Night Caps: Highland Park vs Waukegan
How do night caps rules compare between Highland Park, IL and Waukegan, IL?
Highland Park and Waukegan have similar restriction levels.
Highland Park, IL
Lake County
Unincorporated Lake County effectively imposes the strictest possible night cap: short-term rentals under 30 days are prohibited entirely in residential zoning districts under the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 151). The county classifies any rental of less than 30 days as a 'retail sales and service use' that is not allowed in residential zones. Illinois has no statewide STR preemption (proposed SB 1735 did not advance). The 30-day floor applies only in unincorporated areas; municipalities such as Waukegan, Highland Park, North Chicago, Lake Bluff, and the other 50 incorporated places set their own STR rules under home-rule authority (Ill. Const. Art. VII §6).
View full Highland Park rules →Waukegan, IL
Lake County
Unincorporated Lake County effectively imposes the strictest possible night cap: short-term rentals under 30 days are prohibited entirely in residential zoning districts under the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 151). The county classifies any rental of less than 30 days as a 'retail sales and service use' that is not allowed in residential zones. Illinois has no statewide STR preemption (proposed SB 1735 did not advance). The 30-day floor applies only in unincorporated areas; municipalities such as Waukegan, Highland Park, North Chicago, Lake Bluff, and the other 50 incorporated places set their own STR rules under home-rule authority (Ill. Const. Art. VII §6).
View full Waukegan rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Highland Park | Waukegan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Stay (Unincorporated) | 30 days (sub-30-day STRs prohibited) | 30 days (sub-30-day STRs prohibited) |
| County Authority | Lake County UDO Chapter 151 | Lake County UDO Chapter 151 |
| Use Classification | Retail sales and service use, not residential | Retail sales and service use, not residential |
| Annual/Monthly Night Cap | Not applicable; any sub-30-day stay is prohibited | Not applicable; any sub-30-day stay is prohibited |
| State Preemption | None (SB 1735 and SB 2564 did not pass) | None (SB 1735 and SB 2564 did not pass) |
| State Hotel Tax | ~6% under 35 ILCS 145 (stays under 30 days) | ~6% under 35 ILCS 145 (stays under 30 days) |
| Platform Collection (Airbnb/Vrbo) | Effective July 1, 2024 (FY 2025-28) | Effective July 1, 2024 (FY 2025-28) |
| County Hotel/Motel Tax | None imposed county-wide on STRs | None imposed county-wide on STRs |
| Applies To | Unincorporated areas only; cities set own rules | Unincorporated areas only; cities set own rules |
| Each Day = Separate Offense | Yes, under § 151.253 | Yes, under § 151.253 |
| Enforcement | Lake County Planning, Building & Development; Administrative Adjudication | Lake County Planning, Building & Development; Administrative Adjudication |
| Confirm With | Lake County PB&D, 847-377-2600 | Lake County PB&D, 847-377-2600 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Highland Park FAQ
What is the night cap for Airbnb in unincorporated Lake County, Illinois?
There is no annual or monthly night cap because short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days are prohibited outright in residential zoning districts of unincorporated Lake County. The Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 151) defines any rental under 30 days as a 'retail sales and service use' that is not allowed in residential zones. Even a single overnight booking violates the UDO. The 30-day floor is the operative restriction; longer stays are treated as residential use and are not regulated as STRs.
Does the rule apply if my property is in Waukegan, Highland Park, or another Lake County city?
No. The Unified Development Ordinance applies only to unincorporated Lake County. Each of the 51 incorporated municipalities in Lake County (including Waukegan, North Chicago, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, and Gurnee) sets its own short-term rental rules under home-rule authority granted by Article VII §6 of the Illinois Constitution. Some cities allow STRs with registration and a local hotel tax; others restrict or prohibit them. Confirm with the planning or zoning office of the specific municipality.
Does Illinois state law cap how many nights I can rent my home short-term?
No. Illinois has no statewide short-term rental preemption or night cap. Proposed legislation such as SB 1735 (100th General Assembly) and SB 2564 (Short-Term Rental Tax Act, 103rd General Assembly) did not pass. The only statewide rule is the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act (35 ILCS 145), which imposes roughly 6% state tax on stays under 30 days; Public Act 103-0592 requires Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit that tax beginning July 1, 2024. Local night caps are set by counties for unincorporated areas and by municipalities within their borders.
Waukegan FAQ
What is the night cap for Airbnb in unincorporated Lake County, Illinois?
There is no annual or monthly night cap because short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days are prohibited outright in residential zoning districts of unincorporated Lake County. The Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 151) defines any rental under 30 days as a 'retail sales and service use' that is not allowed in residential zones. Even a single overnight booking violates the UDO. The 30-day floor is the operative restriction; longer stays are treated as residential use and are not regulated as STRs.
Does the rule apply if my property is in Waukegan, Highland Park, or another Lake County city?
No. The Unified Development Ordinance applies only to unincorporated Lake County. Each of the 51 incorporated municipalities in Lake County (including Waukegan, North Chicago, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, and Gurnee) sets its own short-term rental rules under home-rule authority granted by Article VII §6 of the Illinois Constitution. Some cities allow STRs with registration and a local hotel tax; others restrict or prohibit them. Confirm with the planning or zoning office of the specific municipality.
Does Illinois state law cap how many nights I can rent my home short-term?
No. Illinois has no statewide short-term rental preemption or night cap. Proposed legislation such as SB 1735 (100th General Assembly) and SB 2564 (Short-Term Rental Tax Act, 103rd General Assembly) did not pass. The only statewide rule is the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act (35 ILCS 145), which imposes roughly 6% state tax on stays under 30 days; Public Act 103-0592 requires Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit that tax beginning July 1, 2024. Local night caps are set by counties for unincorporated areas and by municipalities within their borders.
Compare other topics
See how Highland Park and Waukegan compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool