Macon County, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1/R4 residential cap
- 0.30 (30%) lot coverage
- R6 multi-family cap
- 0.50 (50%), 0.60 floor-area ratio
- RE5 estate cap
- 0.20 (20%)
- Coverage counts
- Any non-porous surface, not just building
- Enforcement
- Planning and Zoning Department
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per offense, weekly
Summary
Macon County Code § 155.183's height and area table caps the share of a lot a building may cover in every zoning district: multiple-family residential (R6) lots may not exceed 0.50 (50%) coverage, and the code defines 'maximum coverage' as the lot area covered by a non-porous surface, so the limit reaches driveways and patios, not just the building footprint.
R6 – Multiple Family 1 acre 100 ft. 35 ft. 15 12 50 ft. 35 ft. 0.50 0.60 Residential ft. ft. ... 3 Maximum coverage refers to that area of a lot covered by a non-porous surface.
Full Breakdown
183 height and area table, footnoted that maximum coverage refers to that area of a lot covered by a non-porous surface. 35; and the A1 Agricultural and B2/B3 commercial districts (when not adjacent to an R District) carry no stated maximum. Because the standard measures non-porous surface rather than building footprint alone, a homeowner's driveway, patio, shed, and any other impervious addition all count toward the cap, so an addition that leaves the house itself well under the limit can still push the lot over if paved areas are not tracked. 030; exceeding the cap requires either a redesign or a variance granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals after a public hearing.
Violations & Fines
Building or paving beyond the § 155.183 coverage limit for the applicable district without a variance is a zoning violation enforced under § 155.999: a fine of up to $500 for each offense, and each week the excess coverage remains counted as a separate offense. The Planning and Zoning Department can withhold a certificate of occupancy or require removal of the excess impervious surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage for a house in unincorporated Macon County?
Does a driveway count toward the lot coverage limit?
What happens if a lot exceeds the coverage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Macon County
Compare Macon County to another location·View the Illinois building setbacks & zoning overview
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