Kankakee County, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Public street ROW, if undedicated
- assumed 60 feet
- Private street ROW, if unplatted
- assumed 30 feet
- Interior side/rear setback
- measured from property line
- Applies to
- structures built/altered after ordinance's effective date
Summary
County Code § 121-292 tells unincorporated Kankakee County landowners exactly where a setback line starts: from the platted or assumed right-of-way on a public or private street, or from the property line for interior side and rear yards. Every district's numeric setback then measures from that line.
Setback lines for all buildings, structures, and uses established or commenced after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived and all alterations, enlargements or the additions to the structures which existed prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived shall herein after conform to these regulations: ... (1)Setback lines for yards abutting public streets shall be measured from the right-of-way lines representing the required width and alignment of such street as designated by federal, state, county, and township highway authorities. On public streets where no right-of-way has been dedicated, it will be assumed that the right-of-way is 60 feet.(2)Setback lines for yards abutting private streets shall be measured from the right-of-way line as indicated on the recorded plat. Where private streets are not platted, it will be assumed that the right-of-way is 30 feet.(3)Setback lines for interior side and rear yards shall be measured from property lines.
Full Breakdown
Section 121-292 does not set one countywide setback number; each zoning district (A1, A2, R1, R2, RE, commercial and industrial) fixes its own front, side and rear setback distances elsewhere in Chapter 121. What § 121-292 fixes is how those numbers get measured on the ground, and it applies to every building, structure and use established or altered after the zoning ordinance's effective date. For a yard abutting a public street, the setback is measured from the right-of-way line reflecting the width and alignment set by the federal, state, county or township highway authority with jurisdiction over that road; if no right-of-way has been formally dedicated, the code assumes a 60-foot right-of-way and measures from there.
For a yard abutting a private street, the setback runs from the right-of-way line shown on the recorded plat, or, if the private street was never platted, from an assumed 30-foot right-of-way. Interior side and rear setbacks are simpler: they run straight from the property line itself, with no assumed width to account for. Because the 60-foot and 30-foot assumptions can shift a building envelope significantly on an unplatted rural road, landowners building near an undedicated county road should confirm with the Planning Department exactly where the county considers the right-of-way line to fall before locating a new structure.
Violations & Fines
Building inside a required setback measured under § 121-292 violates Chapter 121 and is a petty offense under § 121-7, fined up to $500.00 per offense with each day counted separately; the county or an affected neighbor may also sue to force the structure's removal or relocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I measure my front setback from in unincorporated Kankakee County?
My road is a private, unplatted drive. How is my setback measured?
Does § 121-292 tell me the actual number of feet I need to leave?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kankakee County
Compare Kankakee County to another location·View the Illinois building setbacks & zoning overview
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