Short-term rental permit rules in Kane County, IL — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
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.
The ordinance applies only to unincorporated Kane County. An operator must obtain an annual county license before renting, pass an inspection confirming compliance with county building, health and safety codes, provide proof of insurance, notify adjoining neighbors by mail before the first rental each calendar year, designate a 24-hour local contact, and post the license visibly inside the property. Properties in Aurora, Elgin, St. Charles, Batavia, Elburn and other municipalities follow their own local STR rules, which vary (Elburn expressly allows residential STRs; Batavia has debated its own framework).
Violations can result in fines or license revocation through the county's administrative adjudication process; enforcement is complaint-driven via the Sheriff and code enforcement.
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See how Kane County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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