10 rules for unincorporated McHenry County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated McHenry County, any prolonged, harsh, unusual, or raucous noise audible 100 feet or more from the source's lot line is a public nuisance if it causes unreasonable discomfort to neighbors. Cities like Crystal Lake and Woodstock set their own quiet hours.
McHenry County Nuisance Noise Ordinance, Art. 2 Sec. 4 (MCC ch. 9.16)
It is a public nuisance to make, continue, create, or cause to be made or continue any noise which is prolonged, harsh, unusual, raucous, or unusual in time or place and which can be heard from a distance of 100 feet or more from the lot line of the source of the noise.
In unincorporated McHenry County it is a public nuisance to run construction tools or equipment, or do construction work, that is audible 100 feet or more from the lot line after 7:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. on any day. Emergency and agricultural work is exempt.
McHenry County Nuisance Noise Ordinance, Art. 2 Sec. 2 (MCC ch. 9.16)
It is a public nuisance to operate construction tools or equipment or engage in construction activity which can be heard from a distance of 100 feet or more from the lot line of the source of the noise after 7:00 PM on any day or before 7:00 AM on any day.
McHenry County has no dog-specific decibel rule; persistent barking is handled as a public nuisance when the sound is prolonged, harsh, or raucous and carries 100 feet or more from the lot line, causing unreasonable discomfort. Woodstock's code names habitual animal noise directly.
McHenry County Nuisance Noise Ordinance, Art. 2 Sec. 4 (MCC ch. 9.16)
It is a public nuisance to make, continue, create, or cause to be made or continue any noise which is prolonged, harsh, unusual, raucous, or unusual in time or place and which can be heard from a distance of 100 feet or more from the lot line of the source of the noise.
McHenry County sets no leaf-blower-specific rule. Lawn and property maintenance are expressly excluded from the off-road-vehicle noise limit, so blowers are governed only by the general prolonged-or-raucous-noise nuisance standard (audible 100 feet from the lot line).
McHenry County Nuisance Noise Ordinance, Art. 2 Sec. 1(2) (MCC ch. 9.16)
Excluded from this public nuisance are: ... Off-road vehicles used for lawn maintenance, property maintenance, or construction purposes.
In unincorporated McHenry County it is a public nuisance to emit noise from live musical performances, stereos, car stereos, or sound amplification systems that can be heard 100 feet or more from the source's lot line or 100 feet or more from the source vehicle.
McHenry County Nuisance Noise Ordinance, Art. 2 Sec. 3 (MCC ch. 9.16)
It is a public nuisance to emanate noise from live musical performances, stereos, car stereos, or sound amplification systems which can be heard from a distance of 100 feet or more from the lot line of the source of the noise or 100 feet or more from the source vehicle.
Neither McHenry County nor Illinois regulates aircraft-in-flight noise; the FAA has exclusive federal authority over aircraft operations and flight noise. The county nuisance ordinance does not cover overflights. Complaints go to the airport operator or the FAA.
Industrial noise crossing property lines is capped by Illinois law: 415 ILCS 5/24 bans emitting noise beyond your boundary that unreasonably interferes with neighbors, and 35 Ill. Adm. Code 901 sets numeric octave-band limits. The county nuisance ordinance also applies in unincorporated areas.
415 ILCS 5/24
No person shall emit beyond the boundaries of his property any noise that unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life or with any lawful business or activity, so as to violate any regulation or standard adopted by the Board under this Act.
McHenry County's own ordinance uses a 100-foot audibility test, not decibels. Numeric limits come from Illinois: 35 Ill. Adm. Code 901 sets octave-band sound-pressure caps for property-line noise reaching homes, roughly 63 dB at 250 Hz daytime and lower at night.
35 Ill. Adm. Code 901.102
A person must not cause or allow the emission of sound during nighttime hours from any property-line-noise-source located on any Class A, B or C land to any receiving Class A land which exceeds any allowable octave band sound pressure level.
Outdoor music in unincorporated McHenry County falls under the amplification-and-music nuisance rule: live performances, stereos, or sound systems audible 100 feet or more from the lot line are prohibited. Woodstock adds firm hours, barring outdoor performances after 10:00 p.m.
McHenry County Nuisance Noise Ordinance, Art. 2 Sec. 3 (MCC ch. 9.16)
It is a public nuisance to emanate noise from live musical performances, stereos, car stereos, or sound amplification systems which can be heard from a distance of 100 feet or more from the lot line of the source of the noise or 100 feet or more from the source vehicle.
In unincorporated McHenry County, running an off-road vehicle whose noise carries 100 feet or more from the lot line is a public nuisance after 7:00 p.m. any day, before 7:00 a.m. Monday–Friday, or before 9:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Registered on-road vehicles are exempt.
McHenry County Nuisance Noise Ordinance, Art. 2 Sec. 1(1) (MCC ch. 9.16)
It is a public nuisance to operate any Off-Road Vehicle that generates noise which can be heard from a distance of 100 feet or more from the lot line of the source of the noise after 7:00 PM on any day, or before 7:00 AM Monday through Friday, or before 9:00 AM Saturday or Sunday.
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