McLean County, IL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

" Only an applicant who complies with Article IV's requirements can receive and keep the permit, and permits cannot be transferred from one person or location to another; a valid permit must be framed and posted in conspicuous public view. To get a permit, an operator must file a written application on Health Department forms at least one week before the proposed opening date; the Department then inspects the property before opening to confirm compliance. A full-time permit runs through December 31 of the year it is issued, while a seasonal permit expires six months after issuance or on December 31, whichever comes first.

Anyone who has not paid the annual renewal fee by January 1 is treated as operating without a valid permit, though seasonal operators must pay at least one week before reopening. Permits fall into two classes: Class H for establishments serving more than a continental breakfast and Class I for those serving only a continental breakfast (coffee, tea, juice, and commercially prepared sweet baked goods). Permit fees run through Chapter 205's fee schedule, with a 40% surcharge on an owner's first permit at a given location, half-fee reductions for permits issued after June 30 or for seasonal six-month permits, and late penalty fees for renewals paid after January 7, increasing again after January 21.