Home Business in Springfield, IL (2026)
6 verified home business rules for Springfield, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning Restrictions
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
Springfield allows licensed home daycare operations with limits on the number of children. State licensing and local zoning approval typically required.
Springfield Home Daycare Regulations
Some RestrictionsHome Occupation Permits
Springfield does not issue a discretionary home-occupation permit; instead, Zoning Code Section 155.045(a) requires every home occupation to be registered in the office of the zoning administrator on the forms the administrator provides. Food-based home businesses are separately governed by the Illinois Home to Market Act (410 ILCS 625), the state cottage food law the City code expressly cross-references.
Home occupations must be registered (Sec. 155.045)
Some 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...
Looking for Sangamon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Springfield city rules.
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