This article establishes lot and structure requirements and design/operational standards 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.

(Code 1974, § 8-1; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-1, 7-25-2005)

(a)

Farm animals. No barn, stable, shed, or other structure intended to shelter farm animals (including, but not limited to, horses, cattle, and hogs) shall be erected closer than 300 feet to any existing dwelling or closer than 200 feet to any lot line of residential property, whichever distance is greater. Similarly, fences shall be erected or other means shall be taken to prevent farm animals from approaching closer than 300 feet to any existing dwelling or closer than 200 feet to any lot line of residential property, whichever distance is greater.

(b)

Farm equipment/commodities. No agricultural equipment or commodities (including, but not limited to, baled crops, fertilizer, and pesticides/herbicides) shall be stored outdoors closer than 300 feet to any existing dwelling or closer than 200 feet to any lot line of residential property, whichever distance is greater. If the equipment/commodities are stored within a completely enclosed structure, the structure shall be located at least 100 feet from any lot line of residential property.

(c)

Barbed wire/electrical fences. See section 36-657(a).

(d)

Regulations as to the keeping of chickens.

(1)

If the area of a parcel of land on which chickens are kept is one acre or less, no more than six chickens may be kept or harbored on that parcel of land. If the area of a parcel of land on which chickens are kept exceeds one acre, no more than 12 chickens may be kept or harbored on that parcel of land. The maximum number of chickens that may be kept is 12 regardless of the parcel of land.

(2)

Chickens shall be kept outdoors in a covered and enclosed coop in the rear yard of an occupied dwelling.

(3)

Chickens may be allowed run outside their shelter only in a fenced rear yard area between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. While the chickens are outside their shelter in a fenced rear yard area, an owner of the chickens must be present to prevent the chickens from leaving the fenced rear yard area.

(4)

Chickens shall not be permitted to run at large within the city.

(5)

There shall be no slaughtering of chickens with the city.

(6)

All chicken coops shall be located not closer than ten feet to any side yard lot line and not closer than ten feet to any rear yard lot line.

(7)

The interior of any shelter or chicken coop for chickens and the fenced rear yard area where the chickens are allowed to run shall be maintained in a sanitary condition.

(8)

All shelters for chickens shall be designed and constructed with adequate ventilation for the chickens.

(9)

The height of the roof on a shelter for chickens shall not exceed four feet.

(10)

The floor area of a shelter for chickens shall not exceed 20 square feet.

(11)

If the fenced rear yard area of a lot serves more than a single-family residence - that is, a duplex or other multifamily dwelling - then no chickens may be kept in the fenced rear yard area unless all the adult persons residing in all the dwelling units consent in writing to the keeping of the chickens;

(12)

No person shall keep or harbor any rooster.

(13)

Eggs produced by chickens under this section shall be for personal consumption only and may not be sold.

(14)

The annual permit fee for keeping chickens shall be $50.00 per coop.

(15)

Any person found to be in violation of this ordinance shall be fined as set forth in section 1-14.

(Code 1974, § 8-2; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-2, 7-25-2005; Ord. No. 1541, § 3, 3-27-2023)

(a)

Barbed wire/electric fences. No barbed wire or electrically-charged fence shall be erected or maintained anywhere in the city, except in the agricultural district.

(b)

In public right-of-way. No fence, wall, or other obstruction shall be erected within any public right-of-way.

(c)

Obstructing drainage. No fence, wall, or other obstruction shall be erected in violation of 70 ILCS 605/2-1 or 70 ILCS 605/2-12, part of the Illinois Drainage Code, 70 ILCS 605/1-1 et seq.

(d)

Near intersections. Every fence, wall, or other obstruction shall conform to the special height restrictions applicable in areas near intersections.

(e)

Height restrictions, generally.

(1)

Side and rear yards. Any type of fence (other than barbed wire, electrical, or similar dangerous fences) may be erected anywhere in any rear or side yard, including along the lot lines, provided that the fence:

a.

Does not exceed six feet in height; and

b.

Does not extend closer to the street than the building line.

(2)

Front yards. A fence may be erected anywhere in any front yard, including along the lot lines, provided the fence:

a.

Is decorative (i.e., not chain-link, woven wire, etc.); and

b.

Does not exceed four feet in height.

(f)

Buffer strips: When a commercial or industrial district abuts a residential district, or is across a street, alley or similar obstacle, from a residential district, a buffer strip of landscaping or similar treatment shall be required as specified in each district.

(Code 1974, § 8-4; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-4, 7-25-2005; Ord. No. 1516, § 2, 3-14-2022)

No fertilizer, compost, manure, or other odor or dust-producing substance shall be stored closer than 100 feet to any lot line. Greenhouse heating plants shall be situated in an enclosed structure, and shall not be closer than 50 feet to any lot line.

(Code 1974, § 8-5; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-5, 7-25-2005)

A home occupation means any part-time or full-time, permanent or semi-permanent business, profession, or occupation conducted for gain or support entirely within a limited portion of a dwelling by the residents thereof. Within the city, every home occupation shall be considered a special use which may be established or conducted only in conformity with the following regulations:

(1)

Unrelated employees. A home occupation shall employ not more than one individual working on the premises who is unrelated to the family residing on the premises.

(2)

Floor space. A home occupation, other than a daycare or nursery school, shall be conducted only within the dwelling. The total area used for a home occupation, other than a daycare or nursery school, shall not exceed 50 percent of the gross floor area of the first or main floor of the dwelling, or 300 square feet, whichever is less. These floor space requirements shall not apply to a daycare operated as a home occupation, nor to a nursery school operated as a home occupation.

(3)

Dwelling alterations. In any residential district, a dwelling shall not be altered to accommodate a home occupation in such a way as to materially change the residential character of the building.

(4)

Outdoor storage. In any residential district, unenclosed storage of equipment or materials used in connection with a home occupation is prohibited. Any storage of explosives is prohibited.

(5)

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.

(6)

Parking. For a home occupation other than a daycare or nursery school, there shall be off-street parking, in addition to the off-street parking required for the dwelling itself, in the amount of at least one off-street parking space per 300 square feet of floor space devoted to the home occupation. This off-street parking space requirement shall not apply to a daycare operated as a home occupation, nor to a nursery school operated as a home occupation.

(7)

Signs. There shall be no sign, advertising, display, or other indication that a home occupation is conducted on the premises.

(8)

Prohibited home occupations. The business of selling stocks of merchandise, supplies, or products is not a permitted home occupation; provided that incidental retail sales may be made in connection with an approved home occupation. A home occupation shall not include the following: beauty shop, clinic, hospital, mortuary, funeral home, nursing home, tearoom, tourist home, antique shop, animal hospital, restaurant, veterinarian's office, or other use similar to any of the foregoing excluded uses.

(Code 1974, § 8-6; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-6, 7-25-2005; Ord. No. 1322, 3-10-2014)

(a)

The lot on which any hospital or sanitarium is situated shall have a minimum width and depth of 200 feet, and minimum area of five acres.

(b)

The lot on which any nursing home is situated shall have a minimum width and depth of 200 feet, and a minimum area of two acres.

(c)

The principal building of any hospital, sanitarium, or nursing home shall be located at least 25 feet from all lot lines.

(Code 1974, § 8-7; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-7, 7-25-2005)

The lot on which any kennel is situated shall have a minimum area of three acres. Every kennel shall be located at least 200 feet from the nearest dwelling, and at least 100 feet from any lot line. The lot on which any kennel is situated shall be adjoining to the owner's home.

(Code 1974, § 8-8; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-8, 7-25-2005; Ord. No. 1233, § 3, 10-26-2009)

No more than a combined total of two recreational vehicles and utility trailers shall be parked on any lot within the city; provided, however, that this restriction does not apply to utility trailer parked in utility trailer sales lots or to recreational vehicles parked in permitted travel trailer parks or permitted recreational vehicle sales lot.

(1)

No recreational vehicle or utility trailer shall be used as a residential dwelling or office or for any other commercial purpose.

(2)

No recreational vehicle or utility trailer may be parked on the street or in the front of any residential area for more than 72 hours within any seven-day period. Recreational vehicles and utility trailers may be parked in the side or back yard of dwellings.

(3)

No recreational vehicle may be parked in the driveway of a dwelling. One utility trailer may be parked in a dwelling driveway, provided that it does not impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic along the adjacent sidewalk and street, block access to the dwelling or create an unsafe condition.

(4)

A nonresident who is a guest of a city resident may obtain a permit from the city that allows the nonresident to park his recreational vehicle in the side yard or back yard of or a utility trailer in the driveway, side yard or back yard of the resident host's dwelling for a period not to exceed ten consecutive days. The application for a permit under this section must include the host's address and signed consent to the parking requested.

(Code 1974, § 8-9; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-9, 7-25-2005; Ord. No. 1233, § 3, 10-26-2009; Ord. No. 1272, § 2, 8-8-2011; Ord. No. 1395, 3-27-2017)

(a)

No motor vehicle designed or regularly used for carrying freight, merchandise, or other property which exceeds seven feet in height or 20 feet in length may be parked in a residential area. This shall include the tractor cab or the trailer of semis.

(b)

Trucks, semis, or tractor-trailers exceeding these guidelines will be allowed during daylight hours only for the purposes of delivery, loading or unloading.

(Code 1974, § 8-9.1; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-9, 7-25-2005; Ord. No. 1233, § 3, 10-26-2009; Ord. No. 1272, § 2, 8-8-2011; Ord. No. 1395, 3-27-2017)

(a)

The lot on which any school, either public or private, is situated shall have the minimum area indicated below:

(b)

The principal building of every school shall be located at least 25 feet from all lot lines.

(Code 1974, § 8-10; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-10, 7-25-2005)

(a)

No swimming pool, whether public or private, shall be located in any front yard or closer than five feet to any side or rear lot line.

(b)

Every swimming pool, including aboveground pools that are more than two feet deep shall be enclosed by a wall or fence at least four feet in height. The passage through such wall or fence shall be equipped with a gate and a lock.

(Code 1974, § 8-11; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-11, 7-25-2005)

Electrical substations, gas regulator stations, telephone exchange facilities, sewage treatment plants, water storage facilities, or similar facilities in any residential zone district shall meet all the following requirements and in other zone districts shall meet all requirements except subsections (1), (5), and may be required to meet (7) of this section. A special use permit shall be required in all zone districts.

(1)

No public office or principal repair or storage facility shall be maintained in connection with such substations or exchanges.

(2)

The building housing any such facility shall be designed and constructed to conform to the general character of the neighborhood.

(3)

The area on which the facility is located shall be landscaped, and a landscaping plan shall be submitted.

(4)

Where all facilities and equipment are entirely within a completely enclosed building, the minimum lot shall be as follows:

a.

Lot width shall not be less than the total width of the building, plus the total of the minimum required side yards;

b.

Lot depth shall not be less than the depth of the building, plus the minimum required front yard, plus the five-foot minimum rear yard.

(5)

Where facilities or equipment are located outside the completely enclosed buildings, no such facilities or equipment shall be located closer than 15 feet to any side or rear lot line.

(6)

If transformers are exposed, there shall be provided an enclosing fence or wall at least eight feet in height.

(7)

All parcels or lots on which substations, exchanges, equipment, or transformers are located shall meet the following minimum landscaping standards: a planting screen of at least ten feet in depth and expected to reach a height of at least ten feet shall be provided and maintained.

(8)

All utilities shall file a letter of intent for maintenance schedules and procedures at the time of application.

(Code 1974, § 8-12; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-12, 7-25-2005)

Each principal building shall be located at least 25 feet from all property lines or shall meet the zoning district yard and setback requirements, whichever is greater.

(Code 1974, § 8-13; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-13, 7-25-2005)

In repair garages, all repair work, servicing and storage of parts and equipment of vehicles or boats shall be done completely within an enclosed building or shall be enclosed by a solid fence at least eight feet in height or a planting screen of at least ten feet in depth and eight feet in height, or as approved by the building and zoning official.

(Code 1974, § 8-14; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-14, 7-25-2005)

In districts where gasoline service stations are permitted, the establishment of such uses shall be subject to the following requirements:

(1)

All gasoline pumps, lubricating or similar devices and other service facilities shall be located at least 25 feet from any street right-of-way line or side or rear lot line.

(2)

No access drive shall be within 200 feet of a fire station, school, public library, church, park or playground, and at least 30 feet from any intersection of public streets.

(3)

All devices for dispensing or selling of milk, ice, cold drinks, and the like shall be located within or adjacent to the principal building.

(4)

When a gasoline station has been abandoned, all underground storage tanks shall either be removed or filled with some acceptable material approved by the building and zoning official. A gasoline service station shall be considered abandoned when the owner, tenant, or lessor has not sought to continue the use for a period exceeding 12 months.

(Code 1974, § 8-15; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-15, 7-25-2005)

(a)

Lots shall be properly graded for drainage and maintained in good condition free from trash and debris.

(b)

Noise emanating from any use shall not be of such volume or frequency as to be unreasonably offensive at or beyond the property line. Unreasonably offensive noises due to intermittence, beat frequency or shrillness shall be muffled so as not to become a nuisance to adjacent uses.

(c)

No obnoxious, toxic, or corrosive matter, smoke, fumes or gases shall be discharged into the air or across the boundaries of any lot in such concentrations as to be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, comfort, or welfare, or to cause injury or damage to property or business.

(Code 1974, § 8-16; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-16, 7-25-2005)

Junkyards are not permitted in the city.

(Code 1974, § 8-17; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-17, 7-25-2005)

Any spotlight or floodlight used for the illumination of signs, parking areas, swimming pools, or for any other purpose shall be arranged in such a manner as to direct the light away from neighboring residential properties and away from the vision of passing motorists.

(Code 1974, § 8-18; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-18, 7-25-2005)

No building, structure, or premises shall be used or occupied, and no building, or parts thereof, or other structures shall be constructed, erected, raised, moved, placed, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, or altered, and no building shall be occupied by more families or persons than prescribed for such building, structure or premises for the district in which it is located and as otherwise regulated in this chapter, except in conformity with this chapter.

(Code 1974, § 8-19; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-19, 7-25-2005)

In order to site a regional pollution control facility in the city, an applicant shall:

(1)

Meet all the standards, procedures, and criteria established in accordance with P.A. 82-682, an act related to the location of sanitary landfills and hazardous waste disposal sites for city approval of any new facilities before obtaining state environmental protection agency permits; and

(2)

Obtain development and operating permits for the proposed regional pollution control facility from the state environmental protection agency pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act, 415 ILCS 5/1 et seq.

(Code 1974, § 8-21; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-21, 7-25-2005)

(a)

In any zoning district where the keeping of horses is permitted (either as a principal or accessory use), at least five acres shall be allocated for the first horse kept, and two acres shall be allocated for each additional horse kept.

(b)

Any stable or other structure housing horses shall be located at least 200 feet from the nearest existing dwelling and at least 100 feet from any lot line.

(Code 1974, § 8-22; Ord. No. 1151, § 8-22, 7-25-2005)