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Madison County, IL Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Access width
At least 12 feet to street or alley
Residential buffer
50 feet for vehicles over 2 tons
Minimum berth size
10 ft by 25 ft, 14 ft clearance
Surfacing
7-in stone base plus 2-in bituminous concrete
Not for parking
Loading space can't count as required parking

Summary

Commercial and industrial sites in unincorporated Madison County must provide off-street loading space under County Code § 93.148, with access at least 12 feet wide, a 50-foot residential buffer for trucks over two tons, and a minimum berth of 10 by 25 feet with 14 feet of vertical clearance.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Madison County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(A) Designation; vehicular access. Each required off-street loading space shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in manner, which will least, interfere with traffic movements. Such access way shall be at least 12 feet in width. ... (C) Buffer strips. Loading space for vehicles more than two ton capacity shall not be closer than 50 feet to any property in a residential district unless completely enclosed by building walls, a solid fence, wall or foliage buffer not less than ten feet in height and width. (D) Location. All permitted or required loading spaces shall be located on the same zoning lot as the use served, shall not be located within 50 feet of the intersection of any two streets, and shall not be located within required front yards. ... (F) Size. Unless otherwise specified, a required loading space shall be at least ten feet in width by at least 25 feet in length and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet.

Full Breakdown

149's table. Every required loading space needs vehicular access to a street or alley designed to least interfere with traffic, and that access way must be at least 12 feet wide. A loading space serving vehicles over two tons cannot sit closer than 50 feet to any residential-district property unless it is fully enclosed by building walls or screened by a solid fence, wall, or foliage buffer at least ten feet high and wide. Loading spaces have to stay on the same zoning lot as the use they serve, cannot sit within 50 feet of a street intersection, and cannot be placed in a required front yard.

A loading berth cannot double as required off-street parking. Unless the code specifies otherwise, a required loading space must measure at least ten feet wide by 25 feet long with 14 feet of vertical clearance, or larger if the Zoning Administrator determines a bigger vehicle needs it, and the site must include enough turning and maneuvering room beyond that minimum footprint. All open loading areas need a compacted stone base at least seven inches thick, topped with at least two inches of bituminous concrete or comparable pavement.

No vehicle repair or servicing is allowed at a loading facility in an R Residence District, and uses not otherwise covered get a loading requirement set case-by-case by the Zoning Administrator and the Building and Zoning Committee.

Violations & Fines

Loading facilities built short of the 12-foot access width, the residential buffer, or the minimum berth size violate § 93.148 and fall under the zoning code's general penalty at § 93.999(A): $10 to $500 per day, with each day after notice a separate offense, plus possible Circuit Court enforcement under § 93.999(B) to correct the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far must a loading dock be from a house next door?
At least 50 feet, if the loading space handles vehicles over two tons, under section 93.148(C). That buffer can be waived only if the loading area is fully enclosed by building walls or screened with a solid fence, wall, or foliage buffer that is at least ten feet high and wide.
What size does a loading space have to be?
Section 93.148(F) sets the minimum at ten feet wide by 25 feet long with 14 feet of vertical clearance, though the Zoning Administrator can require more room for larger vehicles. The site also needs enough extra space for trucks to turn and maneuver beyond that footprint.
Can a business count its loading dock as required parking?
No. Section 93.148(E) states that space allocated to an off-street loading berth cannot be used to satisfy off-street parking requirements while it is allocated for loading, so loading and parking spaces have to be provided separately and cannot overlap.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Madison County

All Madison County rules

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