Can I legally do car repairs & oil changes in my IL yard? What the law, code allows
If you do your own car maintenance or vehicle repairs at home, are you allowed to do so in your Illinois driveway or yard?
Illinois does not have a statewide law directly regulating at-home vehicle repairs, one attorney told the News-Democrat, but local ordinances and zoning rules may apply.
For example, Belleville’s municipal code prohibits vehicle repair or maintenance businesses in residential areas, excluding “the personal convenience of and any vehicles owned or leased by the occupants.”
Certain types of businesses, including computer programming, tailoring services and making home crafts to sell outside of the home are allowed in Belleville, provided compliance with any business-specific requirements.
Under Belleville’s city ordinance, it would not be permissible to run an oil change business from your driveway, but what about repairing your own vehicle? Here’s what to know.
Can you do car repairs in your Belleville driveway?
The short answer is Belleville’s municipal code does not prohibit doing basic service or repairs in your driveway, but there are some considerations.
“There’s no statewide law about this,” Teri Ross, executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, said in a Sept. 24 interview with the News-Democrat.
The city of Belleville does have an ordinance regulating inoperable motor vehicles, which it defines as “any motor vehicle which, for a period of at least seven days, or any greater period, fixed by ordinance; the engine, wheels or other parts have been removed; or in which the engine, wheels or other parts have been altered, damaged or otherwise so treated, that the vehicle is incapable of being driven under its own motor power.”
Any inoperable or derelict motor vehicle on public or private property in view of the general public is considered a “nuisance” under Belleville’s city code, and can be towed.
Inoperable motor vehicles “shall not include a motor vehicle which has been rendered temporarily incapable of being driven under its own motor power in order to perform ordinary service or repair operations,” city code says.
Although Belleville’s definition of an inoperable motor vehicle excludes vehicles undergoing ordinary service or repair, the city does have ordinances related to noise, and Ross said it’s important to be mindful of the time of day you choose to do any loud repairs.
“It shall be unlawful to operate a vehicle which makes unusually loud or unnecessary noise,” one section of Belleville’s municipal code reads.
Another city ordinance says parking spaces for homes cannot be located in the front yard, except for the driveway, but can be in side or rear yards.
Ross said another thing Illinois residents should consider when doing car maintenance at home is environmental regulations, such as proper disposal of used oil. Madison County hosts hazardous waste collections that accept motor oil, old gasoline and other materials. You can contact recycling@madisoncountyil.gov for more information about disposal.
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