Right to Farm in Illinois (2026)
31 rules on the books across Illinois, 22 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Farm Nuisance Protection
Whether established farms are shielded from nuisance lawsuits and from local ordinances that would restrict their operations.
Illinois: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsThe Farm Nuisance Suit Act shields established Illinois farms from nuisance lawsuits when the operation predates…
Read full rule →Rock Island County
Some RestrictionsRock Island County's zoning code publishes a Rural Living Contract telling new rural landowners that farm noise, odor…
Read full rule →Kankakee County
Light RestrictionsKankakee County's zoning purpose clause states that existing farm operations in agricultural areas must be shielded…
Read full rule →Mchenry County
Light RestrictionsMcHenry County's zoning code puts owners near its agricultural districts on official notice that Illinois' Right to…
Read full rule →Mclean County
Light RestrictionsMcLean County's zoning code puts every owner and resident of the A Agriculture District on official notice, under…
Read full rule →Champaign County
Few RestrictionsChampaign County's Public Nuisance Ordinance exempts lawful farming outright: Section 3.3.A declares that 'all lawful…
Read full rule →Kendall County
Few RestrictionsKendall County Code Sec. 18-25 shields agricultural operations in the unincorporated county from being labeled a…
Read full rule →Will County
Few RestrictionsWill County's zoning ordinance exempts land used for agricultural purposes and farm buildings in unincorporated Will…
Read full rule →Agricultural Zoning Protection
State rules that limit how cities and counties may zone or restrict agricultural land uses, including livestock and crop operations.
Illinois: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsIllinois protects agricultural land through the Agricultural Areas Conservation and Protection Act and limits county…
Read full rule →Peoria
Significant RestrictionsPeoria's Unified Development Code treats an 'Urban Farm' as a distinct land use requiring zoning approval, via the…
Read full rule →Peoria County
Significant RestrictionsPeoria County's A-1 Agricultural Preservation District exists specifically to keep farmland in farming: it severely…
Read full rule →Springfield
Significant RestrictionsSpringfield does not grant a right-to-farm exemption in residential districts: riding stables and agricultural uses in…
Read full rule →Champaign County
Some RestrictionsChampaign County protects farmland through two agriculture zoning districts covering the unincorporated county: AG-1…
Read full rule →Kankakee County
Some RestrictionsThe A1 Agriculture district covers unincorporated land best suited to farming, requiring a five-acre minimum lot for…
Read full rule →Kendall County
Some RestrictionsKendall County's A-1 Agricultural District zoning is built to keep farmland in production and protect it from…
Read full rule →Madison County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Madison County's A Agricultural District, governed by Zoning Code § 93.023, is built to keep…
Read full rule →Mchenry County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated McHenry County protects farmland through two agricultural zoning districts. The A-1 Agriculture District…
Read full rule →Mclean County
Some RestrictionsMcLean County zones its unincorporated farmland as the A Agriculture District under Zoning Code Section 350-35, a…
Read full rule →Naperville
Some RestrictionsNaperville lets farming happen in any of its zoning districts under Section 6-2-6, and also reserves an entire AG…
Read full rule →Rock Island County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Rock Island County zones farmland under the AG-1 Agricultural Preservation District and AG-2 General…
Read full rule →Schaumburg
Some RestrictionsSchaumburg keeps a standing agricultural zoning classification, the 'A' (5 Acre) Agricultural District under Village…
Read full rule →Waukegan
Some RestrictionsWaukegan's zoning table permits Agricultural Use by right only in the CR district; every other district, including all…
Read full rule →Will County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Will County zones farmland A-1 to preserve agriculture and protect farmers' property rights, with a…
Read full rule →Winnebago County
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County zones unincorporated farmland into four Agricultural and Open Space Districts built to keep land in…
Read full rule →Lake County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Lake County protects working farmland through its AG, Agricultural zoning district, built to permit only…
Read full rule →Tazewell County
Light RestrictionsTazewell County exempts agricultural buildings, structures, and land from most zoning requirements and maintains a…
Read full rule →Cook County
Few RestrictionsCook County has no separate agricultural zoning district, but its R-1 Single-Family Residence District, the county's…
Read full rule →Kane County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Kane County zones farmland under the F Farming District (Zoning Ordinance Article VIII), and Section…
Read full rule →Macon County
Few RestrictionsMacon County's zoning code doesn't reach land used for agricultural purposes: § 155.005 exempts farming, farm…
Read full rule →Sangamon County
Few RestrictionsSangamon County's A Agricultural District makes farming a permitted use by right across unincorporated ag-zoned land…
Read full rule →St. Clair County
Few RestrictionsSt. Clair County exempts farm buildings from most zoning regulation under County Code Sec. 40-1-13. If land is used…
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