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Tazewell County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

A-2 AGRICULTURAL

DISTRICT

§ 157.105 PURPOSE.

   (A)   The A-2 District is established to protect and maintain agricultural uses, agricultural economy, the open space and natural features of rural areas, and preserve agricultural land of the county in order to:
      (1)   Protect lands for continued farming;
      (2)   Allow non-farm residential development on a limited basis; and
      (3)   Minimize conflicts between agricultural and non-agricultural areas.
   (B)   (1)   The A-2 district is also established to protect those agricultural lands which, due to their location, soils, and use for agricultural activities, warrant protection from indiscriminate development. However, their proximity to existing development, combined with pressures for new development, makes these lands unsuitable for preservation according to the more restrictive regulations of the A-1 Agricultural Preservation District.
      (2)   The A-2 District is also intended to protect those agricultural lands that would otherwise be subject to residential subdivision activity which could render these important farmlands useless for farming.
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(a))

§ 157.106 PERMITTED USES.

   The following uses are permitted uses in the A-2 District in accordance with the applicable regulations as set forth in this chapter:
   (A)   Agriculture;
   (B)   Camp/cabin;
   (C)   Communication facilities;
   (D)   Dwellings, single-family detached on a lot not less than ten acres;
   (E)   Dwellings, single-family detached on a zoning lot of record prior to March 16, 1978;
   (F)   Dwellings, single-family detached on a lot not less than one (acre), and not greater than five (acres) that meet the following requirements:
      (1)   Not located within one-half mile of a livestock feeding operation;
      (2)   Former or existing farmsteads composed of mature trees, grasses, agricultural buildings or building foundations;
      (3)   Land unsuitable for farming. The designation of land unsuitable for farming shall include land that contains at least two of the following conditions:
         (a)   Highly erodible soils, as defined by the county’s Soil and Water Conservation District;
         (b)   Soils with a productivity index rating of less than 125;
         (c)   Land with 50% or more of wooded areas; or
         (d)   Land with 50% of its area with slopes exceeding 5%.
      (4)   (a)   The parent parcel from which the new one to five acre lot is to be created shall be a minimum of 40 acres. Lot areas that do not conform to these regulations require the issuance of a special use permit.
         (b)   The number of lots created via a permitted or special use shall not exceed one for every 40 acres of the original parcel that existed on January 1, 1998. Lots established after January 1, 1998 and set aside from the original farm parcels as single-family dwelling lots shall count in the determination in the number of allowable dwelling lots.
   (G)   (1)   Dwellings, existing prior to January 1, 1998, may be divided off of an existing parcel, provided at least one acre is deeded with the residence and the split meets exception nine of the State Plat Act, being 765 ILCS 205/0.01 et seq., as follows.
      (2)   The sale of a single lot less than five acres from a larger tract when a survey is made by a state Registered Land Surveyor, provided, that this exemption shall not apply to the sale of any subsequent lots from the same larger tract of land, as determined by the dimensions and configuration of the larger tract on October 1, 1973, and provided also that this exemption does not invalidate any local requirements applicable to the subdivision of land;
   (H)   Governmental, essential;
   (I)   Greenhouse, non-commercial;
   (J)   Home occupations;
   (K)   Kennels, private;
   (L)   On-farm landscape waste composting and mulching facilities located on farms that are not required to have an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) permit, provided such uses are operated in compliance with all IEPA standards pertaining to on-farm landscape composting facilities pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 830.201 et seq.;
   (M)   Shipping/cargo containers subject to the regulations found in § 157.046.
   (N)   Signs, in accordance with the provisions as set forth in §§ 157.330 through 157.342;
   (O)   Stable, private;
   (P)   Small wind energy systems subject to all regulations as found in §§ 153.20 through 153.28. There shall only be one wind energy system allowed on a zoning lot;
   (Q)   Accessory dwelling; subject to the requirements of § 157.055; and
   (R)   Personal storage/recreational building, not to exceed 1,200 square feet. Structures larger than 1,200 square feet shall require approval of a special use request
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(b)) (Ord. LU-17-14, passed 11-15-2017; Ord. LU-19-11, passed 10-30-2019; Res. LU-23-02, passed 1-25-2023; Res. LU-25-07, passed 6-26-2025)

§ 157.107 SPECIAL USES.

   The following uses may be established by a special use permit in the A-2 District in accordance with procedures and standards set forth in §§ 157.435 through 157.447:
   (A)   Agriculturally-related businesses;
   (B)   Airport, private or commercial, landing fields, and heliports, provided that the location and layout plan have been approved by the state’s Department of Aeronautics or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA);
   (C)   Animal sales barn;
   (D)   Asphalt batching plant;
   (E)   Auction house;
   (F)   Automobile service station;
   (G)   Bed and breakfast;
   (H)   Borrow pits;
   (I)   Campgrounds, provided that they meet all applicable requirements of the County Health Department and all applicable codes and regulations governing the installation, construction, and/or
operation of swimming pools, sewage disposal systems, food storage, plumbing, buildings, and structures;
   (J)   Cemeteries;
   (K)   Churches;
   (L)   Clinics, veterinarian:
      (1)   Lot size shall be two or more acres if large animals (such as horses, cows, sheep, llamas, ostriches, and hogs) are to be treated or kept;
      (2)   No treatment rooms or pens for large animals, and shall be located closer than 200 feet from any off-site residential building or 100 feet from any property line, unless maintained within a completely enclosed building; and
      (3)   No objectionable odors are noticeable at or beyond the lot line.
   (M)   Clubs or lodges, private;
   (N)   Communication facilities;
   (O)   Community center;
   (P)   Contractor/construction office/storage, not exceeding a floor area of 2,400 square feet, and all equipment and materials are stored inside a building;
   (Q)   Day care centers;
   (R)   Day care home;
   (S)   Dwellings, single-family detached on parcels less than ten acres or that exceed the requirements under § 157.106(G) and at least one acre in size;
   (T)   Golf course;
   (U)   Golf driving range;   
   (V)   Governmental, non-essential;
   (W)   Greenhouse, commercial;
   (X)   Gravel pits;
   (Y)   Home commercial;
   (Z)   Kennel, commercial;
   (AA)   Landscaping business, provided the minimum lot size is two acres;
   (BB)   Landscape waste composting and mulching facility that require an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) permit, provided such use(s) are in compliance with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards pertaining to landscape waste composting facilities pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code, Subtitle G, Pt. 830, and such use(s) are not located within one-eighth of a mile of any dwelling, measured from the property line of the proposed site, other than an on-site dwelling. The application shall include such information as required pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code, Subtitle G, Pt. 831;
   (CC)   Lawn care, no chemicals;
   (DD)   Manufactured/mobile homes occupied by retired/disabled persons on the same lot or tract of land on which a single-family detached dwelling is occupied as a permanent residence by a family member;
   (EE)   Manufactured/mobile home, accessory to agriculture;
   (FF)   Manufactured/mobile home park;
   (GG)   Paintball facilities, provided that outdoor paintball facilities are located more than 500 feet from any residential district, adjacent dwelling, school, church, existing paintball facility, and hunting range;
   (HH)   Personal storage/recreational building, not to exceed 2,500 square feet. Structures larger than 2,500 square feet shall also require approval of a variance request.
   (II)   Pet cemeteries/crematories;
   (JJ)   Planned developments, residential;
   (KK)   Recreational facilities, Class I, Class II, and Class III;
   (LL)   Schools, public and private;
   (MM)   Shooting range, indoor;
   (NN)   Shooting range, outdoor;
   (OO)   Stable, public;
   (PP)   Theaters, drive-in;
   (QQ)   Warehouse, mini-storage;
   (RR)   Wind energy conversion systems, subject to all regulations as found in §§ 153.01 through 153.11;
   (SS)   Small wind energy systems, subject to all regulations as found in §§ 153.20 through 153.28. There shall only be one wind energy system allowed on a zoning lot;
   (TT)   Banquet facilities;
   (UU)   Personal recreational building, not to exceed 2,500 square feet;
   (VV)   Adult-use cannabis craft growers, in accordance with Chapter 159, provided that: a cannabis craft grower shall not be located within 1,000 feet of property line of a pre-existing public or private preschool, elementary school, secondary school, day care center, daycare homes, religious institutions, a lot line containing an pre-existing residence, lot lines of all residential zoning districts, a residential care home and specialized care facilities;
   (WW)   Adult-use cannabis cultivation center, in accordance with Chapter 159, provided that: a cannabis cultivation center shall not be located within 1,000 feet of property line of a pre-existing public or private preschool, elementary school, secondary school, day care center, daycare homes, religious institutions, a lot line containing an pre-existing residence, lot lines of all residential zoning districts, a residential care home and specialized care facilities;
   (XX)   Agritainment/agritourism; and
   (YY)   Commercial solar energy facility, subject to all regulations as found in §§ 156.01 et seq.
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(c)) (Ord. LU-17-14, passed 11-15-2017; Ord. LU-20-03, passed 2-26-2020; Res. LU-23-02, passed 1-25-2023; Res. LU-24-09, passed 5-29-2024; Res. LU-24-17, passed 8-28-2024; Res. LU-25-07, passed 6-26-2025)

§ 157.108 MINIMUM LOT SIZES.

   Except as provided by special use permit, all uses and structures in the A-2 Agricultural District shall have a minimum lot size of ten acres.
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(d))

§ 157.109 MINIMUM LOT WIDTH.

   Minimum lot width at the building setback line shall be 200 feet.
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(e))

§ 157.110 FRONTAGE.

   Except as provided by special use permit, the minimum road frontage shall be 200 feet.
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(f))

§ 157.111 MINIMUM SETBACKS.

   The following setback standards shall apply in the A-2 District for principal and accessory structures which abut the following.
   (A)   Abutting the following roads.
      (1)   Arterial street (highway): 150 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way.
      (2)   Collector street (major): 100 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way.
      (3)   Minor street (minor): 100 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way.
      (4)   Private street (minor): 100 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way.
   (B)   Side yard.
      (1)   Principal structures shall have a side setback of not less than 30 feet from the property line.
      (2)   Accessory structures shall have a side setback of not less than 15 feet from the property line.   
   (C)   Rear yard.
      (1)   Principal structures shall have a rear setback of not less than 50 feet from the property line.
      (2)    Accessory structures shall have a rear setback of not less than 25 feet from the property line.
   (D)   Properties located within Mackinaw Valley Park Subdivision in Sand Prairie Township shall adhere to the setback requirements found in § 157.150. Further, no more than 30% of the area of the lot shall be occupied by structures.
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(g)) (Ord. LU-18-02, passed 4-25-2018)

§ 157.112 HEIGHT.

   The following height regulations shall apply in the A-2 District:
   (A)   Principal structures not to exceed 36 feet to the mean height of the roof;
   (B)   Accessory structures shall not exceed 36 feet to the mean height of the roof; and
   (C)   Properties located within Mackinaw Valley Park Subdivision in Sand Prairie Township shall adhere to the height requirements as found in § 157.152.
(Prior Code, 7 TCC 1-8(h)) (Ord. LU-18-02, passed 4-25-2018; Ord. LU-20-01, passed 1-29-2020)