Moving to Millington, IL: A Two-County Checklist

What should you check before moving to Millington, IL?

Start with the county line. Millington sits in both Kendall and LaSalle counties, so the parcel, not the village name, decides which county assesses the home, sends the tax bill, records the deed, and permits the well and septic. Before moving to Millington, confirm the county, the water and septic setup, the flood map, and the village rules for that exact lot.

By Kealan O’Neil | October 18, 2026

Millington is a small village on the Fox River at the western edge of Kendall County, in the far southwest corner of Chicago’s Western Suburbs. The header on its own website reads “Kendall and LaSalle Counties.”

That detail shapes almost every first step. If you’re moving to Millington, two homes a few blocks apart can answer to different county offices, different tax calendars, and different health departments.

This moving to Millington checklist covers what to confirm, who to call, and where the two-county setup changes the answer.

What county is Millington, IL in?

Both. FEMA’s flood insurance records list the Village of Millington as a single community in “La Salle County/Kendall County,” and the village describes itself the same way.

The split isn’t even. By our measurement of the county boundary and municipal boundary layers Kendall County publishes, the village covers about 489 acres. Roughly 324 of those acres (about two-thirds) fall on the LaSalle County side, and about 165 acres fall in Kendall County, almost all of it in Fox Township.

Your mailing address won’t settle it, since the ZIP code and the village name are the same on both sides. For anyone moving to Millington, the parcel identification number (PIN) and the county on the last tax bill are what count.

Here’s what changes with the county:

• Assessment: a Kendall County or LaSalle County township assessor values the home, and that county’s Supervisor of Assessments handles exemptions.
• Tax bill: the Kendall County Collector or the LaSalle County Treasurer bills and collects, on its own calendar.
• Deed: the deed is recorded in the county where the parcel sits.
• Well and septic: the Kendall County Health Department or the LaSalle County Health Department handles permits and records.
• Land outside the village: Kendall County Planning, Building and Zoning or the LaSalle County Land Use Department sets the rules.

Our Millington community guide covers housing, commute, and nearby towns. This post sticks to the paperwork side of moving to Millington.

The moving to Millington checklist

Work through these seven steps before you fall for a listing.

1. Pull the PIN and the last tax bill

The first step in moving to Millington is paperwork: ask for the PIN and the most recent tax bill. It shows the county, the township, and the taxing districts that levy on the home.

The two counties don’t bill on the same schedule. For 2025 taxes paid in 2026, the LaSalle County Treasurer set the first installment due July 15, 2026, and the second due September 9, 2026. Kendall County mails one bill in May, payable in two equal installments, and its second installment was also due September 9, 2026.

Those dates matter at closing, because Illinois taxes are paid a year behind and your attorney prorates them from the right county’s bill. Taxing districts and rates differ by side, so compare actual bills, not just prices.

2. Plan your homestead exemption filing

If you’re moving to Millington as an owner-occupant, the general homestead exemption follows the same state law on both sides. Under 35 ILCS 200/15-175, the maximum reduction is $6,000 of equalized assessed value in counties like Kendall and LaSalle. The seller’s exemption stays in place for the rest of the year of the sale, and the county can ask you to apply for the next year.

How you file depends on the county:

• Kendall County: the Kendall County exemptions page says your driver’s license must show the property address, you must own and live in the home on January 1 of the assessment year, and you should contact the office before filing.
• LaSalle County: the LaSalle County exemptions page says first-time applications must be notarized and come with a photo ID, and the office takes originals only, not photocopies, faxes, or email.

Our homestead exemption guide explains how the exemption works on a Kendall County bill.

3. Confirm the water and septic setup

When moving to Millington, plan on a private well and septic system unless the seller shows otherwise. The EPA’s federal drinking water database lists no community water system under Millington’s name. The only Illinois systems under that name are small non-community systems for the village offices, a church, and the post office, all marked inactive.

The village’s building permit application backs this up: a permit for a new house requires the health department’s well and septic permit first.

Which health department depends on the county. The LaSalle County Health Department’s fee page lists “mortgage surveys” for a septic system ($75), a well ($100), or both ($150), along with its well and septic permit fees. On the Kendall side, the Kendall County Health Department handles permits and records.

Either way, get your own inspection and water test during your inspection window. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends testing private wells for bacteria and nitrate every year. Our septic inspection guide for Kendall County buyers covers what a good inspection includes.

4. Check the flood map for the exact lot

The Fox River runs through the village, so the flood map is a real step in moving to Millington. By our measurement of the FEMA flood hazard layers Kendall County publishes for both counties, about a third of the village’s mapped area, including the river channel, falls in the 1% annual chance flood zone (Zone AE, including the regulatory floodway).

FEMA lists Millington as a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program, in the regular program since 1982, so federal flood policies are available. If the lender’s flood determination puts the building in a special flood hazard area, federal lending rules require flood insurance for the life of the loan.

Spring high water is part of the picture. In April 2026, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources restricted boating on the Fox River south to the Bridge Street Bridge in Millington after high water left submerged structures and inundated piers. IDNR reopened that stretch on May 7, 2026.

Look up the address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center before you write an offer, and get a flood insurance quote early. Our insurance contingency guide explains how to protect yourself if coverage comes back expensive.

5. Know which rules apply on the lot

Inside village limits, the village’s zoning ordinance applies. The traditional R-1A district calls for lots of at least 9,000 square feet. The R-1B district calls for at least 15,000 square feet in newer subdivisions and caps lot coverage, driveways included, at 35%.

A few village rules catch newcomers off guard:

• The village zoning and building page warns that building fees double if work starts without a permit.
• The village permit application says the village doesn’t enforce subdivision covenants, so you’re responsible for checking them yourself.
• The village posts separate animal, hen, and pole barn ordinances. Read them before you plan a coop or an outbuilding.

Outside village limits, the county rules. On the LaSalle side, the Land Use Department requires building permits for residential structures over 200 square feet or longer than 20 feet on any side, plus fences, pools, and solar equipment. On the Kendall side, Kendall County Planning, Building and Zoning handles unincorporated parcels.

One more wrinkle: Illinois law lets a village’s comprehensive plan reach up to a mile and a half past its limits, and Millington’s zoning ordinance refers to that area. Buying land near the village? Ask both the village and the county before you build or divide it.

6. Set up services before closing day

Garbage isn’t a free choice here. The village says all residents must use Groot for residential garbage service.

Fire protection is split, too. The village lists both the Newark and the Sandwich fire protection districts, so check which one serves the parcel; the tax bill’s list of taxing districts is a good place to look.

Check internet options for the exact address on the Illinois Broadband Map or the FCC National Broadband Map. Before any digging, the village asks residents to call JULIE at 811.

7. Follow the village board

Millington is small enough that one board meeting can matter. The village board meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m., and since August 10, 2026, it has met at the new Village Hall at 206B West Walnut Street.

The Planning and Zoning Board meets only when there’s business, and most of its 2026 meetings were cancelled. Skim a few months of posted minutes before moving to Millington.

What the best real estate agents in Millington, IL check before an offer

In a two-county village, good preparation looks like paperwork. Before you write an offer, the agent on your side should:

• Confirm the county and PIN from the tax bill, not the listing.
• Pull the last two tax bills and note the fire protection district.
• Ask the seller for well and septic permits, pumping records, and any health department survey.
• Check FEMA’s map and order an early flood insurance quote for river-area homes.
• Ask the village building inspector about open permits on additions, garages, and pole barns.
• Get recorded covenants for subdivision homes, since the village won’t enforce them for you.

None of this is complicated. It has to happen before your attorney review and inspection deadlines run out.

Questions people ask about moving to Millington

Start your Millington search with the right county

Moving to Millington means a river village with its own rules, two county systems, and homes that usually rely on a well and septic. Sort out the county, the flood map, and the water setup first, and the rest of the search gets easier.

If you’re thinking about moving to Millington or anywhere in Chicago’s Western Suburbs, I’m happy to walk through the county line, the tax bills, and the inspections with you, with no pressure to buy anything. Call or text Kealan at 630-425-8815.

About Kealan O’Neil
Kealan O’Neil is the Designated Managing Broker and founder of O’Neil Property Group, an independent real estate brokerage based in Yorkville, Illinois. He and his team help buyers and sellers in Yorkville, Oswego, Montgomery, and the surrounding Kendall and Kane County communities, and he owns and manages a local rental portfolio, so he approaches every decision as both a broker and an investor. Call or text Kealan at 630-425-8815.

This post is general information about real estate in the Fox Valley, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Real estate laws, tax rules, and municipal ordinances change, and how they apply depends on your specific situation. Talk with a licensed attorney, CPA, or lender before making decisions about a purchase, sale, or tax matter. O’Neil Property Group is a licensed Illinois real estate brokerage.