Peoria County, IL Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Peoria County, IL, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- ADUs per lot
- One maximum
- Location
- Within the primary dwelling
- Max floor area
- 50% of principal dwelling
- Size range
- 350 to 800 sq. ft.
- Rental restriction
- No renting to non-family members
Summary
Peoria County allows one accessory dwelling per residential lot, but only within, or attached to, the principal detached dwelling: it must share the driveway, stay under half the main home's floor area, and cannot be rented to non-family members.
An accessory dwelling shall be permitted in any residential district in accordance with the requirements in this subsection. Except as provided in subsection 5.13.2-7 below, all accessory dwellings shall be located within the primary dwelling.1.The principal use of the lot shall be a detached dwelling.2.No more than one accessory dwelling shall be located on a lot.3.The accessory dwelling shall be owned by the same person as the principal dwelling.4.The accessory dwelling shall share the driveway serving the principal dwelling.5.The accessory dwelling shall have a floor area no greater than fifty (50) percent of the floor area of the principal dwelling, with a minimum of three hundred fifty (350) square feet and a maximum of eight hundred (800) square feet.8.The dwelling shall not be used for rental property for non-family members.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
UDO Sec. 2 permits an accessory dwelling in any residential district, but locks it to a detached principal dwelling: the lot's principal use must be a detached dwelling, no more than one accessory dwelling may sit on a lot, and it must be owned by the same person as the principal dwelling. 2-7, the accessory dwelling must be located within the primary dwelling itself rather than in a separate building. It must share the same driveway as the principal dwelling, and its floor area cannot exceed fifty percent of the principal dwelling's floor area, with a floor-area floor of 350 square feet and a ceiling of 800 square feet regardless of the main home's size.
If the accessory dwelling has its own separate entrance from the principal dwelling's entrance, that entrance cannot face any street the lot fronts on, preserving a single-family street appearance. Where the dwelling is placed in a detached accessory structure under the limited exception, that structure must also function as a garage for the residents of the principal dwelling, tying the ADU concession to garage space rather than a freestanding guest house. Finally, the code bars using the accessory dwelling as rental property for non-family members, restricting it to family occupancy such as an in-law suite rather than an income-generating rental unit.
Violations & Fines
Building, converting, or renting out an accessory dwelling that does not meet the lot, ownership, size, entrance, or family-occupancy conditions of Sec. 5.13.2 is a zoning violation. It is enforceable under the county's general penalty clause, Sec. 1-10, carrying a fine of up to $1,000.00, with each day of continued noncompliance charged as a separate offense, and the Zoning Administrator may withhold or revoke the building permit or certificate of occupancy for the unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a detached accessory dwelling unit in Peoria County?
How big can a Peoria County accessory dwelling be?
Can I rent my accessory dwelling out on Airbnb or to a tenant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Peoria County
How Peoria County compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Peoria County to another location·View the Illinois accessory structures overview
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