Rock Island County, IL Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

047 sets the zoning standards for both home-occupation tiers. Both major and minor occupations must be conducted entirely within the dwelling (major occupations may also use one accessory structure), be clearly incidental and secondary to residential use, and leave the structure's appearance unchanged; the code specifically bars altering the premises through colors, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or emissions of sound or vibration beyond the property. Both tiers are capped at 200 square feet of floor area used for the occupation. Neither tier may stock merchandise for general retail sale on-site, though a major occupation can make incidental retail sales tied to the service itself (the code's own example: a beauty parlor selling combs and hairspray), and a minor occupation can only fill previously placed phone or party orders.

172(C), a minor home occupation is listed as a permitted accessory use in the R-1 District, so it does not need a separate hearing. 173(B), a major home occupation is instead listed as a special use in R-1, meaning it requires Zoning Board of Appeals review and approval before operating. Both occupations are restricted to activities the code treats as recognized examples, from single-chair beauty parlors and dressmaking to tutoring and desktop publishing, with a residual clause covering similar uses the Zoning Board deems consistent.