Any advantages of living in an unincorporated township?

[Pysiek]

I leave in unincorporated area of Frankfort and love it. Trees in front of our house get always trimmed. We have fire hydrants. County and Frankfort Police always driving around (we feel very safe). Clean streets. Plowed every time there is a snow. We have city water and its very cheap (to fill a 18'x4' pool using garden hose it cost me $50 additional to my regular water bill). Neighbors very friendly. Basically the only thing I found negative is that if you want to build something, you have to drive all the way to Will County building (which is in Joliet) to get a permit. But any other things I want to take care of I just go to Village of Frankfort building (very nice people in the office) . We have firepit. Burn leaves and old wood.
The thing I love the most is big lots and that you can drive on your backyard with truck and have a fire pit.

[dogluvr2013]

Yes, I live in an unincorporated area and I love it! It's very private, and I have a huge lot. I think it depends on where it is and what services you will get. I live in a secluded area where they can't build commercial, so I have no worry of a strip club or something like that. Our streets get plowed before anyone else for some reason.

I also get city water, sewer etc. I really can't imagine giving up the privacy. In 10 years, I don't see a downside.

[Wheez2]

Originally Posted by Resident in Leyden twshp

I live in an unincorporated area (Leyden Township) and we love it!! We are in a beautiful community and our neighbors all look out for each other. Yes, we can have bonfires and burn leaves when we want to. I see the cook county police cars always driving around our area and it is safe. There is a negative and a positive to not having sidewalks, I don't have to shovel them! Our street is ALWAYS plowed first thing after a snowfall. Never has it gone without being plowed. We do not have wells or septics. We get our water like everyone else, from Lake Michigan. We use the surronding libraries and parks and do not pay anything extra. Every town has their positive and negatives!

I have lived in Leyden a long time. My in-laws were part of the original settlers of Leyden when there were still dirt roads.

It is now turning into a ghetto. Have you looked around at the amount of cars parking on lawns?, multiple families living in single family residences, storage of recreational vehicles(against Cook Country ordinances), businesses being run from homes like landscapers, mobile tire repairs. You have your head in the sand.

Burning leaves? It is against the Cook County code to burn leaves and yard waste in unincorporated Leyden.


If you own your home, you pay taxes for the Northlake library, which by the way, taxed unincorporated residents without a referendum of residents.

Check your facts.

[Slowpoke_TX]

Originally Posted by Brssplr

Townships frequently have fire departments which are combined paid-volunteer, if not all volunteer. This is certainly not always the case, but if it is, it might affect your home insurance rates.

Proximity to the nearest fire hydrant will have more of an effect on HO insurance rates. All FDs utilize mutual aid when necessary.