Illinois County Imposes New Zoning Limits On Houses of Worship

According to yesterday's Chicago Tribune, the DuPage County (IL) Board has approved a zoning law amendment that will limit new houses of worship and other places of assembly in residential areas. Under the new rules, residential buildings used as places of assembly must have access on an arterial street and must use public sewer and water service, or else receive a variance from the county. The limitation came after 5 applications for new mosques in residential areas had come to the county board-- three of which have been approved.  Opponents of the change say that single-family homes have been the primary starting point for new religious congregations.