4.7.1. Except as provided below, accessory structures, uses, and recreational equipment are permitted, subject to the following:

Exceptions:

1.

In residentially zoned districts, the following recreational equipment is prohibited outdoors:

a.

Wrestling/boxing rings.

b.

Archery and shooting targets involving the use of bows, arrows, guns, and slingshots.

c.

Trampolines greater than 16 feet in diameter or 220 square feet in area.

d.

Recreational equipment and open play systems (swing sets) that exceed 14 feet in height.

4.7.1.2. Accessory uses shall not include the keeping, propagation, or culture of pigeons, poultry, rabbits, bees, livestock, or other animals except household pets. The foregoing shall not apply on such lots where the pursuit of agriculture is a permitted principal use;

4.7.1.3. Accessory buildings, structures, and uses shall not be erected or altered in required yards, courts, or other open areas, except those that are herein permitted as obstructions in yards, courts, or other open areas in accordance with section 4.6.8;

4.7.1.4. In residential districts, no accessory building shed, play-house or tree-house, other than private garages, shall exceed ten feet in height and 120 square feet in floor area. At any time, there shall not be more than one shed, one play-house and one tree-house located on a lot;

4.7.1.5. In residential districts, no garage shall be greater than 14 feet in height, 24 feet in length, 36 feet in width, and closer than ten feet to the main building. At any time, there shall not be more than one detached garage located on a lot;

4.7.1.6. In residential districts, no gazebo shall be greater than 14 feet in height or exceed 210 square feet in floor area;

4.7.1.7. In residentially zoned districts and unless otherwise prescribed within subdivision restrictive covenants or development agreements sheds, storage buildings, playhouses, gazebos, tree houses, open play systems (swing sets), recreational equipment (excluding basketball standard, backboard, and basket assemblies) and similar structures shall be located in the rear yard only, a minimum of seven feet from any lot line, a minimum of three feet from another building or structure, and shall not encroach into any recorded easement.

Except as provided below, in residential districts any structure or equipment erected for recreational purposes, including but not limited to, batting cages, sport courts, and practice nets utilized for the purpose of hitting, throwing, batting or kicking any type of ball, disc, puck or object into, over or under a net, matt or goal must be disassembled and stored within the dwelling unit or approved accessory structure which complies with this ordinance between November 1 and March 1 of each year.

Exceptions:

1.

Basketball standards, backboard, basket and net assemblies.

2.

Recreational equipment customary to passive winter recreational activities.

3.

Portable hockey nets six feet or less in height.

4.

Trampolines in compliance with all requirements referenced herein

4.7.1.9. In residential districts decks and patios shall be located a minimum of six feet from any lot line and shall not encroach into any recorded easement.

4.7.1.9.1. In residential districts swimming pools shall be located in the rear yard, shall not encroach into any recorded easement, and the inside wall of the pool shall be located a minimum of ten [feet] from any side or rear lot line.

4.7.1.10. No structure shall be located closer than seven feet to an adjoining lot line, except that on corner lots:

No structure shall be located nearer to the rear lot line than the distance of the required side yard for the lot adjoining the rear lot line; and

No structure shall be located nearer to the street line than the distance required for a yard adjoining a street.

4.7.1.11. No accessory building or structure that is not in a residential district shall be more than 25 feet in height;

4.7.2. Temporary buildings for construction purposes may be erected and maintained for a period not to exceed the time of such construction and must be removed within 30 days after construction ends.

4.7.3. Home occupations are permitted in residential districts; provided, that the home occupation shall be conducted in such a manner that it does not change in any way the residential neighborhood atmosphere or infringe on the rights of abutting and adjoining homeowners or residences; and further providing, that:

4.7.3.1. The occupation shall be conducted wholly within the principal building and operated by someone who is a legal, full-time resident of the premises.

4.7.3.2. No occupational use shall be made of garage facilities serving the principal use, whether attached or detached;

4.7.3.3. No more than one person who is not a member of the family residing on the premises shall be employed, with the exception of day care homes that may require additional employees per State regulations;

4.7.3.4. A separate entrance shall not be provided in conjunction with the conduct of the occupation;

4.7.3.5. No alteration of any kind shall be made to the principal building which changes its residential character as a dwelling unit;

4.7.3.6. No outdoor storage shall be allowed;

4.7.3.7. The occupation shall not involve more than a total of 300 square feet of the area of a dwelling unit;

4.7.3.8. No sign shall be permitted on the premises, except a nameplate one square foot in area;

4.7.3.9. There shall be no commodity sold or services rendered that require delivery or shipment of merchandise, goods or equipment by other than passenger-sized motor vehicles, three-quarter-ton step-up van or similar-sized trucks;

4.7.3.10. There shall be no perceptible noise, odor, smoke, electrical interference or vibrations emanating from the structure in which the home occupation functions;

4.7.3.11. The home occupation shall be conducted in such a manner that it does not create parking or traffic congestion for the abutting or adjoining neighbors or for the immediate neighborhood.

4.7.3.12. The total number of visitors, children, students, not including the resident, served by a home occupation at one time shall not exceed six.

4.7.3.13. Day care homes are permitted, subject to the following:

1.

The home daycare is subject to the licensing requirements of the Department of Children and Family Services, and periodic inspections as may be required by the State and local fire marshals.

2.

The licensed operator shall reside on the property where the home occupation is operated.

3.

As a permitted accessory use, the maximum number of children served at one time, including the operator's children, is six.

4.

In order to care for seven or more children, a special use permit is required, subject to the procedures described in Article 18. The recommendation of the planning and zoning commission may be to approve fewer children than requested if, in its determination, additional children would negatively impact adjacent properties or the subject property itself is not configured to accommodate additional children. In reviewing a home daycare special use petition, the commission may consider factors such as: drop-off/pick-up configuration, proximity to other home daycares, availability of outdoor space, and comments from life safety inspections.

4.7.3.14. Except as provided, the parking or storing of construction or landscaping equipment, vehicles, or materials outside the dwelling, within an attached garage, or detached accessory structure, is prohibited.

Exception: Not more than one vehicle, and trailer, used in connection with a home occupation shall be stored or parked on the property or on the public right-of-way adjacent to the property from which the home-based business is operated. Any such trailer shall be stored or parked within an enclosed garage at all times.

4.7.3.15. Long-term rentals as defined herein, that is occupied as a single housekeeping unit to a person(s) other than the owner of the subject property for a period or term of not less than 12 months is hereby permitted.

4.7.3.16. Short-term rentals as defined herein, all or part of which being rented or otherwise let to a person(s) other than the owner of the subject property for a period or term that is less than 12 months is hereby prohibited.

4.7.4. In the residential districts, the outdoor parking and storage of motorized and non-motorized recreational vehicles is regulated as follows:

4.7.4.1. Parking and storage requirements:

A.

Parking on single-family residential lots prohibited; exception.

1.

No person shall park or store a recreational vehicle, or allow a recreational vehicle to be parked or stored, on any single-family residential lot within the village outside of a garage unless the following conditions are met:

a.

Not more than one recreational vehicle more than 20 feet in length may be parked or stored outside of a garage.

b.

Every recreational or motor vehicle must be parked or stored on a paved driveway or pad located a minimum of five feet from any interior side or rear yard property line.

c.

No recreational vehicle shall exceed 28 feet in length, or ten feet in height, or 8½ feet in width.

d.

Every recreational vehicle parked on a single-family residential lot shall be owned by the resident or occupant on whose property it is located and shall be so maintained, that it does not constitute a violation of the Vernon Hills ordinance pertaining to a "nuisance."

e.

No recreational vehicles shall contain goods, materials or equipment other than those items which form a part of the vehicle or which are equipment accessory to its use.

f.

No recreational vehicle shall have its wheels or hitches removed, or be affixed to the ground in any way which delays its quick removal.

g.

No part of any recreational vehicle parked or stored on private property in such a way as to create a dangerous or unsafe condition. Recreational vehicles shall not extend into or over any public sidewalk, street, or other required setback as defined in this ordinance.

h.

No part of any recreational vehicle, which is more than 20 feet in length, shall be parked or stored closer to the public right-of-way than the building face located on the property where it is stored.

i.

No recreational vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping, cooking or household purposes, except that guests of the residence may occupy one for sleeping purposes only, for a period not to exceed 72 consecutive hours. The total number of days that such temporary occupancy may be permitted shall not exceed 14 days in any calendar year.

j.

No recreational vehicle shall be connected to sewer lines, water lines, or electricity. Temporary electrical or water connections are permitted for charging batteries, filling tanks, and temporary occupancy in accordance with paragraph i. above.

k.

When any recreational vehicle is equipped with liquefied petroleum gas containers, such containers shall meet the standards of either the Interstate Commerce Commission or the Federal Department of Transportation or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, as such standards exist or are hereafter amended. Further, the valves of such liquefied petroleum gas containers must be closed when such towed trailer or boat is not being readied for immediate use, and in the event that leakage is detected from such liquefied petroleum gas containers, immediate corrective action must be taken.

l.

The ground area adjacent to or under any parked or stored recreational vehicle must be free of noxious weeds, tall grass or debris and shall not be used for the storage of any other material or goods.

m.

Recreational vehicles may be parked on the driveway closer to the front property line than the closest wall of the building only for purposes of cleaning, maintenance or other preparation for no more than two consecutive seven-day periods during the period of April 1 thru October 30 of each year. The total of the two consecutive seven-day periods of driveway parking shall also be the maximum number of cumulative days a recreational vehicle may be parked in the driveway closer to the front property line than the closest wall of the building during said period.

n.

Temporary parking of the unit on the front yard driveway is permitted for loading, unloading and overnight parking before and after use.

4.7.4.2. If a person cannot comply with [section] 4.7.4.2. above because their [his] rear yard is adjacent to a street and is therefore defined as a front yard, they [he] may park the recreational vehicle in the rear yard provided that a wall, solid fence or densely planted natural vegetation not less than six feet in height be constructed or planted in the rear yard between the vehicle and any adjacent streets.

(Ord. No. 90-43, § II, 9-18-90; Ord. No. 91-30, § II, 5-21-91; Ord. No. 2000-30, §§ IV—XI, 5-2-00; Ord. No. 2001-39, §§ I—III, 6-5-01; Ord. No. 2003-68, §§ I—V, 11-4-03; Ord. No. 2004-112, §§ III—VIII, 12-7-04; Ord. No. 2007-66, § I, 11-20-07; Ord. No. 2012-036, § 1(Exh. A), 6-19-12; Ord. No. 2018-104, § I(Exh. A), 6-5-18; Ord. No. 2025-012, § II, 2-4-25)