Bathroom Remodel in Machesney Park, IL
Updated
Machesney Park in short
- 8,577
- households in Machesney Park
- 1978
- median year built (county 1971)
- 22.6%
- of homes built before 1960 (county 35.5%)
- 33.6%
- of owners are 65 or older (county 34.7%)
The local numbers
How old the homes are in Machesney Park
Housing age in Machesney Park is close to the Winnebago County norm. The median home was built in 1978 (county: 1971); 22.6% of its 9,118 homes predate 1960 and 18.2% went up in 2000 or later. Bathrooms from the 1970s and 1980s are usually due for a new shower or vanity by now even when the layout still works.
Before 1980 is when 54.4% of the homes in Machesney Park went up, against 63.4% county-wide. The EPA's cutoff is 1978, so most of those houses fall under its lead-safe work rule: anyone paid to tear out a painted wall or window in them must be certified. Ask for the certificate before demolition starts.
Owners head 79.6% of households in Machesney Park, and the householder is 65 or older in 33.6% of those 6,827 owned homes. Even below the county share, that is a lot of households weighing a low-curb shower or grab bars; the accessible bathroom page covers the prices, and Illinois gives buyers 65 and older 15 business days to cancel a contract signed at home with an uninvited salesperson.
Permits in Machesney Park are handled locally. The Village lists residential additions and alterations, and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work, as needing a building permit. Same-size window replacement, cabinets, countertops, carpeting and flooring do not.
Plumbing work needs a permit. State law lets the owner-occupant of a single-family home be issued one, and the village code's definition of an electrical contractor leaves out homeowners doing their own work in their own home.
Water in Machesney Park: The North Park Public Water District serves Machesney Park from groundwater wells (about 35,580 people across Machesney Park, Roscoe and Loves Park). Its report lists sodium at up to 78.8 ppm with the note "Used in water softener regeneration" but does not publish hardness. Our hard water guide covers what that means for a new shower.
Loves Park inspects Machesney Park work, so once the Village issues the permit, inspections are scheduled through the Loves Park Building Department at (815) 654-5033.
Machesney Park housing and households vs Winnebago County
| Measure | Machesney Park | Winnebago County |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 22,630 | 283,292 |
| Housing units | 9,118 | 125,002 |
| Occupied (households) | 8,577 | 116,014 |
| Owner-occupied households | 6,827 (79.6%) | 76,408 (65.9%) |
| Owners aged 65 or older | 2,292 (33.6% of owners) | 26,511 (34.7% of owners) |
| Renter households | 1,750 (20.4%) | 39,606 (34.1%) |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1971 |
| Built before 1940 | 3% | 15.5% |
| Built before 1960 | 22.6% | 35.5% |
| Built before 1980 | 54.4% | 63.4% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18.2% | 13.6% |
| Single-family detached | 87.7% | 70.4% |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Moved in 1989 or earlier | 14.7% | 10.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), tables B01003, B25003, B25007 (tenure by age of householder), B25024, B25034, B25035 and B25038.
Local rules
Permits, plumbing and water in Machesney Park
- Bathroom work and permits
- The Village lists residential additions and alterations, and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work, as needing a building permit. Same-size window replacement, cabinets, countertops, carpeting and flooring do not. The page does not say whether a like-for-like fixture swap needs a plumbing permit, so ask when you apply. source 1 source 2
- Permit office
- The Village Building Division, 300 Roosevelt Road, (815) 877-6072, lists "Residential additions and alterations" and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work as needing a building permit, and takes residential applications online through Citizenserve. Siding and same-size window replacement, kitchen cabinets and countertops, and carpeting and flooring do not need one. Building inspections are performed by the City of Loves Park through a cooperative agreement, and the village gives instructions when the permit is issued; Loves Park's number is (815) 654-5033. source 1 source 2
- Who may do the plumbing
- Plumbing work needs a permit. State law lets the owner-occupant of a single-family home be issued one, and the village code's definition of an electrical contractor leaves out homeowners doing their own work in their own home. source 1 source 2
- Permit fees
- Fees are set by village board resolution, and the permit page says costs are "determined by the Building Clerk," so no remodel formula is published. Starting before a permit doubles the fee, to not less than $250. source
- Code edition
- Ordinance 10-25, passed May 5, 2025, adopts the 2021 International Building Code, the 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, the 2021 International Mechanical Code and the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021 edition. The village page says the 2024 IECC with Illinois amendments became effective November 30, 2025. We found no local amendment text. source 1 source 2
- Contractor rules
- We found no village general contractor registration. The permit page asks for license information when a contractor does the job (stated for roofing), and village code defines an electrical contractor as not including "homeowners who do their own work in their own home." source 1 source 2
- Water supplier
- The North Park Public Water District serves Machesney Park from groundwater wells (about 35,580 people across Machesney Park, Roscoe and Loves Park). Its report lists sodium at up to 78.8 ppm with the note "Used in water softener regeneration" but does not publish hardness. source
About Machesney Park. Machesney Park is a village in Winnebago County with 22,950 residents at the 2020 census. Wikipedia
ZIP codes. 61115 (82% of its land), 61073 (9% of its land), 61011 (7% of its land), 61103 (2% of its land), 61111 (1% of its land). Census 2020
Full pricing, the complete service menu, and the rest of the service area are on the bathroom remodel in Rockford, IL homepage.
Nearby, sharing a ZIP code with Machesney Park
Bathroom work
Bathroom jobs homeowners ask about in Machesney Park
Common questions
Machesney Park bathroom remodel questions
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Machesney Park?
The Village lists residential additions and alterations, and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work, as needing a building permit. Same-size window replacement, cabinets, countertops, carpeting and flooring do not. The page does not say whether a like-for-like fixture swap needs a plumbing permit, so ask when you apply.
Can I do my own bathroom plumbing in Machesney Park?
Plumbing work needs a permit. State law lets the owner-occupant of a single-family home be issued one, and the village code's definition of an electrical contractor leaves out homeowners doing their own work in their own home.
What does a bathroom permit cost in Machesney Park?
Fees are set by village board resolution, and the permit page says costs are "determined by the Building Clerk," so no remodel formula is published. Starting before a permit doubles the fee, to not less than $250. Fee schedules are undated or years old, so confirm the figure before you budget. National guides put permits at $100 to $1,000 (Angi); the cost page shows the rest.
Who supplies the water in Machesney Park?
The North Park Public Water District serves Machesney Park from groundwater wells (about 35,580 people across Machesney Park, Roscoe and Loves Park). Its report lists sodium at up to 78.8 ppm with the note "Used in water softener regeneration" but does not publish hardness.
How old are the bathrooms in Machesney Park?
The Census does not count bathrooms, but it does date the homes. Per the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, the median home in Machesney Park was built in 1978 (Winnebago County: 1971). 22.6% of its 9,118 homes were built before 1960 and 54.4% before 1980, against 63.4% county-wide.
What does a bathroom remodel cost in Machesney Park?
No cost guide publishes a figure for Machesney Park. Angi's national guide puts a full bathroom remodel at $6,651 to $17,661 with an average of $12,155, and a tub-to-shower conversion at $1,200 to $15,000. The nearest local number is the 2025 Cost vs. Value report for Chicago, which prices a midrange bath remodel at $24,072. The full price table shows each source and its date.
How many homeowners in Machesney Park are 65 or older?
Per the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, 2,292 of Machesney Park's 6,827 owner households (33.6%) are headed by someone 65 or older, against 34.7% for Winnebago County. For grab bars, a low-curb shower or a comfort-height toilet, see accessible bathrooms.
Do bathroom remodelers have to be licensed in Machesney Park?
We found no village general contractor registration. The permit page asks for license information when a contractor does the job (stated for roofing), and village code defines an electrical contractor as not including "homeowners who do their own work in their own home.". Illinois does not license remodelers at the state level; plumbers are state licensed, and every remodeler must carry the insurance the Home Repair and Remodeling Act requires.
Planning a bathroom in Machesney Park?
Tell us the address, which bathroom and what you want changed. We reply with a price before any work is scheduled.