Brighton City Zoning Code
SUPPLEMENTARY ZONING
REGULATIONS
§ 155.045 APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.
This subchapter establishes lot and structure requirements, design standards, and use limitations for specific, potentially troublesome structures and uses. These regulations apply in every zoning district where the specific structure or use is permitted or allowed by special use permit. But if more stringent regulations are applicable in any particular district, such regulations shall prevail.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-1) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999)
§ 155.046 CAMPING TRAILERS.
(A) Exceptions. The regulations of this subchapter do not apply to camping trailers or other similar recreational vehicles parked in a permitted camping trailer park. The requirements of divisions (B), (C), and (D) below do not apply to camping trailers or other similar recreational vehicles parked on a permitted camping trailer sales lot.
(B) Living quarters. No camping trailer or other similar recreational vehicle shall be used as living quarters other than in a camping trailer park.
(C) Commercial office. No camping trailer or other similar vehicle shall be used as an office or for any other commercial purposes unless a special use permit is granted from the village. Said permit shall not exceed 180 days. No successive permit will be allowed.
(D) Front yard. No camping trailer, boat, boat trailer, RV, or other similar recreational vehicle shall be parked on any front yard or on the street abutting the residence, either in the front or on the side (except on a driveway), or on a side yard abutting a street.
(E) Street and shoulder of road. No hauling trailers, commercial equipment, mowers, farm equipment, wreckers, commercial box trucks, commercial vehicles, or similar type equipment and/or vehicles may be parked in the street or on the shoulder of the road abutting a residence either in the front or on the side.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-2) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999; Ord. 619, passed 5-24-2004) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.047 FENCES AND WALLS.
(A) Location. No sharp pointed fence or barbed wire fence shall be erected or maintained anywhere in the residential districts. In the commercial or industrial districts, sharp pointed fences and barbed wire fences are allowed if the sharp points and/or the barbed wire are above eight feet. No electrically charged fence shall be erected or maintained anywhere in this municipality.
(B) Approval required. No fence, wall, or other obstruction shall be erected within any public right-of-way without the written approval of the Code Official.
(C) Compliance with State Drainage Code. No fence, wall, or other obstruction shall be erected in violation of the State Drainage Code, being 70 ILCS 605.
(D) Height.
(1) Every fence, wall, or other obstruction shall conform to the special height restrictions applicable in areas near intersections.
(2) No fence, wall, or other obstructions in any front yard area shall exceed four feet in height or, in any rear or side yard, exceed eight feet in height unless a commercial or industrial lot abuts the rear or side yard of a residential lot, and then privacy screening requirements must be followed.
(3) All fences shall be properly maintained and in good repair.
(E) Property lines. Fences may be located on the property lines.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-3) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999; Ord. 619, passed 5-24-2004) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.048 FILLING STATIONS.
(A) Location. All gasoline pumps, service facilities, or restrictive materials shall be located at least 25 feet from any street right-of-way line, side lot line, or rear lot line.
(B) Trash receptacles screened. All trash receptacles, except minor receptacles adjacent to the gasoline pumps, shall be screened from view.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-4) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.049 HOME OCCUPATIONS.
(A) Definition; regulations. A HOME OCCUPATION means any business, profession, or occupation (excluding retail sales) for gain or support entirely within a residential building or on residential premises. Within this municipality, every home occupation shall be considered a special use. no home occupation shall be established except in conformity with the following regulations.
(1) Unrelated employees. A home occupation shall have no unrelated outside employees. No home shall be used as a headquarters for nonrelated employees; a home may not provide parking for nonrelated employees.
(2) Floor space. The total area used for a home occupation shall not exceed 25% of the gross floor area of the dwelling, or 300 square feet, whichever is less.
(3) Daycare homes.
(a) Daycare homes must be licensed by the State Department of Children and Family Services and must be located in family homes, which may receive from three up to six children for less than 24 hours per day. The number counted does not include the family’s natural or adopted children and all other persons under the age of 12 residing in the home.
(b) The term does not include family homes which receive children from a single household. Any room that the children are allowed to enter must have at least two exits available in case of an emergency. All other requirements stated in this section must be followed.
(4) Dwelling alterations. In any residential district, a principal residential building shall not be altered (to accommodate a home occupation) in such a way as to materially change the residential character of the building.
(5) Outdoor storage. Outdoor (unenclosed) storage or display of equipment or materials used in connection with a home occupation is prohibited.
(6) Nuisances. A home occupation shall not generate any offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat, glare, or electrical interference noticeable at or beyond the lot lines.
(7) Signs. A sign may be displayed by the home occupation. The sign shall not exceed four square feet in size and shall not be illuminated or detract from the general character of the neighborhood.
(B) Violation. If any of the regulations listed in division (A) above are violated, the Village Board has the authority to revoke the home occupation permit.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-5) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.050 NURSING HOMES.
The lot on which any nursing home is situated shall have a minimum width and depth of 200 feet, and a minimum area of one and one-half acres.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-6) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.051 JUNKYARDS.
After the effective date of this chapter, no part of any junkyard (which includes any lot on which any three or more inoperable or unlicensed vehicles are stored) shall be operated within this village.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-7) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.052 SCHOOLS.
(A) Minimum lot area. The lot on which any school is situated shall have the minimum area indicated below.
Type of School | Minimum Lot Area |
Nursery, daycare center | 10,000 square feet |
Other (elementary, junior high, senior high) | As required by state law |
(B) Location. The principal building of any school shall be located at least 25 feet from all lot lines.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-8) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.053 SWIMMING POOLS; FENCES.
Every swimming pool two feet or greater in depth, whether public or private, shall be enclosed by a wall or fence at least four feet in height above the finished grade and must have a gate that shall be locked when the pool is not in use. An above-ground pool, four feet or higher, need not have a fence with a gate, so long as the ladder is removed when not in use or is folded and locked.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-9) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.054 ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
(A) Definition. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions applies unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ESSENTIAL SERVICE. Includes the erection, construction, alteration, or maintenance, by public agencies of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam, or water transmission or distribution systems, collection, communication, supply, or disposal systems, elevated and underground water storage tanks, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies or for the public health or safety or general welfare.
(B) Restrictions not imposed. Nothing contained in these regulations shall impose restrictions for the provision of essential services by a public utility (as defined in the state statutes).
(Prior Code, § 10-4-10) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999)
§ 155.055 MOBILE HOMES.
The following requirements are supplementary to the state’s mobile home parks laws as regulated by the State Department of Public Health pursuant thereto.
(A) Mobile Homes on individual lots.
(1) No mobile home located outside a mobile home park or court may be replaced with another mobile home.
(2) No mobile home shall be upon land located within the Village of Brighton zoning limits, unless it had been established before year 2021.
(3) Mobile homes shall be utilized only as a dwelling unit for owner or renter occupancy.
(4) All mobile homes shall be connected to all available public utilities in accordance with all requirements for any residential structures in the Village of Brighton.
(5) All mobile homes shall conform to all zoning requirements that are applicable to the zoning district in which it is located.
(B) Modular Homes.
(1) Modular homes are often known as factory-built, prefabricated, or systems-built homes.
(2) A modular home is defined as a prefabricated house built off-site in a factory, completed in sections called modules, according to specific plans, then transported and assembled on a prepared foundation.
(3) All modular homes shall be placed in a full perimeter foundation, extending below the frost depth.
(4) All modular homes shall conform to all local building codes and zoning requirements.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-11) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999; amd. Ord. 2025-04, passed 4-7-2025) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.056 PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
In any district where municipally owned or other publicly owned buildings are permitted, the following additional requirements shall be met.
(A) In any residential district, all municipal or other publicly owned buildings shall be located at least 25 feet from all property lines.
(B) (1) In any residential or commercial district, there shall be no permanent storage of heavy construction or maintenance equipment (such as excavating, road building, or hauling equipment), unless in an enclosed building or enclosed within a solid wall or fence at least six feet in height.
(2) Such storage areas, maintenance yards, or storage warehouses shall be located at least 25 feet from any front or side property line.
(C) In any business/commercial district, all exterior building materials shall be of high durability and quality and require low maintenance, and must have the approval of the Zoning Board or its duly designated agent.
(D) An exception may be granted from the requirements stated herein for any residential dwelling located within the business/commercial district at the discretion of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(E) In the event a residential dwelling is utilized as a business/commercial building, and is subject to destruction affecting 50% or more of the premises, upon restoration, the owner shall comply with the terms, conditions, and provisions of this section upon such restoration.
(F) In the event a residential dwelling is located within the business/commercial zoning area, and is subject to destruction affecting 50% or more of the premises, upon restoration of the residence for dwelling purposes, the owner shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-12) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999; Ord. 749, passed 4-7-2014; Ord. 2018-12, passed 3-22-2018) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.057 KENNELS.
(A) Area. The lot on which any kennel is situated shall have a minimum area of three acres.
(B) Location. Every kennel shall be located at least 200 feet from the nearest dwelling, and at least 100 feet from any lot line.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-13) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.058 LIGHTING CONTROL.
Any light used for the illumination of signs, swimming pools, or for any other purpose shall be arranged so as to confine the direct light rays away from neighboring residential properties and away from the vision of passing motorists.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-14) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.059 PRIVACY SCREENING.
Where any commercial or industrial district abuts any residential district, a privacy screen of village-approved material, whether natural or human-made, must be provided by the property owner. The following regulations must apply.
(A) Screen. The screen must be at least eight feet in height, provide 90% density year-round, and be maintained to original specifications by the property owner as long as the screen is a requirement.
(B) Natural materials. Natural materials may be six feet when planted but must be at least eight feet and provide 90% density within three years of occupancy.
(C) Approval. All materials must be approved by the Code Official prior to installation or the granting of an occupancy permit.
(D) Exceptions.
(1) The residential property is lawfully being used for commercial or industrial purposes.
(2) The residential property is owned by the commercial or industrial owner and provides a 50-foot buffer between the commercial or industrial property and other residential properties.
(3) The commercial or industrial use was established before the adjoining property was annexed or was designated as residential.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-15) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.060 DUMPSTER; TRASH DISPOSAL.
All existing and newly constructed structures that contain more than three units shall be required to provide an on-site trash disposal dumpster. Said dumpster shall contain a minimum of one-half cubic yard capacity for each apartment unit, and shall be screened from view, at least one foot above the height of the dumpster.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-16) (Ord. passed 4-19-1999) Penalty, see § 155.999
§ 155.061 BILLBOARDS.
The placement of billboards within the corporate limits of the village and in the territory located within one and one-half miles of the corporate limits of the village is prohibited.
(Prior Code, § 10-4-17) (Ord. 687, passed 2-2-2010) Penalty, see § 155.999