Cook County Code Chapter 102 zoning includes the A-1 Agricultural District, but only a small share of unincorporated county remains zoned for agriculture as urbanization and municipal annexation continue.
Cook County Zoning Ordinance, codified at Chapter 102 of the County Code, establishes an A-1 Agricultural District permitting farming, livestock, dairy, nurseries, and farm-related accessory uses, with a five-acre minimum lot size for most residential uses. Applicable parcels lie in unincorporated areas, primarily in northwest and southwest Cook. As suburbs annex outward, A-1 acreage shrinks. Permitted uses include row crops, orchards, riding stables, and farm stands; conditional uses cover commercial greenhouses, sod farms, and processing. Single-family residences are allowed on five-acre minimum lots. Industrial-scale livestock confinement is restricted. Within incorporated municipalities, agricultural zoning depends on the local code, not Cook County's, though township assessors still recognize farm assessments.
Operating non-permitted uses in A-1 zones triggers Cook County Building and Zoning enforcement, with fines starting at $100 per day, plus stop-work orders for unauthorized commercial structures or non-agricultural commercial activity.
See how Tinley Park's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.