(A) Generally. For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms or words used herein shall be interpreted as follows:
(1) The word PERSON includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company or corporation as well as an individual.
(2) The present tense includes the future tense, the singular number includes the plural, and the plural number includes the singular.
(3) The word SHALL is mandatory, the word MAY is permissive.
(4) The words USED or OCCUPIED include the words intended, designed or arranged to be used or occupied.
(5) The word LOT includes the words plot or parcel.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.010)
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE. A use or structure on the same premises with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use of the main structure.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.020)
DWELLING, MULTI-FAMILY. A residence designed for or occupied by three or more families, with separate housekeeping and cooking facilities.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.050)
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY. A detached residence designed for or occupied by one family only.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.030)
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A residence designed for or occupied by two families only, with separate housekeeping and cooking facilities for each.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.040)
FAMILY. One or more persons occupying a single housekeeping unit and using common cooking facilities; provided that unless all members are related by blood or marriage, no FAMILY shall contain over five members.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.060)
HOME OCCUPATIONS. Any occupation or activity conducted entirely within a dwelling or accessory structure and carried on only by the inhabitants thereof, which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for residence purposes with which there is no advertising other than an identification sign of no more than three square feet in area. The occupation or activity shall not change the character thereof or adversely affect the uses permitted in the residential district in which it is a part. Adequate off-street parking shall be provided by the owner.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.070)
LOT. For zoning purposes, as covered by this chapter, a LOT is a parcel of land of at least sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for use, coverage and area, and to provide yards and other open spaces as are herein required. The LOTS shall have frontage on an improved public street, and may consist of:
(a) A single lot of record;
(b) A portion of a lot of record;
(c) A combination of complete lots of record, of complete lots of record and portions of lots of record, or of portions of lots of record; and
(d) A parcel of land described by metes and bounds; provided that in no case of division or combination shall any residential lot or parcel be created which does not meet the requirements of this chapter.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.080)
LOT FRONTAGE. The front of a lot shall be construed to be the portion nearest the street. For the purpose of determining yard requirements on corner lots and through lots, all sides of a lot adjacent to streets shall be considered frontage, and yards shall be provided as indicated under the definitions for yards in this section.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.090)
LOT MEASUREMENTS.
(a) DEPTH OF A LOT shall be considered to be the distance between the midpoints of straight lines connecting the foremost points of the side lot lines in front and the rearmost points of the side lot lines in the rear.
(b) WIDTH OF A LOT shall be considered to be the distance between straight lines connecting front and rear lot lines at each side of the lot, measured across the rear of the required front yard; provided, however, that width between side lot lines at their foremost points (where they intersect with the street line) shall not be less than 80% of the required lot width except in the case of lots on the turning circle of culs-de-sac, where the 80% requirement shall not apply.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.100)
LOT OF RECORD. A lot which is part of a subdivision recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds, or a lot or parcel described by metes and bounds, the description of which has been so recorded.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.110)
MOBILE HOME. A structure as defined in Ill. Rev. Stat. Ch. 67-1/2, § 502(a), as amended, or a structure with a United States Housing and Urban Development Department mobile home seal affixed thereto.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.112)
MODULAR HOME. A structure as defined in Ill. Rev. Stat. Ch. 67-1/2, § 502(i), as amended, or a structure with a State Public Health Department modular seal affixed thereto.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.114)
OLD TOWN. The territory which lies within the corporate limits of the city upon the effective date of this chapter.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.120)
PARKING SPACE, OFF-STREET. An OFF-STREET PARKING SPACE shall comprise not less than 180 square feet of parking stall plus necessary maneuvering space. Space for maneuvering incidental to parking or unparking shall not encroach upon any public way. Any OFF-STREET PARKING SPACE shall be accessible from a public way.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.130)
PORTABLE CARGO CONTAINER. A six-sided steel unit originally constructed as a general cargo container used for the transport of goods and materials by land, sea, or air; capable of being moved or mounted by rail, truck, or boat. This definition also includes the terms “portable moving/storage unit/container/pod” and “cargo/oceangoing/transport container” and any similar unit, including but not limited to an Intermodal Shipping Container. In addition, this definition includes any structure designed to be used for or designed to imitate a shipping container or having a similar appearance to and similar characteristics of an Intermodal Shipping Container.
SEMITRAILER. A licensed vehicle without motive power drawn by a motor vehicle (semitruck/semitractor) designed for carrying freight, material and other goods with part of its weight and the weight of the load rests upon or is carried by the motor vehicle. A semitrailer including those with the frame and/or axles and wheels removed is not and shall not be used as and for uses for which an Intermodal Shipping Container is allowed.
SHORT TERM RENTALS. A rental of a residential dwelling unit or accessory building for periods of less than 30 consecutive days.
SIGN. Any device designed to inform or attract the attention of persons not on the premises on which the sign is located; provided, however, that the following shall not be included in the application of the regulations herein:
(a) Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations;
(b) Flags and insignias of any government except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion;
(c) Legal notices; identification, information or directional signs erected or required by government bodies;
(d) Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts or moving lights; or
(e) Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.140)
SIGN, OFF-SITE. A sign other than an on-site sign.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.170)
SIGN, ON-SITE. A sign relating in its subject matter to the premises on which it is located, or to products, accommodations, services or activities on the premises. ON-SITE SIGNS do not include signs erected by the outdoor advertising industry in the conduct of the outdoor advertising business.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.160
SIGNS, NUMBER AND SURFACE AREA. For the purpose of determining NUMBER OF SIGNS, a sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing elements organized, related or composed to form a unit. Where matter is displayed in a random manner without organized relationship of elements, or where there is reasonable doubt about the relationship of elements, each element shall be considered to be a single sign. The SURFACE AREA OF A SIGN shall be computed as including the entire sign area within a regular geometric form or combinations or regular geometric forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural members not bearing advertising matter shall not be included in computation of surface area.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.150)
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS. A use that would not be appropriate generally or without restriction throughout the zoning division or district but which, if controlled as to number, area, location or relation to the neighborhood, would promote the public health, safety or general welfare. These uses may be permitted in a zoning division or district as SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS if specific provision for the SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS are made in §§ 154.075 through 154.084 and 154.095 through 154.099. SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS may also be granted for a variance in height, area and size of structures or spaces if all provisions of §§ 154.095 through 154.099 are met.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.180)
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on the ground, or attached to something having a fixed location on the ground, among other things, structures include buildings, mobile homes, walls, billboards and poster panels.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.190)
TRAILER PARK. A plot of ground upon which two or more mobile homes, occupied for dwelling or sleeping purposes, are located.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.200)
TRUCK BODY or TRUCK BODIES. An enclosed cargo area removed from the truck chassis. A Box Truck Body is not and shall not be used as and for uses for which an Intermodal Shipping Container is allowed.
YARD. A required open space unoccupied and unobstructed by any structure or portion of a structure from 30 inches above the general ground level of the graded lot upward; provided however that walls may be permitted in any yard subject to height limitations as indicated herein.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.210)
YARD, FRONT. A yard extending between side lot lines across the front of a lot. In any required FRONT YARD, no fence or wall shall be permitted which materially impedes vision across the yard above the height of 30 inches, and no hedge or other vegetation shall be permitted which materially impedes vision across the yard between the heights of 30 inches and ten feet.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.220)
YARD, REAR. A yard extending across the rear of the lot between inner side yard lines.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.240)
YARD, SIDE. A yard extending from the rear line of the required front yard to the rear lot line.
(1986 Code, § 28.20.230)
(Ord. 970, passed 8-15-1972; Ord. 1293, passed - -1987; Ord. 19-1112-189, passed 11-12-2019; Ord. 22-1108-317, passed 11-08-2022)