McHenry Co. IL Ordinance Change

[Yolke]

I just joined the group, too! My parents own a property in unincorporated McHenry County, Algonquin Township (Cary). The property is zoned Agricultural so that is why chickens (and I think most anything else) would be legal. We hear roosters, too! So probably the roosters you hear are legal? And maybe it would be legal for you too, if you are zoned Agricultural.

 

[mcletusw]

Pulled this from the January 2013 McHenry County UDO...

D. Chicken Coops and Chicken Runs (Non-Agriculture Exempt)

1. No person may keep more than six (6) chickens on any property at one time.

2. No commercial activity will result from the keeping of chickens on the property.

3. Roosters are not permitted. However, if the gender of a chick cannot be determined at hatching, a chick of either gender may be kept on the property for no more than six (6) months.

4. Chickens shall be kept in coops and fenced runs at all times. Chickens shall be kept in coops from dusk to dawn

5. Chicken coops and runs shall meet the following standards:
a. Chicken coops and runs shall be kept in the effective rear yard and shall be located at least ten (10) feet from any lot line and ten (10) feet from any other structure.
b. The facility shall be kept in good repair, maintained in a clean and in a sanitary condition, and free of vermin, obnoxious smells and substances. The facility shall not create a nuisance or disturb neighboring residents due to noise, odor, damage or threats to public health.
c. The chicken coop and run shall be designed to ensure the health and well being of the animal is not endangered by the manner of keeping or confinement.
d. The chicken coop and run shall be adequately lighted and ventilated.

6. No storage of chicken manure is permitted within twenty (20) feet of the lot line. All chicken manure shall be removed from the property and disposed of properly.

7. Slaughtering of chickens on-site is prohibited.

 

[ransom5207]

Hi there, I'm new to the site and my wife wants to have chickens. We live in wonder lake (unincorporated) and I don't know if we can. I looked all over and I see the info in the UDO, but does that apply to us?

 

[skalskoz]

The McHenry County UDO changes would apply to you if you are in unincorporated Wonder Lake.

 

[RJSchaefer]

How does that adjustment affect people who live in unincorporated, but within a declared subdivision? A family friend in unincorporated McCo had to rehome her flock last year because of a "subdivision ordinance." Large lots, butted up to corn fields.

We're north of Harvard, just within McCo lines, but lucky enough to be renting property zoned Ag.

 

[skalskoz]

The subdivision "rules" may supersede the county ordinances. However, the home owners association or whatever probably has very limited legal action they can take. If the resident signed a covenant or agreement with the subdivision, then there may be very little they can do to fight it.

 

[ransom5207]

I see that the UDO says "draft". So that means that is not the law of the land yet, right? Or am I missing something?

 

[wantchickens451]

What happen in January? Were backyard chickens approved for unincorporated areas of McHenry county for non-ag zoned areas? I'm confused. If we live in unincorporated Cary, unincorporated Crystal Lake, unincorporated McHenry, etc, Can we have chickens? Thanks.

 

[skalskoz]

It is my understanding that the draft ordinance still needs to be approved and then implemented.

Pulled from udo site:

{January 2013
Draft 1.5 of the McHenry County Unified Development Ordinance is available on the "Materials" page of this website. This draft reflects the revisions recommended by the Planning and Development Committee/Zoning Board of Appeals, who concluded review of the majority of the draft document last year. The proposed revisions are shown in redline. Shortly, the Committee will resume review of these proposed revisions and the UDO articles not yet reviewed. Please continue to check the "Upcoming Meetings" for additional review meetings.}

I interpret this as a work in progress. I too live in unincorporated Cary and want to get some chickens on a gamble that this language will remain in the ordinance. My wife, the rule follower, disagrees. So we wait till the ordinance changes have been approved. You know the saying, a happy wife is a happy life.

 

[wantchickens451]

What does (Non-agriculture exempt) mean? Does that mean if you are zoned "non-Ag" then you wont' be able to have chickens even if this draft becomes final. So nothing will change for us "non-Ag unincorporated" people?