Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Barrington?

Short-term rentals—defined as the rental or occupancy of all or part of a dwelling unit or accessory structure for a period of less than one (1) month—are prohibited in Barrington. The prohibition applies across all zoning districts, whether engaged in by the owner, an agent, or any tenant/occupant. The only exceptions are:

• Hotels, motels, bed and breakfast establishments, or similar establishments duly licensed by the Village; and
• Certain narrowly defined owner-occupancy arrangements (immediate family member, house-sitter with no rent, and seller’s leaseback after closing).

Every day that a property is offered, rented, or occupied as a prohibited short-term rental constitutes a separate violation.

Bottom line for investors: A conventional Airbnb-style operation in a residential home is not permitted. To operate lodging in Barrington, you must pursue the licensed B&B route (owner-occupied single-family residence with no cooking facilities) or the licensed hotel/motel route. The Village has not published separate standalone STR licensing or registration documents; all STR constraints are embedded in the Zoning Ordinance.

Source:

• Section 4.6-6 (Short-Term Rentals Restricted) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Barrington

Given Barrington’s outright prohibition of non-licensed short-term rentals, the only viable path for a typical investor to provide transient lodging is to operate a licensed Bed & Breakfast Establishment (B&B). Hotels/motels are an alternative but are not a residential use and are beyond the scope of this guide.

The B&B pathway in Barrington follows these key steps:

1. Confirm eligibility

• The property must be a single-family residence.
• The owner or resident manager must reside on-site.
• Rooms must be offered without cooking facilities (no kitchen or cooking equipment in guest rooms).
• Rooms may not be rented to the same guest(s) for more than one month unless separated by at least 30 days.

2. Obtain required approvals and licenses

• Special Use Permit: A B&B requires Village approval, typically via the Zoning Board of Appeals (public hearing). Expect application materials including site and floor plans, parking and access details, and compliance with residential compatibility standards.
• Business License/Registration: Apply with the Village. Confirm current requirements with the Building and Development Services Department.
• Bed & Breakfast License (Village): As a lodging use, the Village requires licensing per the Zoning Ordinance’s STR exception.
• Food Service Licensing (for breakfast): If you plan to serve food, coordinate with the Lake County Health Department.
• Sales/Use Tax/Income Reporting: Consult your tax advisor for state and local tax registrations (hotel occupancy tax is managed at the state level; see “State-Level Regulations” below).

3. Ensure code compliance

• Parking: You must meet the off-street parking requirements in Chapter 4 (Part II) and Section 4.6-4(E). Confirm the specific number of spaces with the Zoning Official.
• Occupancy: Guest occupancy cannot exceed the limits established in your approvals. No separate business entrance; all operations must occur within the residence and not alter its residential appearance.
• Operational standards: No signage; no outdoor display or storage; no client visits between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.; deliveries limited to normal residential levels; and noise, glare, odor, and other impacts must remain residential in character.

4. Operate lawfully

• Maintain owner/manager residency on-site.
• Comply with all Village Code provisions during any occupancy by guests.
• Bookings and stays must comply with the one-month limit per guest and the 30-day separation requirement.
• If you cannot comply with B&B standards, do not operate an STR; it is prohibited.

Definitions and operational criteria:

• Section 2.3 (Bed and Breakfast Establishment) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZO-Ch02-24-0923.pdf
• Sections 4.6-3 through 4.6-5 (Home Occupation general/specific requirements applicable by analogy to B&B operation) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf
• Section 4.6-6 (Short-Term Rentals Restricted) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Typical documentation for a B&B special use process and ongoing operation includes:

• Special Use Permit application with site and floor plans, parking analysis, and operational narrative addressing residential compatibility.
• Proof of owner or resident manager occupancy.
• Property deed or ownership verification.
• Building/fire code compliance materials (as applicable to the Building Department).
• Off-street parking plan demonstrating compliance with Chapter 4 (Part II) and Section 4.6-4(E).
• Food service licensing (Lake County Health Department) if breakfast/meals are provided.
• Village business license and B&B license/registration.
• Sales/use tax and income reporting registration as advised by your tax advisor.
• Ongoing compliance records to substantiate compliance with occupancy, signage, noise, and other residential performance standards.

Citations:

• Section 4.6-3/4.6-4 (general/specific requirements for home occupations) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf
• Section 4.6-6 (definitions and exceptions for STR/B&B) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf
• Section 2.3 (B&B definition) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZO-Ch02-24-0923.pdf

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

City of Barrington (Village)

• Prohibited activity

  • Short-term rentals (less than one month) are prohibited across the Village unless the property is a licensed hotel/motel or a licensed bed & breakfast establishment.
  • No temporary or accessory structure may be used for a short-term rental.

• Licensing exceptions

  • Hotel, motel, or B&B uses are allowed only when duly licensed by the Village.

• Bed & Breakfast Establishment rules

  • Must be a single-family residence, owner- or resident manager-occupied.
  • No cooking facilities in guest rooms; lodging is provided on a temporary basis.
  • Rooms may not be rented to the same guest(s) for more than one month unless the stay periods are separated by at least 30 days.

• Operational standards (as applicable to B&B operations)

  • No client/pupil visits between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.; deliveries limited to normal residential levels; no outdoor display/storage; no signs; no separate business entrance; no alterations to the residential appearance.
  • Off-street parking required; guests and employees must park on-site.
  • Noise, glare, odor, and other impacts must remain within typical residential thresholds.

• Accessory structures and residential character

  • Accessory buildings must meet setbacks, height, and lot coverage standards.
  • Fences, lighting, and other site elements must comply with residential standards; chain-link fences are prohibited in residential districts.

Citations:

• Section 4.6-6 (Short-Term Rentals Restricted) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf
• Section 4.6-3/4.6-4 (operational standards) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf
• Section 4.4/4.5/4.9 (accessory buildings, fences, lighting) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf
• Section 2.3 (B&B definition) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZO-Ch02-24-0923.pdf

County (Lake County)

• Food service licensing

  • If you provide breakfast or other meals, the Lake County Health Department regulates food service licensing and inspections.
  • Contact the Health Department for current requirements.

• Transient occupancy taxes

  • Barrington operates as a home-rule municipality; state-level hotel occupancy tax applies to lodging. Sales/use tax obligations and municipal taxes (if any) should be verified through state and local tax authorities.

State (Illinois)

• Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax (35 ILCS 145/)

  • Imposes a tax on the privilege of renting lodging to transient guests.
  • Register and file returns with the Illinois Department of Revenue.
  • Required for any lodging provider, including B&Bs and short-term rentals (if they were legal).

• Cannabis businesses prohibited

  • Adult-use cannabis business establishments are prohibited in all Village zoning districts, though this is not an STR regulation.

Citations:

• 35 ILCS 145/ (Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax) — www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1708
• Section 4.12 (Adult Use Cannabis Business Establishments Prohibited) — www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

• Development Services (Zoning Official/Building)

  • Phone: 847-304-3400
  • Email: zoning@barrington-il.gov
  • Address: 200 W. Station Street, Barrington, IL 60010
  • Website: www.barrington-il.gov/departments/development-services/

• Zoning Board of Appeals (Special Use Permit reviews)

  • Phone: 847-304-3400
  • Email: zoning@barrington-il.gov
  • Website: www.barrington-il.gov/departments/development-services/zoning-board-of-appeals/

• Village Hall (Licensing/Administration)

  • Phone: 847-304-3400
  • Address: 200 W. Station Street, Barrington, IL 60010
  • Website: www.barrington-il.gov/

• Lake County Health Department (Food Service Licensing)

  • Phone: 847-377-8000
  • Website: www.lakecountyil.gov/106/Health-Department

Links to Source Pages (Important)

• Zoning Ordinance – Chapter 4 (Part I): General Regulations (Sections 4.6-6 STR prohibition; 4.6-3/4.6-4 operations; 4.4 accessory buildings; 4.5 fences; 4.9 lighting; 4.12 cannabis prohibition)

  • www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ZO-Ch04-PI-23-0717.pdf

• Zoning Ordinance – Chapter 2: Definitions (Bed and Breakfast Establishment definition)

  • www.barrington-il.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZO-Ch02-24-0923.pdf

• Illinois Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax (35 ILCS 145/)

  • www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1708

• Village of Barrington – Development Services (contact and permit information)

  • www.barrington-il.gov/departments/development-services/

• Village of Barrington – Zoning Board of Appeals

  • www.barrington-il.gov/departments/development-services/zoning-board-of-appeals/

• Village of Barrington – Homepage

  • www.barrington-il.gov/

• Lake County Health Department

  • www.lakecountyil.gov/106/Health-Department

Practical Takeaways for STR Investors

• Barrington prohibits traditional short-term rentals (less than 30 days) across all residential zoning districts.
• The only viable short-term lodging models are a licensed hotel/motel or a licensed Bed & Breakfast Establishment operating as an owner-occupied single-family residence with no cooking facilities in guest rooms.
• If you pursue a B&B, you must obtain a special use permit, Village licensing, and any required food service licensing; comply with parking, occupancy, and residential character standards; and ensure owner/manager on-site residency.
• State-level hotel occupancy tax obligations apply to lodging providers; consult with a tax professional for registration and compliance.

Always confirm current application procedures, fees, and inspection requirements with the Barrington Development Services Department before proceeding.