Summary
A four-page City of West Chicago informational handout explaining the criteria for operating a business from a residential property. Issued by the City”s Community Development Department (475 West Main Street, West Chicago, IL 60185; 630.293.2200; http://westchicago.org).
A “Home Occupation” is defined as the use of a dwelling unit where goods are produced or traded, or services are rendered as an economic enterprise. Home occupations are permitted as an incidental or subordinate use to the residential use, operating on a small scale without detrimental effect on the residential environment.
Key Provisions
- Area: Entirely within the residence interior or in garages/accessory structures; no visible evidence of business from the street; max 20% of total dwelling unit floor area; occasional meetings exceeding 20% floor space permitted if not more than once per month
- Employees: Family members residing on the premises only; no outside help permitted
- Sales/leasing: No commercial sales or lease exchanges on premises with the general public; persons invited by prior individualized invitation are excepted
- Repairs: Pick-up and delivery of repair items must be conducted by the proprietor or household employees only
- Traffic/parking: No parking in the public right-of-way except for occasional meetings; max 6 arrivals and 6 departures per day; visitation hours 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; occasional group gatherings/recitals permitted up to once per month within visitation hours
- Exterior changes: No alterations that make the dwelling appear commercial
- Nuisance controls: No excessive noise, dust, smoke, odors, vibration, glare, combustibles, or radio/TV interference
- Signs: One non-illuminated, flush-mounted sign only; max 2 sq ft; identifies name and occupation of resident only
- Commercial vehicles (Frequent Violations sidebar): Only one commercial vehicle may be stored outdoors; must not exceed 8,000 lbs and must bear a B-truck or lower license plate; additional vehicles or those exceeding the weight limit must be stored in an enclosed structure
- Commercial equipment (Frequent Violations sidebar): Storage of commercial equipment (snow plows, salt spreaders, lawn mowers, ladders, or similar) results in a $50 ticket with no prior notice
- Fines: $50 ticket issued without prior notice or warning for any Home Occupation violation
Topics Covered
property-use-restrictions, vehicle-parking-rules, signage-rules, nuisance-rules
Notable Details
This document directly resolves the open question in property-use-restrictions about the City of West Chicago home occupation ordinance scope. The city”s commercial vehicle allowance (one vehicle not exceeding 8,000 lbs outdoors) is in tension with the HOA”s R&Rs Section 4 prohibition on any commercial vehicles outside the garage — the HOA rule is stricter. The “overt business” line in the HOA R&Rs can now be read against concrete city criteria: 6 arrivals/departures per day, outside employees, on-premises sales, and neighborhood parking disturbance are the city”s thresholds for when a home occupation crosses into prohibited commercial use.