Home Occupations

A Home Occupation is defined by the Rock Island County Zoning Resolution as "An occupation or profession customarily carried on by an occupant of a dwelling unit as a secondary use, and which is clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling unit for residential purposes. There are major and minor home occupations which are clearly addressed under the General Provisions of this ordinance."

Minor Home Occupations

A permit is required if you meet the description of a Minor Home Occupation. The minor home application (PDF) fee is $150. An inspection will be performed to verify compliance with the following conditions and that the area being used is compliant with the adopted building codes. Minor home occupations are home occupations which shall not have nonresident customers and employees and where:

  1. Shall be conducted entirely within a dwelling and carried on by the inhabitants thereof and no other.
  2. Shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes, and the appearance of the structure shall not be altered or the occupation within the residence be conducted in a manner that would cause the premises to differ from its residential character either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or other emission of sounds or vibrations that carry beyond the premises.
  3. Shall have no more than two hundred (200) square feet of floor area used for the home occupation.
  4. Shall be no advertising, display, or other indications of a home occupation on the premises.
  5. Shall not be conducted on the premises the business of selling stocks of merchandise, supplies or products, provided that orders previously made by telephone or at a sales party may be filled on the premises. That is, direct sales of products off display shelves, racks or from inventory is not allowed, but a person may pick up an order placed earlier as described above.
  6. Shall have no storage or display of goods visible from outside the structure.
  7. Shall have no highly explosive or combustible material used or stored on the premises unless approved by the fire inspector. No activity shall be allowed that would interfere with radio or television reception in the area, nor shall there be any offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat or glare noticeable at or beyond the property line.
  8. Shall not create greater vehicle or pedestrian traffic than normal for the district in which it is located, including commercial and general delivery services.
  9. Shall have no use of material or equipment not recognized as being part of the normal practices of owning and maintaining a residence allowed.
  10. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, garage, basement, yard or other similar sales shall not be allowed more than twice a year, and each sale shall not last more than seventy-two (72) consecutive hours, and only goods which have been generated from within the household and not purchased elsewhere for resale. Sales shall be conducted on the owner's property except that multiple family sales are permitted if they are held on the property of one of the participants and any such sale shall be considered to be a sale for all participants.
  11. Shall have no deliveries from commercial suppliers made more than once a week, and the deliveries shall not be made from semi-tractor trailer trucks.
  12. Shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
    • Artists and sculptors
    • Authors, desktop publishers and composers
    • Home crafts for sale off-site
    • Office facility of clergy
    • Office facility of a salesman, sales representative or manufacturer's representative provided that no transactions are made in person on the premises
    • Address of convenience used solely for receiving and making telephone calls including computer usage, mail, keeping business records in connection with a profession or occupation
    • Individual tutoring
    • Preserving and home cooking for sale off-site
    • Individual instrument and vocal instruction provided that no instrument may be amplified
    • Telephone solicitation work
  13. Any other similar uses deemed to be consistent by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Major Home Occupations

A Special Use Permit is required if you meet the description of a Major Home Occupation. An inspection will be performed to verify compliance with the following conditions and that the area being used is compliant with the adopted building codes. Major home occupations are home occupations where customers and employees may come to the home and where the occupation:

  1. Shall be conducted entirely within a dwelling unit or one accessory structure and carried on by the inhabitants thereof and one employee not residing on the parcel.
  2. Shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes, and the appearance of the structure shall not be altered or the occupation within the residence be conducted in a manner that would cause the premises to differ from its residential character either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or the emission of sounds or vibrations that carry beyond the premises.
  3. Shall have no more than two hundred (200) square feet of floor area used for the home occupation.
  4. Shall have no signs present on the property except for one sign, not exceeding two square feet, and not illuminated.
  5. Shall not be conducted on the premises the business of selling stocks of merchandise, supplies or products, provided that incidental retail sales may be made in connection with other permitted home occupations, for example, a single-chair beauty parlor would be allowed to sell combs, hair spray, and other miscellaneous items to customers. However, a dressmaker would be required to do only custom work for specific clients and would not be allowed to develop stocks of dresses for sale to the general public on-site.
  6. Shall have no storage or display of goods visible from outside the structure.
  7. Shall have no highly explosive or combustible material used or stored on the premises unless approved by the fire inspector. No activity shall be allowed that would interfere with radio or television reception in the area, nor shall there be any offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat, or glare noticeable at or beyond the property line.
  8. Shall have adequate off street parking spaces available to compensate for additional parking needs generated.
  9. Deliveries from commercial suppliers may be made more than once a week, and the deliveries shall not be made from semi-tractor trailer trucks.
  10. Shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
    • Single-chair beauty parlors and barber shops
    • Photo developing and printing
    • Organized classes with up to six students at a time
    • Television and other electric or electronic repair, excluding major appliances such as refrigerators or storage
    • Upholstering
    • Dressmaking and millinery and
    • Woodworking excluding cabinet making
  11. Special Use Permit shall be renewed annually by payment of renewal fee as invoiced.
  12. The Special Use permit is nontransferable.
  13. Special Use must be established within one year of issuance.

If a dispute should arise concerning interpretation herein, a hearing shall be scheduled before the Zoning Board of Appeals and they shall make the final interpretation.