Popular Topics - Zoning

We have defined Day Care with two levels. A Day Care Center is defined by the Rock Island County Code of Ordinances as "A child care facility which regularly provides day care for less than twenty-four hours per day for (a) more than 8 children in a family dwelling unit, or (b) more than three children in a facility other than a family dwelling unit. Day Care Centers are allowed in Business Districts.

A Day Care Home is defined by the Rock Island County Code of Ordinances as "A family dwelling unit occupied by attending family which receives more than three and up to a maximum of eight children for less than twenty-four hours a day. The maximum of eight children includes the family's natural or adopted children and all other person under the age of twelve. A Day Care Home may also be a family home which receives adults who are sixty years of age or older."

Day Care Homes have become very popular as the economy has changed. Day Care Homes are exactly what it sounds like - daycare in a home instead of a center. This arrangement has been around as long as parents have had neighbors and friends nearby to help care for their kids. Today it's a way for many parents who prefer to stay at home and who truly enjoy taking care of children to do work they love and contribute to the family finances at the same time. Illinois has approximately 8,000 licensed day care homes - almost three times the number of licensed day care centers. Day Care Homes often appeal to parents who want to keep their child in a warm, friendly, homelike environment but can't afford a nanny and can't or don't want to use a relative. Rock Island County has laws to manage and restrict how home day cares operate.

Zoning laws require home day care operators to follow specific rules regulations, including some that apply only to home day cares. These laws are designed to address the unique circumstances of a business operating in a residential or rural area. The laws seek to minimize the negative impact on the community, which can be affected by increased vehicle traffic and neighborhood noise. Some regulate how properties are altered, including the addition of business signage and the construction of fencing and playground equipment. Zoning laws also provide special requirements designed to address special circumstances related to these businesses. There are also building code issues to consider. The Illinios Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) also regulates home day care in Illinois. Zoning approval from our office is required to obtain a license.

A Special Use Permit is required if you meet the description of a Day Care Home. Day Care Homes are allowed in AG-1, AG-2, SE-1, SE-2 and R-1. To obtain a special use permit please consult with the Zoning Department. A public hearing in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals is required. The board will hear testimony from all objectors, listen to concerns, and make a recommendation to the county board to either approve or deny the application.

If granted, the permit is reviewable and must be renewed yearly for $40. If a dispute should arise concerning interpretation herein, a hearing shall be scheduled before the Zoning Board of Appeals and they shall make the final interpretation.

Fences, walls and hedges are regulated by Section 3-2-8.11 of the County Code of Ordinances. Generically fences are allowed a maximum height of 42 inches in the front yard and 6 feet in the rear yard. Fences are allowed on property lines and the good side of the fence shall face the neighboring property. A building permit is not required for a fence that meets these requirements.

Fences in the Floodplain

Constructing a fence in the floodplain is considered development and requires a Floodplain Development Permit (3-2-38.4). Fences are not allowed in the regulatory floodway without a State permit. In other areas of the mapped floodplain, fences may be allowed if the applicant can demonstrate that the fence will not alter flood flows or increase potential flood damages. (3-2-38.8.A.6)

A Kennel is defined by the Rock Island County Zoning Resolution as "Any Structure or premises where 5 or more dogs and/or cats over 6 months of age are kept as pets, or is intended and used for the breeding of animals for sale, or the training and/or overnight boarding of animals other than those of the owner of the lot. This does not include a veterinary clinic in which the overnight boarding of animals is necessary for and accessory to the testing and medical treatment of the physical disorders of animals."

A Special Use Permit is required if you meet the description of a Kennel. Kennels are allowed in AG-1, AG-2, SE-1, SE-2 (all structures must be 100 feet from residentially zoned property) and R-1, when lot size is over one acre. To obtain a special use permit please consult with the Zoning Department. A public hearing in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals is required. The board will hear testimony from all objectors, listen to concerns, and make a recommendation to the county board to either approve or deny the application.

If granted, the permit is reviewable and must be renewed yearly. The Zoning Board of Appeals has set some general conditions to be followed:

• Limited number of animals, number will be recommended by Rock Island County Animal Control and the Rock Island County Zoning Department after an inspection of the address designated for the kennel and after viewing construction documents.
• Set an hours of operation.
• Meet any and all State of Illinois regulations. For more information please visit the Illinois Department of Agriculture. 
• Must meet all requirements of the Illinois State Humane Care for Animals Act, Illinois Animal Welfare Act, and Animal Control Act.
• Meet all requirements established by the Illinois EPA.
• Meet the requirements of the Rock Island County Health Department with regards to the septic system installed for the Kennel.
• Provisions must be made to provide a continuous supply of freshwater and proper shelter.
• Structures used for housing Kennels must meet the building codes as adopted by Rock Island County and all applicable health standards.
• Animals are to be prevented from running at large.
• All animals to be prevented from causing a nuisance that may include frequent, habitual, excessive howling; barking; meowing; caterwauling or other noise making at any time of the day or night.
• If animals are boarded or groomed, applicant shall require proof of registration for animals and current vaccination from the county they reside in.
• The entire area must be kept clean and sanitary condition - daily.
• Property shall be kept free of all feces and urine to prevent its accumulation from constituting a health hazard or odorous nuisance.
• Special Use Permit shall be renewed annually by payment of renewal fee as invoiced.
• Yearly renewal will also include an inspection by Rock Island County Animal Control.
• The Special Use permit is nontransferable.
• Special Use must be established within one year of issuance.
• If a dispute should arise concerning interpretation herein, a hearing shall be scheduled before the Zoning Board of Appeals and they shall make the final interpretation.

The term Recreational Vehicle (RV) refers to many types of vehicles, such as, Camper Trailer, Travel Trailer, Truck Camper, Motor Home, Boat Trailer, Horse Trailer, Utility Trailer or Recreational Boat. These terms are all defined in our Zoning Ordinance, see our downloads page for the most current version. 

Loading and Unloading. A RV may be parked anywhere on a property for a period of time not to exceed 24 hours, no more than twice in any consecutive period of seven (7) days. With at least thirty (30) hours separating each occurrence. 

Parking and Storage. RVs must be stored:

• In a side or rear yard, meeting setbacks;
• On an impervious Surface (concrete or black top);
• In a condition of storage and not appearing to be occupied; 
• In an operable condition for safe and efficient performance of the function for which it is intended (licensed and insured).

Seasonal Use. There are provisions where a RV may be used in conjunction with a Special Use Permit to allow for camping along a body of water. 

Temporary Use. A RV may be used for the housing of guests of occupants of the owner of the principle resident if it does not exceed 30 days in a calendar year and no charge is made for such occupancy. When a RV has bump outs extended and utilities running to it, that is considered as being occupied. 

Single Family Dwellings are defined in our ordinance as "A building designed exclusively for use and occupancy by one family, and entirely separated from any other dwelling by space totaling at least 900 square feet and the structures length does not exceed four times its width and is affixed to a permanent masonry or concrete footing and/or foundation as defined in the Rock Island County Building Codes as adopted. The structure shall have a minimum 3:12 nominal roof pitch, conventional residential roofing material, conventional residential siding which must extend to within (8) eight inches of the ground elevation except when placed upon a masonry or concrete foundation and 6-inch minimum eave overhang."

This applies to all types of construction including Post Frame Construction, Modular, Manufactured or conventional stick framed construction. All dwellings must have a full perimeter foundation that extends below our frost line of 42 inches. 

There are two categories of solar projects: Solar Private and Commercial Solar Energy Facilities. Both require building permits.

Solar Private

Solar Private can be roof or ground-mounted solar collectors and supplementary solar energy equipment that is accessory to a residential or nonresidential use and does not exceed two megawatts.

Solar private is designed for onsite use by the owner or tenant of the residential or nonresidential use.

Solar Private is permitted in any zoning district as long as it is an accessory to the primary use.

Solar Private must abide by the bulk regulations, density and dimensional standards of the underlying zoning district in which it is located, similar to an accessory structure.

Use the Solar Private Application (PDF) or engineered drawings may also be submitted.

Commercial Solar Energy Facility

Any device or assembly of devices that (i) is ground installed and (ii) uses solar energy from the sun for generating electricity for the primary purpose of wholesale or retail sale and not primarily for consumption on the property on which the device or devices reside.

A Commercial Solar Energy Facility is permitted as a special use in the Agricultural, Suburban Estates and Industrial zoning districts and shall meet the requirements set forth in Section D Development Standards of our Zoning Ordinance.

To have Urban Hens (Chickens) on your property, a Special Use Permit is required. The following are list of conditions for approval:

1. The maximum number of chickens allowed for tracts of land 10,000 square feet in area or less shall be limited to six hens and the maximum number of chickens allowed for tracts of land greater than 10,000 square feet in area shall be ten hens.
2. Only female chickens (hens) are allowed.
3. A permit shall not allow the permittee to engage in chicken breeding or fertilizer production for commercial purposes.
4. Enclosures:
   • Chickens shall be kept in an enclosure or fenced area at all times. Chickens shall be secured within a henhouse or chicken tractor during non-daylight hours.
   • Enclosures shall be kept in a clean, dry, odor-free, neat and sanitary condition at all times.
   • Henhouses shall provide adequate ventilation and adequate sun and shade and shall be impermeable to rodents, wild birds and predators, including dogs and cats.
   • Henhouses and chicken tractors.
     • Henhouses shall be designed to provide safe and healthy living conditions for the chickens with a minimum of four square feet per bird while minimizing adverse impacts to other residents in the neighborhood.
     • A henhouse shall be enclosed on all sides and shall have a roof and doors. Access doors shall be able to be shut and locked at night. Opening windows and vents shall be covered with predator and bird-proof wire of one-inch or smaller openings.
     • The materials used in making a henhouse shall be uniform for each element of the structure such that the walls are made of the same material, the roof has the same shingles or other covering, and any windows or openings are constructed using the same materials. The use of scrap, waste board, sheet metal, or similar materials is prohibited. Henhouses and chicken tractors shall be well maintained.
     • Henhouses shall only be located in the rear yard unless the setback requirements cannot be met in which case they may be kept in a side yard but within the required setbacks.
     • Henhouses and chicken tractors shall be located at least ten feet from the property line and at least twenty-five (25) feet from any principal structure, and shall meet all other accessory structure provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
5. Odor and Noise Impacts:
   • Odors from chickens, chicken manure or other chicken-related substances shall not be perceptible to persons of reasonable sensitivity beyond the boundaries of the permitted tract of land.
   • Noise from chickens shall not be loud enough beyond the boundaries of the permitted tract of land at the property boundaries to disturb persons of reasonable sensitivity.
6. Predators, Rodents, Insects, and Parasites: The Permittee shall take necessary action to reduce the attraction of predators and rodents and the potential infestation of insects and parasites. Chickens found to be infested with insects and parasites that may result in unhealthy conditions to human habitation may be removed by an Animal Control Officer.
7. Feed and Water: Chickens shall be provided with access to feed and clean water at all times. The feed and water shall be unavailable to rodents, wild birds and predators.
8. Waste Storage and Removal: All stored manure shall be covered by a fully enclosed structure with a roof or lid over the entire structure. No more than three cubic feet of manure shall be stored on the permitted tract of land. All other manure not used for composting or fertilizing shall be removed. The henhouse, chicken tractor, chicken pen and surrounding area shall be kept free from trash and accumulated droppings. Uneaten feed shall be removed in a timely manner.
9. Chickens at Large: The Permittee shall not allow the Permittee's chickens to roam off the permitted tract of land. No dog or cat or other domesticated animal which kills a chicken off the permitted tract of land will, for that reason alone, not be considered a dangerous or aggressive animal or the county's responsibility to enforce its animal control provisions.
10. All County entities reserve the right to perform inspections of the facilities at any time they deem necessary.
11. Changes to the scope of operation of this facility or ownership shall require another hearing before this Board.
12. An annual inspection of the property will be conducted and an annual renewal fee shall be paid to continue the use.
13. This Special Use Permit is non-transferable and shall expire if not renewed annually.
14. If a dispute should arise concerning the interpretation herein, a hearing shall be scheduled before the Zoning Board of Appeals and they shall make the final interpretation.