research scope
City of McHenry, Illinois only; not unincorporated McHenry County or another municipality. §11-12-2 in 2026 S-13, current through Ordinance 26-42 of October 5, 2026; read November 6, 2026.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
McHenry RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Use a compliant paved parking area; forward parking at single-family homes must be entirely on a driveway. At most one RV/trailer in the required front or corner-side yard; additional units need approved connected spaces at least vehicle-sized and 9 by 18 feet. |
| Street / loading | No street permission established by this off-street rule. No separate RV loading waiver established in §11-12-2H. |
| Sleeping / utilities | Sleeping or residence is not approved by the unoccupied-parking provision. Parking or storage does not authorize utility connections; obtain a separate determination before connecting services. |
One RV or trailer in the required front or corner-side yard
Section 11-12-2H limits the required front yard or required corner-side yard to one recreational vehicle or trailer, and requires proper licensing. This is a location-specific limit, not a one-unit cap for every part of the lot. The yard classification comes from the zoning definitions, not simply where the vehicle looks as though it is parked. For single-family homes, parking forward of the actual front-facing building line must be entirely on a driveway.
Pavement, vehicle-sized spaces and a connection to the road
Open off-street parking areas and associated access drives must have blacktop, sealcoat, brick or concrete all-weather pavement; ordinary grass storage is prohibited unless another provision applies. Additional RVs and trailers need approved solid spaces at least as large as the vehicle and never smaller than 9 by 18 feet. The permanent dust-free surface must meet the stated material and vegetation conditions and connect to the right-of-way. Do not assume an old gravel area may be expanded.
The off-street rule does not approve a campsite
Nonresidential RV parking remains subject to outdoor-storage rules. Section 11-12-2 does not establish a street-loading allowance, permission to sleep, or permission to connect utilities. The checker therefore addresses narrow unoccupied residential parking only. Ask the City about the actual site, required parking, access, vehicle classification, sleeping and any proposed servicing before relying on a different use.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask McHenry Planning or Code Enforcement to confirm jurisdiction, the actual parcel or road, vehicle classification, position, duration and intended use. Obtain the required road, building, electrical, plumbing or wastewater approvals before relying on a parking exception. Easements, HOA rules and leases remain separate. Start with the official rule or permit guidance.
Use the McHenry parking checker to organize the starting conditions. The checker cannot approve a parcel, a variance or an unverified exception.
Official sources reviewed November 6, 2026
- McHenry off-street parking
§11-12-2(D), (G), (H).
- McHenry code edition
2026 S-13, October 5, 2026 cutoff.
A review date records when we checked these sources. The notes above explain any use of older code editions or limits on access to the full source; an address-specific city determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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