Home/Lake County/Vernon Hills
Commercial Real Estate Broker · Vernon Hills, IL

Vernon Hills, Illinois Commercial Real Estate

Selling or leasing a commercial building in Vernon Hills? Jason Bitton is a Vernon Hills resident and the #1 RE/MAX Commercial broker in Illinois, based in Libertyville, just up Milwaukee Avenue. He handles retail, office, industrial and investment property from the Hawthorn Mall trade area to the Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) corridor. In Vernon Hills he leased the retail space at 750 Bunker Ct; nearby he has closed sales and leases in Libertyville, Mundelein and Long Grove. Below: the 18 commercial sales recorded inside the village in the two years to June 30, 2026, what they sold for and how long they took.

Have space to lease instead? Lease out my building →

$6,545/mo
750 Bunker Ct · Leased 2024
18 sales
Village sales · 2 years
$6.09 million
Median village sale · 2 years
The short answer

Who is the best commercial real estate broker in Vernon Hills?

Jason Bitton of RE/MAX Commercial — a Vernon Hills resident and the #1 RE/MAX Commercial broker in Illinois (2022, 2024, 2025) — handles retail, office, industrial, and investment property in Vernon Hills, from the Hawthorn Mall trade area to the Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) corridor, from his office next door in Libertyville. He represents buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants throughout the village and central Lake County. In Vernon Hills he leased the 3,570 SF retail space at 750 Bunker Ct in April 2024, and nearby he has closed sales and leases in Libertyville, Mundelein and Long Grove.

Jason works for sellers: as of September 22, 2026, he represented the seller in more than 80% of the sales on his public Sold & Leased ledger, including sales where he represented both sides. His Vernon Hills lease and the deals he has closed nearby are below, and the 18 village sales are in the market report.

The closed record

Deals Jason has closed in and near Vernon Hills

One closing in the Village of Vernon Hills, a retail lease, and four more nearby in Libertyville, Mundelein and Long Grove, each marked with its own village. Every deal here is on his public Sold & Leased ledger.

Leased

750 Bunker Ct

Vernon Hills · Retail · 3,570 SF · April 2024
$6,545/mo

Jason’s Vernon Hills closing on his public ledger: a 3,570 SF retail space in the village, leased in April 2024. It is a lease, so it is not among the 18 sales in the market report below.

See the full Sold & Leased ledger →

Closed nearby · each in its own village

Sold

283 Peterson Rd

Libertyville · Retail · Seller represented · June 2025
$205,000

Read the Peterson Rd case study

Sold

126 W Maple Ave

Mundelein · Multi-family · Both sides represented · May 2025
$1,360,000

Read the case study

Leased

25514 IL-83, Unit B

Long Grove · Industrial · 5,000 SF on 2 acres · Landlord represented · June 2026
$13,000/mo

Read the case study

Leased

301 Peterson Rd

Libertyville · Office · 1,400 SF · Landlord represented · July 2026
$2,100/mo

More of Jason’s Libertyville closings are on the Peterson Rd page.

Own a commercial building in Vernon Hills? Request a confidential opinion of value →

Market report · state transfer records · two years to June 30, 2026

What does commercial and industrial property sell for in Vernon Hills?

In the two years to June 30, 2026, the Village of Vernon Hills recorded 18 arm’s-length sales of office, retail, commercial and industrial property, at a median price of $6.09 million — 8 in the latest 12 months and 10 in the year before.

18sales · median $6.09 million · two years to June 30, 2026
By property type
Property typeSalesMedian price
Retail & commercial13$5,425,000
Office1—
Industrial4—

A group median appears only where enough sales qualify.

By year, to June 30
PeriodSalesMedian price
Latest 12 months8$3,597,500
The year before10$9,550,000

The mix of property types changes from year to year, so these two medians are not a price trend.

The report gives no price per square foot. None of the four industrial sales could be measured that way, and for retail, commercial and office property a per-square-foot median would mislead: the land and any tenant set much of the price.

The county record further down this page is a different source. It shows the most recent recorded sale on each parcel, and its per-square-foot figures are recorded entries, not a market rate. The two use different records and windows, so their counts differ.

Time to sell · two years to June 30, 2026

How long does it take to sell a commercial building in Vernon Hills?

About five months, once the building is on the market: the 15 Vernon Hills sellers who marketed their building report a median of 5 months, and 12 of the 15 sold within six months. All 15 sold within a year; they reported 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 10, 12 and 12 months. Two more of the 17 sellers who reported a marketing time never put the building on the market at all.

Fifteen sales is a small sample, and each figure is the seller’s own estimate. Jason keeps a live board of buyers and tenants who are looking now. See who is looking →  ·  Ask what your building would sell for →  ·  Compare with other towns →

Source: Jason Bitton RE/MAX Commercial’s database from public records: arm’s-length sales of office, retail, commercial and industrial property in Vernon Hills, dated July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026; updated September 24, 2026. Sales are counted per transaction; one sale may cover several parcels, and a building resold on the same day is counted once, at the final price. Price excludes personal property. Marketing time is the seller’s own estimate (17 of the 18 sales report it). A group median appears only where enough sales qualify. Filings can trail a sale by weeks, so the latest quarter may still rise slightly. Aggregates only. Next update: late November 2026, for sales through September 30.

Available in Vernon Hills

Vernon Hills Listings — For Sale & For Lease

Current Vernon Hills commercial space Jason is marketing. Every listing is syndicated across CoStar, LoopNet, Crexi, and the MLS — see the full space list on the listings hub. Tenant to verify.

By property type

Vernon Hills property for sale and for lease, by type

Listing sites show what is on the market this week. This is the Vernon Hills record by property type: what sold and for how much. Across all types, sellers who marketed a building here took a median of 5 months to sell (15 sales).

IndustrialFor SaleFor Lease

Warehouses & industrial buildings for sale or lease

4 industrial sales
too few for a median · two years to June 30, 2026
Tell Jason the size, clear height and loading you need.
Compare towns →
RetailFor SaleFor Lease

Retail, storefronts & shopping centers for sale or lease

13 retail and commercial sales
median $5,425,000 · two years to June 30, 2026
Storefronts, strip centers, restaurants and pads. Tell Jason the frontage, size and use you need.
Compare towns →
OfficeFor SaleFor Lease

Office & medical office for sale or lease

1 office sale
too few for a median · two years to June 30, 2026
Office suites, office condos and medical office. Tell Jason the size, and whether patients or the public will visit.
Compare towns →

Sales figures come from the market report on this page (arm’s-length sales only).

For sellers

Why Vernon Hills sellers hire Jason

Jason is a Vernon Hills resident, and his office is next door in Libertyville. Beyond pricing, marketing and negotiating, a seller gets the bench he has built over years of closings. Across the Chicago area, Jason has closed deals from 1,500 to 98,905 square feet and has sold contractor units, mixed-use, multifamily, medical and office buildings, manufacturing warehouses and national retail stores.

What a Vernon Hills sale has to answer

How the rent is quoted

Vernon Hills and most of Lake County quote rent triple net: the tenant pays property taxes, insurance and common-area costs on top of the base rent. North Cook County mostly quotes modified gross, with those costs inside the number. A buyer comparing your rent roll with Cook County space has to put the two on the same basis first.

One sale, or a lease first

A big property can ask too much of one buyer in one signature. In Long Grove, three retiring brothers’ two-acre Route 83 site drew interest below what it was worth, so Jason leased about 5,000 SF of it at their full target rate, $13,000 a month, on a three-year lease shaped as a path to a sale.

Whether the paperwork matches the use

A building whose use has changed can need a letter from the village before a buyer’s attorney will close. 126 W Maple Ave in Mundelein had been converted to six apartments; that request sat for two weeks as a records request, until Jason went to village hall in person and came back with the letter in about thirty minutes. The sale closed, all cash.

People and tools Jason can bring to your sale

  • A tested starting point — Mainstreet commercial contract forms, reviewed and revised by many attorneys over the years, give your attorney an established starting point and can reduce drafting time.
  • Flat-fee counsel — real estate counsel who works on a flat rate, when you want one.
  • Fast environmental — environmental consultants who turn time-sensitive reports around quickly.
  • Lenders who answer — lenders who pick up Jason’s call directly and get a buyer’s financing moving.
  • Village zoning, handled — Jason works zoning and use questions directly with the village.
  • Honest trades — roofers, window contractors and other trades with fair pricing, to get a building ready to sell.
  • No competing portfolio — Jason doesn’t own or develop commercial property, so no building of his ever competes with yours for a buyer.

The seller guides, tools and case studies are gathered on one page: selling commercial property in Lake County and Chicagoland.

What clients say

Trusted by commercial owners & investors

★★★★★ 5.0 · 17 Google reviews
★★★★★

“Jason was professional and went above and beyond helping us to sell our property. He was prompt in responding and helpful with our questions. He shows up and follows through.”

— Anna S.
★★★★★

“Jason recently sold one of my commercial condo properties. His communication is great, very responsive. Jason utilized multiple platforms to get eyes on my listing. I’m very happy with how Jason handled the sale of my unit!”

— Bryan S.
★★★★★

“Jason’s been a huge asset in our commercial real estate deals. He’s quick, professional, and detail oriented. Highly recommend him!”

— Tina G.
Read all 17 five-star reviews on Google →
Meet your broker

Jason Bitton

Commercial Real Estate Broker · RE/MAX Commercial

Jason Bitton is a commercial-only broker based in Libertyville, ranked #1 by commercial production among RE/MAX brokers in Illinois in 2022, 2024, and 2025 and a 2025 RE/MAX Hall of Fame inductee. With more than a decade working exclusively in commercial property, he represents buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants across retail, industrial, office, multifamily, mixed-use, NNN, and land throughout Lake County, the North Shore, and the O’Hare corridor.

Market Overview

The Vernon Hills Commercial Market

Vernon Hills is a major regional retail and commercial hub in central Lake County, anchored by Hawthorn Mall and the Mellody Farm development. The village’s commercial corridors along Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) and Townline Road serve a broad trade area spanning Libertyville, Mundelein, Lincolnshire, and the surrounding communities. Vernon Hills has seen significant redevelopment activity in recent years, with new mixed-use projects and retail repositioning driving investment.

Market Highlights

  • ✓ Hawthorn Mall and Mellody Farm — major retail anchors
  • ✓ Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) commercial corridor
  • ✓ Significant redevelopment and repositioning activity
  • ✓ Central Lake County location — broad trade area
  • ✓ Corporate presence including CDW and Zebra Technologies
  • ✓ Strong residential growth driving retail demand

Retail

Shopping centers, pad sites, restaurant spaces, big-box retail, and inline retail along Route 21.

Office

Corporate office, professional suites, and medical office serving the Lake County market.

Industrial

Light industrial and flex space in the Route 21 / Route 45 corridor.

Investment Sales

Retail centers, office buildings, and redevelopment opportunities in a growing market.

Daytime Employment

Who Actually Works in Vernon Hills

Vernon Hills holds 20,656 jobs inside village limits. That is the daytime population a commercial tenant actually draws from — a different, and for commercial purposes more useful, number than the residential count most listings quote.

The village itself counts 26,876 residents in 11,022 households, with a median household income of $121,943 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, LEHD LODES8 2023 (workplace area characteristics). Figures count jobs located in Vernon Hills, not residents. Updated annually.

From the Public Record

What the County Records Show, Parcel by Parcel

Vernon Hills has these commercial and industrial parcels on record (updated 7 September 2026): 572 parcels, 570 classed commercial and 2 industrial, of which 191 are Improvements-use parcels with a recorded building area (all in the commercial class: the county records no building area on any Vernon Hills parcel it classes industrial, so industrial and commercial cannot be separated here and each figure below covers both). A parcel is not always one building, so the figures are per parcel. The prices below are recorded county sale prices, not asking prices, and each figure states its sample.

What the record shows - Vernon Hills, updated 7 September 2026
  • Commercial and industrial: median $108 per recorded building square foot across 27 parcel entries with a disclosed price, 2024 to 2026 (full range $28 to $381). These are recorded entries, not a market rate.
  • 97 of 191 parcels (51%) carry no disclosed sale price in this extract.
  • Computed commercial and industrial tax runs $2.28 per SF (n=173), below the county median of $2.81 (n=5,540). Computed from the 2025 rate and assessed value; it is not a tax bill.
  • The typical Vernon Hills commercial and industrial parcel carries 36,306 SF of recorded building area; 36 of 191 (19%) fall in the 10,000-25,000 SF range.
  • Each figure above states its sample; the records were updated 7 September 2026. Anything recorded since is not in it, so this is a floor on activity, not a complete ledger.
191Vernon Hills commercial and industrial parcels with a recorded building area
ClassParcelsParcels with a recorded building areaRecorded building SFMedian per parcel10,000-25,000 SFComputed tax per SF, medianNo disclosed sale price
Commercial and industrial (one assessor class)57019111,086,83336,30636 (19%)$2.28 (n=173) / county $2.81 (n=5,540)97 (51%)

Commercial is the assessor class 60-Commercial Improvements, which covers retail, office and every other non-industrial building; Lake County does not separate retail from office. Computed tax per SF is each parcel's 2025 tax rate times its assessed value, divided by its recorded building area; it is not a tax bill and the rate year does not establish the assessment year. Medians use parcels with a value above $0 and at or below $8 per SF (higher values usually mean a parcel carrying more than one building). Not counted: 83 Improvements-use parcels with no recorded building area (a blank does not prove vacant land) and 2 with a non-positive area. Parcels are counted, not buildings; recorded area is summed per parcel, never across parcels.

27qualifying parcel sale entries with a disclosed price, 2024 to 2026
AddressClassRecorded building SFRecorded priceYearPrice / recorded SFComputed tax per SF
261 W Townline RdCommercial / industrial15,105$5,058,8232026$335$3.64
675 Woodlands PkwyCommercial / industrial62,448$11,746,8652026$188$2.50
275 Evergreen DrCommercial / industrial12,560$2,320,0002026$185$3.91
730 Lakeview PkwyCommercial / industrial51,208$4,500,0002026$88$2.15
704 N Deerpath DrCommercial / industrial73,026$5,425,0002026$74$2.62
3 W Hawthorn PkwyCommercial / industrial98,000$4,875,0002026$50$1.79
400 Lakeview PkwyCommercial / industrial46,073$1,425,0002026$31$1.67
100 Corporate Woods PkwyCommercial / industrial3,514$1,300,0002025$370-
371 W Townline RdCommercial / industrial5,647$2,000,0002025$354$6.46
680 Woodlands PkwyCommercial / industrial161,820$39,492,7922025$244$1.48
401 Sullivan DrCommercial / industrial9,271$1,700,0002025$183$4.06
560 Bunker Ct Ste 100Commercial / industrial72,924$7,887,0002025$108$1.74
670 Lakeview PkwyCommercial / industrial69,004$7,300,0002025$106$1.51
820 Forest Edge DrCommercial / industrial10,646$1,000,0002025$94$2.21
800 Woodlands PkwyCommercial / industrial132,510$12,048,1072025$91$1.88
875 Woodlands PkwyCommercial / industrial149,132$12,951,8932025$87$1.63
1220 E US Highway 45Commercial / industrial72,887$27,800,0002024$381-
100 N Fairway DrCommercial / industrial100,200$31,010,3302024$309$2.70
50 Lakeview PkwyCommercial / industrial104,016$31,010,3302024$298$2.28
1 E Phillip RdCommercial / industrial10,656$2,000,0002024$188$3.61
701 N Milwaukee AveCommercial / industrial39,775$7,450,0002024$187$3.81
825 Corporate Woods PkwyCommercial / industrial21,410$2,400,0002024$112$3.39
777 Hickory Hill DrCommercial / industrial273,400$28,000,0002024$102$1.49
555 Corporate Woods PkwyCommercial / industrial30,306$2,700,0002024$89$1.61
333 Corporate Woods PkwyCommercial / industrial167,903$10,200,0002024$61$0.87
413 N Milwaukee AveCommercial / industrial194,042$8,900,0002024$46$1.20
6 E Phillip RdCommercial / industrial22,905$650,0002024$28$0.96

All commercial and industrial parcels (one assessor class): 27 parcel entries in 2024 to 2026, 3,514 to 273,400 SF of recorded building area; price per recorded building square foot ranges $28 to $381, median $108, the range and median of these recorded entries, not a market rate. County-wide industrial figures by town and size band are on the Lake County industrial pillar.

Coverage. The extract carries a disclosed sale price on 94 of the 191 parcels with a recorded building area, and shows only the most recent entry per parcel. Each row is one parcel's entry; where a sale covered more than one parcel, the price and area shown are that parcel's record and have not been allocated across the site. A blank price does not prove the parcel never transferred. Anything recorded after 7 September 2026 is not in it, so this is a floor on activity, not a complete ledger. Source: Jason Bitton RE/MAX Commercial’s database from public records. No owner names are published. The parcel and sale tables are downloadable as CSV: parcels and sale entries. Want a first read on your own building? The property value estimator takes a minute; a confidential opinion of value replaces it with real comps.

Commercial Zoning

What Can You Open in Vernon Hills?

Vernon Hills zoning by address

Look up a Vernon Hills address

Street number and street; add the town if it is not Vernon Hills. The lookup starts on its own when you pause.

Vernon Hills regulates commercial property through four commercial, office and business-park districts — a compact structure. Almost every retail, restaurant, service, fitness, and personal-care use lives in B-1 General Business, the village’s broad commercial district covering corridors like Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) and Townline Road. The other three districts — O-R&D, O-R&D-1, and B-P — exist specifically for corporate office, R&D, and business park uses.

General Business

B-1 General Business is the village’s broad commercial district covering the Hawthorn Mall trade area, Mellody Farm, and the Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) and Townline Road corridors — home to almost all retail, restaurant, service, and personal-care uses.

Office, R&D & Business Park

O-R&D is designed for well-designed office buildings with controlled access and extensive setbacks; O-R&D-1 carries a larger 200,000 SF minimum lot area for major corporate headquarters and R&D (no parcel is mapped to it on the 2026 zoning map); and B-P Business Park is the village’s flex/light-industrial district for nuisance-free light industrial.

Vernon Hills Zoning Districts

The commercial, office and industrial districts in Vernon Hills, with the uses allowed by right and the uses that need special-use approval — 4 districts, 149 listed uses. Open any district for its full list.

B-1 General Business District — 50 permitted, 41 by special use+

Vernon Hills’ broad retail district for compatible business uses that draw mutually supporting trade, on sites with safe access to arterial or major collector streets; permitted uses must be retail sales or consumer services inside a wholly enclosed building. In the Core Retail Area, converting a single-use retail building over 3,000 SF (20,000 SF before Ord. 2026-073) to less than 80 percent retail requires a certificate of building and use conversion from the Village Board (Sec. 4.14.3). The new “specialty school” special use (tutoring, trade, dance, athletic training, martial arts, music, arts/crafts) overlaps the still-permitted “Schools; music, dancing, business, martial arts studios,” and the code does not say which governs (Article Thirteen, Secs. 13.1–13.3; latest amendment Ord. 2026-073, July 28, 2026).

Permitted by right: Antique shops, Art and school supply stores, Art galleries, Bakeries (goods produced on premises, sold at retail on premises), Banks and savings and loan associations (excluding drive-in facilities), Barber and beauty shops, Bicycle shops, Book and stationery stores, Camera and photographic supply stores, Candy, confectionery and ice cream stores, Carpet, flooring and rug stores, China and glassware stores, Clothes pressing establishments, Coffee shops, Coin and philatelic stores, Drugstores and pharmacies, Dry cleaners and laundries (not a central plant serving multiple outlets), Electrical and household appliance stores, Florist shop, Foodstores, delicatessens, grocery stores, supermarkets, Furniture stores, Furrier shops, Gift shops, Hardware stores, Health club, Health or day spa, Hobby and craft stores, Interior decorating shops, Jewelry stores (including watch, clock and jewelry repair), Leather goods and luggage stores, Locksmith shop, Meat markets, Medical and/or dental offices, Music stores, Office supply stores, Optical shops, Paint and wallpaper stores, Photographic studios, Professional and general offices, Radio, T.V., hi-fi and record stores, Restaurants (including fast food and carry-out; excluding dancing, alcoholic beverages, drive-thru and drive-in), Retail tailor and dressmaking shops, Schools — music, dancing, business, martial arts studios, Shoe stores, Shoe, clothing and hat repair shops, Sporting goods stores, Toy stores, Travel bureaus, Variety stores, Wearing apparel shops

Special use approval required: Adult day service, Amusement, recreation and training for adults (indoor; with conditions), Animal clinic, Animal hospital, Arcade for electronic games, Automobile rental/leasing establishment, Automobile repair service establishment, Automobile service station (may include accessory mini-mart and/or car wash), Billiard facilities, Bowling facilities, Car wash, Children’s recreation and fitness facilities, Cigar lounge, Cocktail lounge or package liquor store, Commercial picnic grounds (including serving but not sale of alcoholic beverages), Convalescent care facility, Day camps and overnight camps (operated in conjunction with a day camp), Day care centers and nursery schools, Drive-in banks, savings and loan associations, and currency exchanges, Electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) — primary use, Entertainment uses (movie theaters, concert or music halls; with or without alcohol), Equipment rental, Funeral parlors, General retail sales, Gunsmiths and gun shops, Hookah lounge, Hotels or extended stay motels, Hourly drop-off childcare facilities (within enclosed retail shopping center with parent or custodian on premises), Houses of worship, convents, rectories, parsonages, parish houses and monasteries (including nursery schools sponsored by and operated within the sponsor’s buildings), Landscape, construction and architectural offices and yard (screened storage; no retail sales), Medical cannabis cultivation centers, Pet shops, Public building (municipal, county, state or federal), Public utility building (light, gas, telephone, water, sewer) — branch office and distribution center, Restaurants serving alcoholic beverages, Restaurants — drive-in, drive-thru, Specialty school, Tasting room (with conditions on production, licensing, and serving limits), Temporary trailer/modular units to accommodate a financial institution (with or without drive-through), Tobacco retail establishment (as defined in Sec. 3.2; subject to Village Code Chapter 10), Warehouse retail facility

Read the B-1 district in the official code

O-R&D Office, Research and Development District — 7 permitted, 12 by special use+

Office and nuisance-free research uses on campus-style sites with controlled access to major streets and extensive landscaped setbacks: 160,000 SF minimum lot, 200 ft width, and no building over 2 stories or 25 ft within 400 ft of a residential district. Ord. 2026-073 added adult day service and specialty school as special uses (Article Fifteen, Secs. 15.1–15.5; latest amendment Ord. 2026-073, July 28, 2026).

Permitted by right: Business offices (corporate headquarters, district, branch, sales, insurance, real estate, advertising, computer facility, etc.), Financial offices (commercial banks, savings and loan, stock or commodities brokers, automobile/commercial/real estate financing, real estate title, etc.), Governmental offices, Professional offices (medical and dental offices and clinics, legal offices, CPAs, etc.), Research laboratories (including product testing; excluding manufacturing except as incidental to research), Sales offices with incidental repairs and service for business and office equipment (storage of parts limited to 100% of sales/office area), Wholesale sales, displays and offices (excluding storage or warehousing)

Special use approval required: Adult day service, Business or trade school, Catering service, Consumer credit or financing office, Day care centers and nursery schools, Hotel or motor hotel, Private clubs (including health clubs), Public building (non-office uses), Public utility branch office (excluding distribution center), Services or commercial uses serving immediate convenience needs of employees in the area (office supply, restaurants without drive-in, integrated shopping centers up to 25,000 sq. ft.), Specialty school, Storage facilities

Read the O-R&D district in the official code

O-R&D-1 Office, Research and Development District — 7 permitted, 8 by special use+

The same permitted office and research uses as O-R&D on larger sites: 200,000 SF minimum lot, 300 ft width, 25 percent building coverage, 0.5 FAR, and no building over 2 stories or 25 ft within 300 ft of a residential district. The district exists in the code text, but the 2026 Vernon Hills zoning map legend has no O-R&D-1 category, so no parcel is currently mapped to it (Article Fifteen A, Secs. 15A.1–15A.5; latest amendment Ord. 2004-112).

Permitted by right: Business offices (corporate headquarters, district, branch, sales, insurance, real estate, advertising, computer facility, etc.), Financial offices (commercial banks, savings and loan, stock or commodities brokers, automobile/commercial/real estate financing, real estate title, etc.), Governmental offices, Professional offices (medical and dental offices and clinics, legal offices, CPAs, etc.), Research laboratories (including product testing; excluding manufacturing except as incidental to research), Sales offices with incidental repairs and service for business and office equipment (storage of parts limited to 100% of sales/office area), Wholesale sales, displays and offices (excluding storage or warehousing)

Special use approval required: Business or trade school, Consumer credit or financing office, Hotel or motor hotel, Private clubs (including health clubs), Public building (non-office uses), Public utility branch office (excluding distribution center), Services or commercial uses serving immediate convenience needs of employees in the area (office supply, restaurants without drive-in), Temporary trailer/modular units to accommodate a financial institution (with or without drive-through)

Read the O-R&D-1 district in the official code

B-P Business Park District — 9 permitted, 15 by special use+

Nuisance-free light industrial and compatible uses in well-designed buildings with controlled access to major streets and extensive landscaped setbacks. In locations designated as retail commercial centers in an RPUD, the B-1 permitted uses (Sec. 13.2) also apply, and in locations designated as retail commercial centers the B-1 special uses (Sec. 13.3) also apply, except amusement, recreation and training for adults, which Sec. 13.3.0 keeps in the B-1 district; Ord. 2026-073 added adult day service, specialty school, battery storage and data center special uses (Article Sixteen, Secs. 16.1–16.3; latest amendment Ord. 2026-073, July 28, 2026).

Permitted by right: Blueprint and photostating, Bookbinding, Engraving, printing and publishing, Lithographing, Manufacturing of medical and dental equipment; drafting, optical and musical instruments; watches, clocks, toys and games; electrical or electronic apparatus and equipment (from previously fabricated parts), Salesrooms and offices incidental to permitted uses, Self-storage or commercial storage facilities, Warehouse storage of nonhazardous materials, products and equipment (wholly enclosed), Wholesale sales and warehouses

Special use approval required: Adult day service, Automobile new car dealerships with showrooms, auto preparation and service bays, new car storage (used car sales only in conjunction with new car dealership, max 3:1 outdoor:indoor display ratio), Automobile repair service establishment, Automobile service stations (retail fuel, lubricants, tires, batteries; non-fuel activities conducted wholly within building), Battery storage (principal use; equipment not in the required front yard, screened by dense landscaping or an opaque fence, operator holds a general business license), Data center (min. 5-acre lot, max FAR 0.2, all buildings and equipment 300 ft from property lines; fencing, facade-window, lighting, noise and engineer compliance-report conditions), Hotels or extended stay hotels, Medical cannabis dispensing facility, Motor vehicle terminal, including service/repair, washing, parking and/or garage facilities (8 conditions, incl. no reefer units running, garbage-hauling trucks stored only indoors, no hazardous storage beyond vehicle-maintenance materials, no fuel tanks unless the Board allows, all work indoors, vehicles outside the required front yard, prohibited in any RPUD or PUD such as Corporate Woods or Continental Executive Parke, enclosed storage within 300 ft of a residential district), Production/processing/cleaning/services/testing/repair/storage of nonhazardous materials (wholly within building; non-injurious to adjacent premises) or FCC licensed commercial A.M. band transmitting facilities, Public building (municipal, county, state or federal), Public utility building (light, gas, telephone, water, sewer) — branch office and/or distribution center, Specialty school, Sports complex, Temporary trailer/modular units to accommodate a financial institution (with or without drive-through)

Read the B-P district in the official code

Source: Vernon Hills Zoning (Appendix C), Municode through Ord. 2026-049 (May 5, 2026; Supp. 33, Update 1), plus Ords. 2026-073 (July 28, 2026) and 2026-079 (Aug. 11, 2026), not yet on Municode. Overlay districts, planned developments and parking rules can further limit what a specific parcel can do.

Confirm any specific address against the village code before signing — or use the Commercial Zoning Lookup and tell Jason what you’re trying to open.

Also Serving

Nearby Markets

Click a town to explore Jason’s services in that market.

Questions

Vernon Hills Commercial Real Estate FAQ

Who is the best commercial real estate broker in Vernon Hills?+
Jason Bitton of RE/MAX Commercial — a Vernon Hills resident and the #1 RE/MAX Commercial broker in Illinois (2022, 2024, 2025) — handles retail, office, industrial, and investment property in Vernon Hills, from the Hawthorn Mall trade area to the Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) corridor, from his office next door in Libertyville. He represents buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants throughout the village and central Lake County. In Vernon Hills he leased the 3,570 SF retail space at 750 Bunker Ct in April 2024, and nearby he has closed sales and leases in Libertyville, Mundelein and Long Grove.
Who should I hire to sell my commercial building in Vernon Hills?+
Jason Bitton of RE/MAX Commercial, from his office next door in Libertyville. In Vernon Hills he leased the retail space at 750 Bunker Ct in 2024; nearby, in 2025, he sold 283 Peterson Rd in Libertyville for its owner and 126 W Maple Ave in Mundelein, representing both sides. He works for sellers — more than 80% of the sales on his public ledger represented the seller — and he doesn’t own or develop commercial property, so no building of his ever competes with yours for a buyer. In CoStar sale records he was the listing agent on more Lake County retail sales that closed in 2024 than any other agent.
What does commercial and industrial property sell for in Vernon Hills?+
In the two years to June 30, 2026, the Village of Vernon Hills recorded 18 arm’s-length sales of office, retail, commercial and industrial property, at a median price of $6.09 million. Retail and commercial sales were 13 of the 18, at a median of $5,425,000; office (1 sale) and industrial (4) are too few for a median. That report gives no per-square-foot figure. The the county record, a different source, shows 27 parcel sale entries with a disclosed price for 2024 to 2026, commercial and industrial together; price per recorded building square foot ranges $28 to $381, median $108, the range and median of these recorded entries, not a market rate.
How long does it take to sell a commercial building in Vernon Hills?+
Of the 18 sales in the two years to June 30, 2026, 17 sellers reported a marketing time: two never put the building on the market, and the 15 who marketed their building report a median of 5 months (they reported 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 10, 12 and 12 months); 12 of the 15 sold within six months and all 15 within a year. Each figure is the seller’s own estimate.
Is there commercial space for lease in Vernon Hills right now?+
Jason’s Vernon Hills listings are in the listings section above, and the full space list is on the listings hub. Tenant to verify. If nothing there fits, tell Jason the size and use you need.
What zoning do I need to open a retail or restaurant business in Vernon Hills?+
The zoning guide on this page sets out the village’s commercial districts and what each one allows, with links to the official code. Confirm the specific address with the Village of Vernon Hills before you sign a lease or buy, or use the Commercial Zoning Lookup and tell Jason what you’re trying to open.
What are the main commercial corridors in Vernon Hills?+
Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) and Townline Road are the primary corridors, anchored by Hawthorn Mall and Mellody Farm, serving a broad trade area spanning Libertyville, Mundelein, and Lincolnshire.
Can Jason help with warehouse or industrial space in Vernon Hills?+
Yes. Jason represents owners and tenants for warehouse, flex, and light-industrial space in Vernon Hills, from showroom-flex buildings to distribution space along the Route 45, Route 60, and Milwaukee Avenue corridors. He lists and leases industrial property for owners and helps businesses find and negotiate the right space.
What are typical commercial lease rates in Vernon Hills?+
As of July 2026, industrial and warehouse space in Vernon Hills typically leases in the $6 to $12 per square foot range (NNN), and retail space generally runs $16 to $24 per square foot. Prime, high-traffic retail near Mellody Farm and the Hawthorn corridor can command $32 to $64 per square foot. Rates vary with size, location, and use; tenants should verify current terms.
Why do Northbrook rates look higher than Vernon Hills?+
Mostly it comes down to how the rent is quoted. Vernon Hills and most of Lake County quote triple net — the tenant pays property taxes, insurance, and common-area costs on top of the base rent. Northbrook and most of north Cook County quote modified gross, where those costs are already inside the quoted number. The tax difference is real money: industrial property in Lake County carries roughly $2 per square foot in annual property taxes, against roughly $3.50 to $4 per square foot in Cook County — nearly double. That gap, not the base rent, explains most of the apparent spread between the two markets.
What do computed property taxes per square foot look like for commercial buildings in Vernon Hills?+
Computed as each parcel's 2025 tax rate times its assessed value, divided by its recorded building area, the median Vernon Hills commercial or industrial parcel (one assessor class in Vernon Hills) computes to about $2.28 per square foot of recorded building area, against a Lake County commercial median of $2.81 (samples: 173 Vernon Hills and 5,540 county parcels with a value above $0 and at or below $8). These are computed estimates from the assessor record, not tax bills, and the rate year does not establish the assessment year.
How many Vernon Hills commercial parcels show no disclosed sale price?+
Of the 191 commercial Improvements-use parcels with a recorded building area, 97 (51%) carry no disclosed sale price in the county extract. A blank price means the extract holds no disclosed figure for that parcel; it does not establish that the parcel never transferred or how long the owner has held it.

Thinking About Selling in Vernon Hills?

Start with a confidential, off-market opinion of value from a Vernon Hills resident and senior broker who works the Route 21 corridor and Hawthorn Mall trade area directly. No sign in the window, no tenant speculation — a private read on value and current buyer demand, then you decide.

Buying or leasing instead? Same door: Get Started or call.

Want a number first? The property value estimator gives a first read from rent, taxes and size before anyone talks.

Or start from the record: the commercial property lookup shows size, county valuation and last sale for any commercial building on file in Vernon Hills.