MRBCC / Build Yo Deck
Give your Island Lake home a better way outside. MRBCC plans new decks and rebuilds around today's rear entrance, the existing structure, and the space your household actually uses.
Wood decks, composite decks, and thoughtful structural rebuilds.
The House Comes First
Island Lake's 2023 Comprehensive Plan describes summer cottages becoming year-round homes after World War II, followed by later residential growth. That history makes the individual house a better starting point than a standard deck layout: an older converted home and a newer subdivision home can have very different outdoor connections.
If your home has been altered, compare the current back door with the deck below it. Does the landing leave room to open the door? Does the stair reach the part of the yard you use? MRBCC can discuss those changes alongside a condition review of the supports and house connection, before a larger surface is assumed to be the answer.
Village history: 2023 Comprehensive Plan (PDF)Island Lake Permit Preparation
The village's January 2026 guidance lists decks and porches among projects requiring a building permit.
Its supporting-document list includes a dimensioned drawing, an estimate or contract, and a survey and HOA approval where applicable.
Contractors must be registered with the village before a permit is issued. Confirm the current application and review requirements for your proposed work.
Island Lake includes land in Lake and McHenry counties. Confirm the parcel's jurisdiction before deciding which office should review the project.
Village permit checklist, January 2026 (PDF)Building Department and current formsYour Project Options
For an Island Lake home that has changed over time, a rebuild can be the moment to correct a poorly placed stair or a cramped rear landing. Compare the existing frame with the layout you need now, then decide whether replacement or a new design is the appropriate scope.
Island Lake in Numbers
These American Community Survey estimates describe Island Lake as a whole. Household income and home value do not determine what your deck should cost.
ACS population estimate
Margin of error: +/- $10,531
Margin of error: +/- 189
Margin of error: +/- $18,165
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 five-year estimates, via Census Reporter. Survey estimates have sampling uncertainty; the reported margins of error are shown where available.
Deck Cost Planning
Bars start at $0; full scale is $25,096.
2025 Cost vs. Value Report, national job-cost averages for the report's specified projects. These are not Island Lake averages or MRBCC quotes.
For an altered cottage or an aging deck, replacing the surface may be only part of the work. Ask the proposal to distinguish demolition, footings and framing, the house connection, stairs, and finish materials.
If the rear entrance or stair location is changing, discuss that before comparing wood and composite prices. Site access, dimensions, structural condition, and permit requirements can all change the scope.
Describe what you want to changeIsland Lake spans Lake and McHenry counties. Start by confirming whether the parcel is within the village, then consult the Village of Island Lake Building Department for work under its jurisdiction. A mailing address or county name alone is not enough to establish the reviewing authority; ask about any additional approvals tied to the property.
Possibly, but neither the age of a deck nor its existing footprint establishes what can be rebuilt today. Share a survey, any available permit records, and information about changes to the rear entrance. The structural review and the village's project review should establish what may remain and what needs to change.
Your Island Lake Project
Tell us whether you are replacing an existing deck or starting fresh. Mention any changes to the back door, stairs, or the way you use the yard. MRBCC will follow up to discuss your project.
References reviewed September 11, 2026. Confirm current requirements with the reviewing authority for your property. Project-planning suggestions are MRBCC's general guidance, not a site assessment or permit approval.