Zoning Ordinance

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The Zoning Office is responsible for all un-incorporated areas of the County, including Beason, Chestnut, Cornland, Lake Fork, and Lawndale.  For zoning within incorporated areas of the County, please contact the individual jurisdiction for zoning determinations.

 

 

The County offers a couple of options for determining zoning on a property.

  1. Use the Zoning District Map Web App.  Choose the appropriate jurisdiction map and click on it to open the map.  Use the “Search By Address” tool located on the upper left corner of the web map and type in the address of the property. The map should locate and zoom to the property.  The map should show an aerial view of the property, and zoning district boundary.  The “information button” will give basic descriptions of the zoning district (A = Agriculture).
  1. Zoning District boundaries can be found on the Logan County GIS Internet Mapping application. To view the zoning maps expand the Districts folder located under the Tax Districts layer and turn on the zoning maps layer by clicking the box next to zoning map layer name. By default, zoning for un-incorporated areas of the County will turn on. Zoning districts for other jurisdictions are also available and to turn them on click the empty box next to their name. Use the “Search By Address” tool located on the upper left corner of the web map and type in the address of the property. The map should locate and zoom to the property.
  1. Use the Township Index Map below and click on the Township. These are PDF maps that show the zoning district, section number, and parcels.  For a more interactive map that shows aerial photography and parcel information, see option #1.

 

Disclaimer: The following zoning maps are for illustrative purposes only. It is possible that a property has been rezoned but the map has yet to be updated to reflect that change in zoning. For an official determination of the zoning on a property, please contact the Zoning Office.

 

Prarie Creek Orvil Eminence Atlanta Sheridan West Lincoln Lawndale East Lincoln Beason Oran Corwin Broadwell Chester Chestnut Aetna Hurlbut Cornland Elkhart Lake Fork Mount Pulaski Laenna Lake Fork

 

Detail Maps

 

Zoning Districts

  • A Agriculture
  • CH Country Homes
  • SD Special District
  • R-1 Single-Family Residential
  • R-2 Single-Family Residential
  • R-3 Single-Family Residential
  • R-4 Two-Family and Multi-Family Residential
  • B-1 Business District
  • B-2 Business District
  • B-3 Highway Business District
  • M-1 Limited Manufacturing District
  • M-2 General Manufacturing District
  • M-3 Extraction District

Table of Contents

  COVER SHEET
  PREFACE
  TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
  1.1 AUTHORITY
  1.2 PURPOSE
  1.3 INTENT
  1.4 ABROGRATION AND GREATER RESTRICTIONS
  1.5 INTERPRETATION
  1.6 SEVERABILITY
  1.7 TITLE
 
SECTION 2 GENERAL PROVISIONS
  2.1 JURISDICTION
  2.2 USE RESTRICTIONS
  2.3 SITE RESTRICTIONS
  2.4 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE
 
SECTION 3 ZONING DISTRICTS
  3.1 ESTABLISHMENT
  3.2 DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
  3.3 SITE RESTRICTIONS
  3.4 AGRICULTURAL AND SPECIAL DISTRICT
  3.5 URBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
  3.6 BUSINESS DISTRICT
  3.7 MANUFACTURING DISTRICT
  3.8 SPECIAL USE PERMITS REQUIRED
 
SECTION 4 PARKING, LOADING, TRAFFIC, ACCESS
  4.1 PARKING AND LOADING
  4.2 ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS - PARKING
  4.3 ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS - OFF-STREET PARKING
  4.4 SCHEDULE OF OFF-STREET PARKING, LOADING, AND UNLOADING
  4.5 PARKING OF JUNK MOTOR VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT PROHIBITED ON RESIDENTIAL PREMISES
  4.6 TRAFFIC VISIBILITY
  4.7 DRIVEWAYS
  4.8 HIGHWAY ACCESS
 
SECTION 5 SIGNS
  5.1 PURPOSE OF SIGNS
  5.2 PERMITS
  5.3 RESIDENCE DISTRICTS
  5.4 BUSINESS DISTRICTS
  5.5 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
  5.6 INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT SIGNS
  5.7 BILLBOARDS
 
SECTION 6 FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS
  6.1 PURPOSE
  6.2 DEFINITIONS
  6.3 BASE FLOOD ELEVATION
  6.4 DUTIES OF THE ZONING OFFICER
  6.5 DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
  6.6 PREVENTING INCREASED FLOOD HEIGHTS
  6.7 PROTECTING BUILDINGS
  6.8 SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS
  6.9 PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER STANDARDS
  6.10 CARRYING CAPACITY AND NOTIFICATION
  6.11 VARIANCES
  6.12 DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
  6.13 PENALTY
  6.14 ABROGATION AND GREATER RESTRICTIONS
  6.15 SEVERABILITY
  6.16 EFFECTIVE DATE
 
SECTION 7 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
  7.1 SPECIAL REGULATIONS IN MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS AS INDICATED
  7.2 NOISE
  7.3 EARTHBORN VIBRATION
  7.4 SMOKE AND PARTICULATE MATTER
  7.5 TOXIC MATTER
  7.6 ODOROUS MATTER
  7.7 FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS
  7.8 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND ENFORCEMENT
 
SECTION 8 MODIFICATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS
  8.1 HEIGHT
  8.2 YARDS
  8.3 ADDITIONS
  8.4 AVERAGE FRONT YARDS
  8.5 NOISE
 
SECTION 9 NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES OR USES
  9.1 NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
  9.2 NONCONFORMING USES
  9.3 NONCONFORMING VARIANCE PERMITTED BY BOARD OF ZONING APPEAL
  9.4 AMORTIZATION ON NONCONFORMING USES OR BUILDINGS
  9.5 SUBSTANDARD LOT
  9.6 ZONING PERMITS FOR NONCONFORMING USES
 
SECTION 10 CONDITIONAL USES
  10.1 CONDITIONAL USES
  10.2 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE
  10.3 CONDITIONAL USE PROCEDURE
  10.4 TIME LIMITS AND REVOCATION
 
SECTION 11 BOARD OF APPEALS, ADMINISTRATION, AND ENFORCEMENT
  11.1 BOARD OF APPEALS - CREATION AND MEMBERSHIP
  11.2 MEETINGS
  11.3 JUSISDICTION
  11.4 APPEALS: HOW TAKEN
  11.5 STANDARDS FOR VARIATIONS
  11.6 NOTICE OF HEARING
  11.7 APPEALS TO COURT
  11.8 ENFORCEMENT
 
SECTION 12 PERMITS
  12.1 PERMIT APPLICATIONS
  12.2 CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
 
SECTION 13 AMENDMENTS
  13.1 POWER TO AMEND
  13.2 PETITIONS
  13.3 PROCEDURES
  13.4 PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT
 
SECTION 14 FEES, VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES
  14.1 FEES
  14.2 VIOLATIONS
  14.3 PENALTIES
 
SECTION 15 RULES AND DEFINITIONS
  15.1 RULES
  15.2 DEFINITIONS
 
SECTION 16    EFFECTIVE DATE
 
APPENDIX A YARDS
 
APPENDIX B TINY HOME PARK REGULATIONS
 
APPENDIX C NUISANCE ORDINANCE
 
APPENDIX D REMOVAL OF NUISANCE VEHICLE ORDINANCE
 
APPENDIX E COMMERCIAL WIND ENERGY FACILITY REGULATIONS
     
APPENDIX F COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY REGULATIONS
     
APPENDIX G FEE SCHEDULE

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) consists of five (5) members appointed by the County Board Chairman and confirmed by members of the County Board. The ZBA holds hearings in regards to an appeal of a decision made by the Zoning Officer and petitions for Variances, Conditional Uses, Special Uses, Text Amendments and Map Amendments.

 

2024 Zoning Board of Appeals Hearing Schedule

The ZBA generally meets the first Thursday of the month and the hearings are scheduled for 7:30 pm. Special meetings may be held in order to accommodate a continuation of a meeting or hear more than one application in a particular month. The regularly scheduled hearing dates for 2022 are as follows: 

2024 Hearing Dates: Agenda            Minutes        
January 4    
February 8*    
March 7    
April 4    
May 2    
June 6    
July 4    
August 8*    
September 5    
October 3    
November 7    
December 5    

 * Applications for Conditional Use, Special Use, and Map / Text Amendments require Planning Commission review prior to the ZBA hearing. In these cases the ZBA will schedule a hearing the first Thursday following a Planning Commission meeting (first Wednesday of each month).

2023 Hearing Dates: Agenda Minutes
January 5
February 2
March 2
April 6
May 4
June 8*
July 6
August 3
September 7*
October 5
November 2
December 7*

2022 Hearing Dates: Agenda Minutes
January 6
February 3
March 3
April 7*
May 5
June 2
July 7
August 4
September 1*
October 6
November 3
December 1* 

2021 Hearing Dates: Agenda Minutes

January 7

   

February 4

   

March 4

   

April 1*

   

May 6

   

June 3

 6/3/21

 6/3/21

July 1*

July 8

 7/1/21

7/8/21

Application Documents

 7/1/21

August 5    
September 2    
October 7    
November 4  
 
December 2    

  

2020 Hearing Dates: Agenda Minutes

January 9

 1/9/20  1/9/20

February 6

   

March 5

 3/5/20  3/5/20

April 2

   

May 7

   

June 4

 6/4/20

 6/4/20

July 2

   
August 6    
September 3    
October 1    
November 5  
 
December 3    

 

2019 Hearing Dates: Agenda Minutes

January 3, 2019

   

February 7, 2019

2/7/19  2/7/19

March 7, 2019

3/7/19 

3/13/19

 3/7/19

3/13/19

April 4, 2019

 

May 2, 2019

5/2/19

5/14/19

 5/2/19

5/14/19

June 6, 2019

6/6/19

 6/6/19

July 9, 2019

 
August 1, 2019* 8/1/19  8/1/19
September 5, 2019 9/5/19  9/5/19
October 3, 2019    
November 7, 2019  
 
December 5, 2019  

 

 

Standards for Variances

A variation shall be permitted only if the evidence in the judgment of the Zoning Board sustains each of the following:

  • That the property in question cannot yield a reasonable return, if permitted to be used only under the conditions allowed by the regulations in that zoning district; and
  • That the plight of the owner was not created by the owner and is due to unique circumstances; and
  • That the variation, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality.
  • For the purpose of implementing the standards for variations, the Zoning Board in making its decision, whenever there are practical difficulties or particular hardship, shall also take into consideration the extent to which the following facts favorable to the applicant have been established by the evidence that:
    1. The particular physical surrounds, shape, or topographical conditions of the specific property involved would bring a particular hardship upon the owner, as distinguished from a mere inconvenience, if the regulations were strictly enforced.
    2. The conditions upon which the petition for variation is based would not be applicable generally to other property within the same zoning classification.
    3. The alleged difficulty or hardship has not been created by any person presently having an interest in the property, or any person through whom the applicant claims title.
    4. The granting of the variations will not be substantially detrimental to the public welfare, or injurious to other property or improvements in the neighborhood in which the property is located.
    5. The proposed variation will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property, or substantially increase the danger of fire, or otherwise endanger the public safety, or substantially diminish or impair property values with the neighborhood.

 

Standards for Conditional Uses / Special Uses

 

  • The establishment, maintenance or operation of the conditional use will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort or general welfare.
  • The conditional use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purpose already permitted nor substantially diminish property values within the neighborhood.
  • The establishment of the conditional use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of the surrounding property for uses permitted in the district.
  • Adequate utilities, access roads, drainage or necessary facilities have been or will be provided.
  • Adequate measures have been or will be taken to provide ingress and egress so designed as to minimize traffic congestion in the public streets.

 

Guidelines for Map Amendments (Rezone)

 

While the Logan County Zoning Ordinance does not provide for specific criteria in reviewing a request to rezone property, the Illinois Supreme Court has provided some guidance and among the facts which may be taken into consideration are the following:

  • The existing uses and zoning of nearby property:
  • The extent to which property values are diminished by the particular zoning restrictions:
  • The extent to which the destruction of property values of plaintiff promotes the health, safety, morals, or general welfare of the public:
  • The relative gain to the public as compared to the hardship imposed upon the individual property owner:
  • The suitability of the subject property for the zoned purposes:
  • The length of time the property has been vacant as zoned considered in the context of land development in the area in the vicinity of the subject property:

 

Application Process Overview

APPLICATION FORM: The application must be completed in its entirety. The application must address how each requested application meets the applicable standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance.

APPLICATION FEE: The application fee ($235.00) is to be paid at the time of filing the application. Checks should be made payable to the "Logan County Clerk". This fee is not refundable.

SITE PLAN: The applicant shall provide a plan, drawn to scale, which shows the location and dimensions of all property lines, existing structures, setbacks, location of existing wells and septic systems, and proposed buildings or uses.

PROPERTY OWNER NOTIFICATION: The applicant shall provide a list of all property owners within two hundred (200) feet in areas zoned residential, three hundred (300) feet in areas zoned business or manufacturing, and one-quarter (1/4) mile in areas zoned agricultural or special district. Notice will be given at least twenty-five (25) days prior to the hearing.

APPLICATION PROCESS: The ZBA has authority to grant Variances and the review process will require a public hearing by the ZBA. The County Board has the authority to grant Conditional Uses, Special Uses, and Map / Text Amendments and the review process for these is a three (3) step process. The application will first be reviewed by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals. A public hearing will then be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals will make a recommendation to the County Board. The County Board will make the decision to either approve or deny the requested application.

HEARING SCHEDULE: The Planning Commission generally meets the first Wednesday of the month. The Zoning Board of Appeals generally meets the first Thursday of the month. The County Board's Board of the Whole meeting is held on the Thursday before the Board's Adjourned Meeting held on the third Tuesday of the month.

APPLICATION SUBMITTAL: All applications must be submitted to the Zoning Office at least THIRTY (30) DAYS prior to the Zoning Board meeting at which it will formally be reviewed. This allows time for the required legal notice and property owner notification.

HEARING: The applicant must be present at all public hearings to present the application request and answer any questions the Boards may have.

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