Sangamon County, IL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- unincorporated Sangamon County only
- Agricultural use status
- exempt, permitted in any district
- Covers
- livestock and poultry keeping
- Farm buildings
- must meet front-yard setback rules
- Approval needed
- certificate of compliance
Summary
Sangamon County zoning exempts agricultural uses, including keeping, raising, and feeding livestock or poultry, from district-by-district use restrictions, so they're permitted on unincorporated land in any zoning district, including residential ones.
The following uses are exempted by this title and permitted in any district:
Agricultural uses, as defined in Chapter 17.04, except that location of farm buildings shall conform with the front lot line, lot width, and front yard setback regulations of this ordinance (certificate of compliance still required); Poles, wires, cables, conduits, vaults, laterals, pipes, mains, valves, temporary batch plants for use during construction only, air and noise pollution monitoring stations, and electric power, gas, water and sewer lines, provided that the installation shall conform when applicable with Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Agency rules and regulations, and other authorities having jurisdiction;
Full Breakdown
County Code defines "agriculture" to include the keeping, raising and feeding of livestock or poultry, including dairying, poultry, rabbit, swine, beef cattle, pony and horse production. Under § 17.06.070, agricultural uses so defined are exempted from the title and permitted in any zoning district, A, R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-4, or otherwise, rather than being confined to the A Agriculture district. The only condition is that farm buildings must conform to the front lot line, lot width, and front yard setback rules, and a certificate of compliance is still required. This only reaches unincorporated county land.
Violations & Fines
A farm building sited without meeting the front lot line, lot width, or front yard setback rules can be denied a certificate of compliance and drawn into zoning enforcement by the county zoning administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep livestock on residential-zoned land in unincorporated Sangamon County?
Does this exemption apply inside Springfield or Chatham?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sangamon County
How Sangamon County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Sangamon County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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