McHenry County, IL Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in McHenry County, IL, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Prohibited after
- 7:00 p.m. any day
- Prohibited before
- 7:00 a.m. any day
- Audibility trigger
- 100 feet from lot line
- Exempt
- Emergency and agricultural work
- Woodstock city limit
- 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Summary
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.
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.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
The county's Nuisance Noise Ordinance restricts construction, demolition, building, repair, and alteration work in unincorporated areas. Operating construction tools or equipment, or engaging in construction activity, is a public nuisance when the noise carries 100 feet or more from the source's lot line after 7:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. any day of the week. Exclusions cover emergency repairs, work done by or for a public agency, and construction tools used for agricultural purposes. Municipalities set their own limits: Woodstock prohibits construction and maintenance activities between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Violations & Fines
Public-nuisance fine: $100 first offense, then $100 to $1,000 per offense. Each day of violation counts separately; injunctive relief available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can contractors work weekends in unincorporated areas?
Does this apply inside city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in McHenry County
How McHenry County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare McHenry County to another location·View the Illinois noise ordinances overview
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