5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Kane County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Kane County, a home business must qualify as a 'home occupation' under the Kane County Zoning Ordinance: an accessory use clearly incidental and secondary to living in the dwelling, conducted by the occupant, with no outside employees.
Kane County Code ch. 25 (Zoning), Home Occupation
A gainful occupation, profession, business or commercial activity engaged in by the occupant of a dwelling as an accessory use, incidental and secondary to the principal use of the dwelling... shall not permit outside employees.
The Kane County Zoning Ordinance limits a home occupation to one small sign. County home-occupation rules allow no more than one sign not over two square feet in area at the dwelling.
Kane County Code ch. 25 (Zoning), Home Occupation
...except for one sign not over two square feet in area.
Illinois allows home cooks to make and sell many non-hazardous foods as a registered 'cottage food operation' under the Home-to-Market Act (410 ILCS 625). Register with the Kane County Health Department; a food-safety certificate is required.
410 ILCS 625/4(a)
"Cottage food operation" means an operation conducted by a person who produces or packages non-potentially hazardous food in a kitchen located in that person's primary domestic residence... for direct sale by the owner or a family member.
Running a day care home in Kane County requires an Illinois DCFS license once you care for more than three unrelated children. State rule 89 Ill. Adm. Code 406 caps a day care home at 12 children including the caregiver's own.
89 Ill. Adm. Code 406.2
"Day care home" means a family home which receives more than 3 up to a maximum of 12 children for less than 24 hours per day.
Unincorporated Kane County regulates home businesses as 'home occupations' through the Development Department. The use must be run by the occupant, have no outside employees, no over-3/4-ton commercial vehicles, and cause no off-site nuisance.
Kane County Code ch. 25 (Zoning), Home Occupation
...shall not permit commercial vehicles in excess of 3/4 ton... any home occupation creating objectionable noise, fumes, odor, dust, vibrations, or electrical interference outside the structure... shall be prohibited.
2 cities in Kane County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Kane County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Kane County Ordinance Hub →