Peoria's Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) allows home occupations as a limited permitted accessory use in residential districts. The business must be clearly incidental to the dwelling's residential use, conducted by the resident, not change the exterior appearance of the home, and meet operational limits on employees, traffic, signage, and floor area. The use cannot generate noise, odor, or activity beyond normal residential character.
Peoria, Illinois regulates home-based businesses through the home occupation provisions of Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) of the City Code of Ordinances. As a home-rule city under Article VII Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution and 65 ILCS 5/, Peoria has full authority to define and limit home occupations because Illinois has no statewide home occupation preemption. Typical home occupation standards in Appendix B require: (1) the business is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes; (2) the operator is a resident of the dwelling; (3) the home occupation does not alter the exterior appearance of the building or otherwise indicate the existence of a business from the public street (except for any allowed sign — see home-business/signage); (4) a maximum percentage of the dwelling's floor area is used for the business (commonly 25 percent); (5) no employees other than residents (or a small number of non-resident employees in some districts); (6) limited or no walk-in customer traffic; (7) no outdoor storage of business materials, equipment, or vehicles other than one passenger vehicle; (8) no manufacturing, processing, or sale of products that produces noise, odor, fumes, vibration, glare, or electrical interference perceivable beyond the lot; and (9) compliance with all city business licensing and Illinois Department of Revenue tax registration. Certain uses (commercial kitchens, repair shops, dog kennels, contractor yards, group instruction) are typically prohibited as home occupations. Confirm the exact standards for your zoning district with the Building Safety Division at 309-494-8600 and check any HOA covenants under 765 ILCS 160/.
Operating a home occupation that exceeds Appendix B limits (too many employees, too much customer traffic, exterior storage, prohibited use type) is a zoning violation enforced by Code Enforcement under the Code of Ordinances. Typical remedies are a notice of violation, order to cease the prohibited element of the operation, and administrative adjudication with civil penalties. Continued violations can result in an order to discontinue the home occupation entirely. Unlicensed business operation and unremitted Illinois sales tax are separately enforced by the city and the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Peoria, IL
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Peoria, IL
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Peoria, IL
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Peoria, IL
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