Business Licensing & Operations in Madison County, IL (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Madison County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Adult businesses in unincorporated Madison County need a special use permit and can only locate in a B-3 Highway Business District, at least 1,000 feet from any residential zone, dwelling, church, school, licensed day care, cemetery or park.
Madison County Adult Business Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsMadison County Code §§ 76.02(A), 76.03(C)(1)-(2)
No adult business may operate within the unincorporated territory of this county without first having obtained a special use permit. ... All adult businesses shall be located within a B-3 Highway Business District. ... No adult business shall be located within 1,000 feet of any residential zone, single or multiple-family dwelling, church, school, licensed day-care facility, cemetery or park. Sa...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Madison County requires every tattoo, piercing or body art establishment in county territory to hold a Health Department permit, and every operator or technician to separately hold an operator permit, renewed annually and posted for clients to see.
Madison County Body Art Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsMadison County Code § 77.15(A)-(B)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a body art establishment within the county who does not possess a valid permit issued by the Department. Body art procedures shall only be performed in a body art establishment, with a valid permit issued by Madison County Health Department and with a valid permit issued by Illinois Department of Public Health. ... No person shall practice body art...
Tobacco Retail License
Madison County Code § 37.18 bars anyone from selling, distributing, or furnishing an electronic cigarette or alternative nicotine product to a person under 21, and bars anyone under 21 from buying, possessing, or using one. Retailers must check photo ID for any buyer who looks under 30 before completing a vape sale.
Madison County Vape Sale Age Restrictions
Some RestrictionsMadison County Code § 37.18
§ 37.18 SALE AND POSSESSION OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND ANY ALTERNATE NICOTINE PRODUCTS. ... (B) Sale or purchase or use by or to persons under 21 years prohibited. ... (2) No person shall sell, buy for, distribute, or furnish any electronic cigarette, or any alternative nicotine product, to any person under 21 years of age. ... (4) Prior to selling, offering for sale, giving, or furnish...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers in Madison County must register with LeadsOnline and report every purchase, sale, trade or exchange of used goods daily, though the chapter exempts used-vehicle sales, scrap-metal buyers, auction houses and charitable resale donations.
Madison County Secondhand Dealer Reporting Rule
Some RestrictionsMadison County Code § 78.02
SECONDHAND DEALER. Any person or entity, who, within Madison County, Illinois, as a business, engages in the purchase, sale, trade, barter, or exchange of secondhand goods, wares or merchandise; or any person who keeps any store, shop, room or place where secondhand goods, wares or merchandise of any kind or description, are bought, sold, traded, bartered, recycled or exchanged is defined as a ...
Pawnbrokers
Every pawnbroker doing business in Madison County must register with the online database LeadsOnline and upload detailed records, photos and customer ID for every transaction on at least a daily basis, at no direct cost to the pawnbroker.
Madison County Pawnbroker Reporting Rule
Some RestrictionsMadison County Code §§ 78.02, 78.03(A)
PAWNBROKER. Any person or entity who, within Madison County, Illinois, loans money on deposit or pledge of personal property, secondhand goods, wares, merchandise or other valuable things, or who deals in the purchasing of personal property, secondhand goods, wares, merchandise or other valuable things on the condition of selling the same back at a stipulated price ... Any and all pawnbrokers a...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Madison County allows hobby or personal vehicle repair in agricultural and residential districts, but caps it at two vehicles at a time, bars employees and commercial signage, and limits work hours to 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Madison County Home Vehicle Repair Rules
Some RestrictionsMadison County Code § 93.081(A)
(A) Hobby, personal automotive repair. Hobby or personal vehicle repair shall be permitted in agriculture and all residential districts. There shall be no signage, roll off dumpsters, or other fixtures associated with commercial operations. There shall be no employees and no traffic generated by the activity. The owner shall provide adequate disposal of oil, parts, chemicals, and scrap. The ...
All Madison County ordinances
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