Rock Island County, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 principal structure cap
- 2.5 stories / 35 feet
- R-1 accessory structure cap
- 1 story / 15 feet
- Public assembly building exception
- Up to 75 ft / 6 stories
- Farm building exemption
- 50 ft from every lot line
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county R-1/R-2 Districts
Summary
In the R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District of unincorporated Rock Island County, a house cannot exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet, and detached garages and sheds are capped at one story or 15 feet under Section 154.174.
No principle structure shall exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet in height. No accessory structure shall exceed one story 15 feet in height, except as provided in §§ 154.070 and 154.071.
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
071. 193. 070 layers county-wide exceptions on top of the district tables: barns, silos, and other farm buildings are exempt from the height cap if they sit at least 50 feet from every lot line, along with church spires, belfries, water towers, and similar features; places of public assembly like churches and schools may rise to six stories or 75 feet, but only if the side and rear yards grow by one additional foot for every foot the building exceeds the district's normal maximum height.
070(D), gaining extra height in exchange for a half-foot of added yard depth per foot of excess height. The Building Inspector reviews height compliance as part of the building permit plan review required for any new or enlarged structure, and the Zoning Board of Appeals can authorize a taller accessory structure than 15 feet only when the Building Inspector finds the standard height would not adversely affect adjoining properties. These limits apply strictly to the unincorporated area; Rock Island, Moline, and other cities inside the county set their own height limits within municipal limits.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a principal structure above 35 feet or two and one-half stories, or an accessory structure above 15 feet or one story, in the R-1 or R-2 Districts without qualifying for a Section 154.070 exception is a zoning violation subject to penalty under Section 154.999, and the county Building Inspector can withhold a building permit or order a noncompliant structure altered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Rock Island County's R-1 district?
How tall can my detached garage or shed be?
Are church steeples or barns exempt from the 35-foot cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rock Island County
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