Board Denies Appeal for “Tiny Home” RV Living in Crete

Will County Board Meeting | November 2025

Article Summary: The Will County Board voted 19-2 to uphold a denial of a temporary use permit for a recreational vehicle (RV) being used as a residence on vacant land in Crete Township. The decision creates a precedent that “tiny home” RVs cannot be used as primary dwellings on lots without a permanent residence.

Crete Zoning Appeal Key Points:

• The Violation: A property owner placed a “tiny home” RV and an unpermitted accessory structure on a vacant lot at V Greenwood Avenue in Crete without a primary home.

• The Ruling: The board upheld the Zoning Administrator’s decision to reject a temporary use permit, citing the open code violation.

• Board Sentiment: While some members sympathized with property rights, the majority agreed that zoning codes requiring a permanent foundation and primary residence must be enforced.

JOLIET – The Will County Board on Thursday, November 20, 2025, voted decisively to enforce zoning codes in Crete Township, denying an appeal that would have allowed a recreational vehicle to remain on a vacant lot as a temporary residence.

The case centered on a property on Greenwood Avenue owned by Lauren Dentzman-Herrera. The owner had stationed a “tiny home” style RV on the lot and built a detached garage without a permit. Under Will County ordinance, accessory structures are not allowed on land that does not have a primary permanent residence, and RVs are not permitted as permanent dwellings in the R-2 district.

“They violated our zoning code originally by putting an accessory structure up,” noted Board Member David Oxley (R-Lockport).

Land Use staff explained that the owner had been granted a six-month window by the Planning and Zoning Commission to seek a code change or bring the property into compliance. However, the Land Use Committee ultimately indicated “no interest” in changing county codes to allow RVs as permanent dwellings.

Board Member Sherry Newquist (D-Steger), who represents the district, noted the lack of progress toward compliance. “To date, she has not made any efforts to [comply] and there’s also no water or sewer on the site,” Newquist said.

Board Member Mark Revis (R-Plainfield) was one of two dissenting votes, arguing that the government was overstepping. “Let the resident do what they want,” Revis said, viewing the denial as an infringement on property rights.

The 19-2 vote to uphold the denial means the owner must now remove the RV and accessory structure or face further enforcement action.