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Rock Island County, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

R-1 front yard (sewered lot)
25 ft, 1 to 2.5 stories
R-1 front yard (unsewered lot)
40 ft, min. 20,000 sq ft lot
Least side yard (1-1.5 story)
8 feet
Rear yard depth
35 feet (sewered lots)
Minimum side yard (any lot)
3 feet absent ZBA waiver

Summary

In the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District of unincorporated Rock Island County, a one- to one-and-a-half story house needs at least a 25-foot front yard, 8-foot side yard, and 35-foot rear yard on a 7,500-square-foot lot. Lots without central sewer must be 20,000 square feet with a 40-foot front setback.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Rock Island County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The following minimum requirements shall be met for primary structures. Accessory structures shall meet the requirements of § 154.039. Number of Stories / Lot Area (sq. ft.) / Lot Width / Front Yard Depth / Least Side Yard Width / Side Yard Sum Width / Rear Yard Depth All* 20,000 / 100 feet / 40 feet / 15 feet / 30 feet / 40 feet 1 to 1-1/2 7,500 / 75 feet / 25 feet / 8 feet / 20 feet / 35 feet 2 to 2-1/2 7,500 / 75 feet / 25 feet / 10 feet / 25 feet / 35 feet Notes to Table: * = When not served by central or municipal sewerage systems.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-1: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2024-12-A, passed 12-17-2024; and State legislation current through 2024 Illinois Legislative Service, Pamphlet #6).

Full Breakdown

175 of the Rock Island County Code of Ordinances sets out the lot area and yard table for the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District. For a one- to one-and-a-half story house on a 7,500-square-foot, 75-foot-wide lot served by central sewer, the minimums are a 25-foot front yard depth, an 8-foot least side yard width, a 30-foot combined side yard sum, and a 35-foot rear yard depth. A two- to two-and-a-half story house on the same size lot needs a wider 10-foot least side yard and a 25-foot side yard sum, with the same 25-foot front and 35-foot rear yards.

Where a lot is not served by a central or municipal sewerage system, the minimum lot area jumps to 20,000 square feet with 100 feet of width, and the front yard depth increases to 40 feet, with a 15-foot least side yard, 30-foot side yard sum, and 40-foot rear yard, regardless of the number of stories. 076 layers on supplemental rules: no side yard may be less than three feet wide unless the Zoning Board of Appeals authorizes an exception, and on corner lots the required front yard setback applies along both intersecting streets.

073 exempts small building elements from the front yard line, including bay windows and balconies occupying no more than one-third of the front wall, and uncovered porches, chimneys, and similar features that stay at least five feet from every lot line and no more than three feet above the average finished grade. These are unincorporated-county standards only; Rock Island, Moline, and other cities inside the county apply their own zoning setback tables.

Violations & Fines

Constructing a principal or accessory structure that violates the Section 154.175 yard table is a zoning violation subject to penalty under Section 154.999, and the county Building Inspector can deny or revoke a building permit for plans that do not meet the required setbacks. A property owner may seek a variance or exception from the Zoning Board of Appeals under Section 154.076(B)(2).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum front yard setback in unincorporated Rock Island County's R-1 district?
Section 154.175 sets a 25-foot front yard depth for houses on a standard sewered 7,500-square-foot R-1 lot. If the lot lacks central sewer service, the minimum lot size rises to 20,000 square feet and the front yard setback increases to 40 feet.
How close can I build to my side property line in R-1?
For a one- to one-and-a-half story house on a sewered lot, Section 154.175 requires at least an 8-foot least side yard and a 30-foot combined side yard sum. A two- to two-and-a-half story house needs a wider 10-foot least side yard.
Can the county ever allow a smaller side yard than the table requires?
Yes, but only down to a hard floor. Section 154.076(B)(2) allows the Zoning Board of Appeals to authorize a side yard as narrow as three feet on undersized lots of record; no side yard may go below that three-foot minimum.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rock Island County

All Rock Island County rules

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