$35,000+ Fine for Property Owner Storing Boats, Cars, Parts, Machinery, Building Materials, etc.

From McHenry County:

WOODSTOCK, Ill. – A McHenry County property owner must pay more than $35,000 in fines after a court found him in repeated violation of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for maintaining a storage yard on his property.

The fine was imposed by the Honorable Judge Joel Berg on January 26, 2026.

In September 2025, following a bench trial, Judge Berg found that despite having received several notices and warnings, the property owner failed to bring the property into compliance.

In addition to imposing a fine of $35,104, the owner must also immediately bring the property into compliance.

Should the owner not remove the items a timely manner, the county can then do it at the defendant’s expense, according to the ruling.

A January 2023 inspection by McHenry County Planning and Development employees discovered that the property, located in the Rawson Bridge subdivision, in rural Cary, was being used to hold

• multiple boats,
• cars,
• boat and auto parts,
• machinery,
• building materials,
• lawn furniture,
• along with other seemingly discarded items.

There was also a storage shed on the property.

The UDO requires [such] parcels to either be zoned for industrial use or have a conditional use permit.

The property owner had previously pleaded guilty to two previous complaints filed in 2019 and 2022.

“This property was a danger and an eyesore that violated ordinance, and the owner, despite repeated warnings, had no interest in cleaning it up,” County Board Chairman Mike Buehler said.

“Let this ruling, and the hefty fine handed down with it, serve as a reminder that our Unified Development Ordinance will be enforced.”

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese commends the Planning and Development Department for their persistence and diligence in investigating these ordinance violations and for the ongoing partnership with Planning and Development Department and the McHenry County Board.

“When we consistently enforce zoning ordinances and prevent properties from turning into junkyards, we’re not just upholding regulations—we’re protecting the safety, health, and beauty of our community.

“Clear standards preserve property values, reduce hazards, and ensure that our neighborhoods remain places we’re proud to call home,” Freese said.

This case was successfully prosecuted at trial by Assistant State’s Attorney John Warren.