Madison County, IL Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

081(A) of the zoning code, Hobby, Personal Automotive Repair, permits residents in agriculture and all residential districts to work on their own vehicles at home, but treats it very differently from a commercial repair shop. There can be no signage, roll-off dumpsters, or other fixtures associated with commercial operations, and the activity cannot have employees or generate outside traffic. The owner must provide adequate disposal of oil, parts, chemicals, and scrap, and the repair work cannot create nuisances of noise, light, air, or any other emissions noticeable off the property.

, Monday through Sunday, and no more than two vehicles may be under repair at any given time. The right-of-way cannot be used for the repair work or for storing vehicles awaiting it. If a repair takes longer than one week, the vehicle must move into a fully enclosed structure or private garage rather than sit outside. 081(B) requires commercial automotive repair, in the districts where it is a permitted use, to be conducted entirely within an enclosed building or screened by a solid fence at least 8 feet high or a planting at least 10 feet deep and 8 feet high, subject to the Zoning Administrator's approval.