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

Section 121-293 lets a resident run a single home occupation out of an established household, but only within a tight set of limits meant to keep the use accessory to, not a replacement for, residential living. The operator must be a full-time resident of the dwelling, and no more than one person who does not live there may be engaged in the business on site. The use of the dwelling for the home occupation must stay clearly incidental and subordinate to its residential purpose, and the floor area devoted to the business cannot exceed 30 percent of the dwelling unit's total floor area.

Home occupations must operate entirely inside the dwelling unit; no accessory structure, such as a detached garage or shed, may be used for any part of the business. The code also bars any outdoor storage, outdoor display or other outdoor activity connected with the home occupation, and prohibits accepting deliveries or shipping goods by anything other than a passenger vehicle or the mail. Nothing about the business may be visible from the street or an adjacent lot besides a permitted name plate sign, and the dwelling cannot be altered in a way that makes it look less residential.

Equipment that produces noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference detectable off the premises is prohibited outright, including anything that disrupts a neighbor's radio or television reception.