Kendall County, IL Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Section 22-149(h) ties a short-term rental's maximum occupancy to its number of bedrooms and, for properties on a private sewage disposal system, to the Health Department's evaluation of that system's capacity. On a public sewage system, occupancy is capped at one occupant per fifty square feet of bedroom space. On a private septic system, occupancy cannot exceed what the system is permitted to serve under the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code, even if the home has more bedrooms than the septic system supports. Regardless of sewage system or bedroom count, Section 22-149(h) sets an absolute ceiling of sixteen occupants for any short-term rental in the unincorporated County.

The Kendall County Health Department evaluates the private sewage disposal system before the property is placed on the registry and again whenever the septic permit changes, and it will not clear a property for the registry if the system fails to meet the Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code (Section 22-149(g)). The occupancy figure set at registration becomes part of the property's registry listing and life-safety file maintained by the Planning, Building and Zoning Department, and it is checked again at each required annual renewal inspection under Section 22-149(i).