10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Kane County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Kane County adopted its first short-term-rental ordinance (TMP 25-1291) on Jan. 13, 2026. Renting a dwelling for under 30 days now requires a county license, a passed safety inspection, proof of insurance and compliance with operating rules. Rentals inside cities/villages are governed by that municipality.
As part of the 2026 STR package, Kane County amended its Nuisance Ordinance with specific daytime and nighttime decibel thresholds. Licensed short-term rentals in unincorporated areas must keep noise within those limits; a 24-hour local contact must respond to complaints.
Short-term rentals in Kane County owe the Illinois Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax, 6% of 94% of gross rental receipts, plus the $200 annual county license fee ($100 renewal) in unincorporated areas. Kane County levies no separate county hotel/motel tax; a broader occupancy tax would need state legislative authority.
35 ILCS 145/2
"Hotel" means any building or buildings in which the public may, for a consideration, obtain living quarters, sleeping or housekeeping accommodations. The term includes... short-term rentals.
Kane County's STR ordinance prohibits commercial vehicles, camper trailers, food trucks and portable hot tubs on the property during rental periods in unincorporated areas. On-site parking must accommodate guests within these limits; municipal parking rules apply inside cities.
In unincorporated Kane County the STR ordinance caps occupancy at two guests per bedroom, with a hard maximum of 16 guests regardless of how many bedrooms the property has. Municipal STR rules inside cities may set different limits.
Kane County's STR ordinance requires operators in unincorporated areas to provide proof of insurance as a condition of licensing, alongside a passed safety inspection. The ordinance does not publish a fixed coverage dollar amount; confirm the required limit with the county.
In unincorporated Kane County a licensed STR is limited to 12 rental contracts or 180 rental days per year, whichever is greater. This annual cap is a core feature of the 2026 ordinance; municipalities inside the county set their own limits.
Under the 2026 ordinance, an unincorporated Kane County STR operator registers annually, passes a safety inspection, designates a 24-hour local contact, mails notice to adjoining neighbors before the first rental of each calendar year, and displays the license visibly inside the home.
Kane County Code 11.5-1 (Definitions)
A bed and breakfast establishment is an operator occupied residence providing accommodations for a charge to the public with no more than five (5) guestrooms for rent, in operation for more than ten (10) nights in a twelve (12) month period. Breakfast may be provided to the guests only.
Kane County does not require the host to be present during stays, but the STR ordinance requires a designated 24-hour local contact who can respond to issues. The license must be posted inside, and neighbors are notified annually by mail.
Kane County's STR ordinance does not require the owner to live in or occupy the rental — owners are expressly not required to occupy the property. A non-owner-occupied STR is allowed with a license. Illinois' hotel tax law likewise covers owner-, tenant- and non-owner-occupied dwellings.
2 cities in Kane County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Kane County Ordinance Hub →