Home Business in Springfield, IL (2026)
5 verified home business rules for Springfield, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Springfield Zoning Code Section 155.045 allows a home occupation only as an accessory use that is clearly incidental and secondary to residential use, capping the business at 200 square feet of the residence (including storage), limiting outdoor material storage to 25 square feet, and barring any change to the appearance of the dwelling. The City's zoning authority derives from the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-13-1.
Home occupations as accessory residential use (Sec. 155.045)
Some Restrictions65 ILCS 5/11-13-1 (Illinois Municipal Code, zoning powers)
The corporate authorities in each municipality ... [have power] ... to classify, regulate and restrict the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specified industrial, business, residential, and other uses ... to the end that adequate light, pure air, and safety from fire and other dangers may be secured, that the taxable value of land and buildings through...
Signage Rules
Springfield permits only one non-illuminated home-occupation sign, not exceeding two square feet and attached to the principal building, under Zoning Code Section 155.045(c)(3). Separately, the residential sign rules in Section 155.311 cap a residential nameplate indicating a permitted occupation at one square foot per dwelling unit.
One 2-sq-ft non-illuminated home sign (Sec. 155.045)
Heavy RestrictionsSpringfield Zoning Code Sec. 155.045(c)(3)
Have no exterior storage of materials and no exterior indication of the home occupation except for a sign not exceeding two square feet in size, non-illuminated, and attached to the principal building.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Springfield Zoning Code Section 155.045(c) limits a home occupation to one customer at a time and no more than eight customers per day, restricts client hours to 7:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m., and bars any additional traffic or off-site impacts detectable outside the dwelling. Tutoring is separately capped at eight students per day.
Customer and traffic limits on home use (Sec. 155.045)
Some RestrictionsSpringfield Zoning Code Sec. 155.045(c)(8)-(9)
The total number of customers being served at one time is limited to one at a time and no more than eight customers per day. The hours of operation, for when clients or customers are present at the residence, is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cottage Food Operations
Springfield expressly lists a cottage food operation as a permitted home occupation in Zoning Code Section 155.045(b), referencing the Illinois Home to Market Act (410 ILCS 625/4 et seq.). State law, not a Springfield-specific ordinance, defines and regulates the production and sale of homemade food from a residence.
Cottage food allowed (Home to Market Act, 410 ILCS 625)
Few Restrictions410 ILCS 625/4 (Home to Market Act, def. of cottage food operation)
"Cottage food operation" means an operation conducted by a person who produces or packages non-potentially hazardous food or drink, other than foods and drinks listed as prohibited in paragraph (1.5) of subsection (b) of this Section, in a kitchen located in that person's primary domestic residence or another appropriately designed and equipped residential or commercial-style kitchen on that pr...
Home Daycare
Family day-care homes in Springfield must keep daily attendance records, file proof of state licensing with the zoning administrator, cap type-2 homes at 18 children, and sit at least 300 feet from another such facility on the same street, under City Code Sec. 155.054.1.
Springfield Home Day Care: Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSpringfield, IL Code of Ordinances Sec. 155.054.1(b)-(d) (Special provisions for family day-care homes, types 1 and 2)
(b)The caregiver for each family day-care home (type 1 and 2) shall file, and maintain current, with the zoning administrator adequate proof of licensing, certification or other approval from the public agency charged with the regulation of the family day-care home and remain in good standing therewith.(c)Family day-care homes (type 1 and 2) shall fully comply with the definitions listed in sec...
Looking for Sangamon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Springfield city rules.
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