In May 2025, City Council reviewed a proposal to create an Urban Agriculture Ordinance. The ordinance was met with mixed reactions from the community. Based on this feedback, staff have revised the proposed ordinance into a more simplified version. City staff wish to get more community input before presenting the ordinance again to the City Council. This webpage provides background information on the project and details on what the community engagement and decision-making process will look like. To view the proposed ordinance, please click the link below. 

Proposed Urban Agriculture Ordinance

What Is Urban Agriculture? 

Urban Agriculture is practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in and around a community by various means that reflect an urban context. Common practices include vegetable gardening, chicken keeping, beekeeping, and limited-scale livestock keeping. In Rock Island, many residents already engage in these activities — especially vegetable gardening and chicken keeping — with some commercial farming in the southwest part of the city.

Why Create an Ordinance?

The ordinance aims to:

• Encourage urban agriculture and affirm residents’ right to produce their own food.

• Prevent conflicts between neighbors and ensure activities are well-maintained.

• Provide clear standards for upkeep and enforcement when problems occur.

While some properties with urban agricultural activities are well cared for, others may have overgrown weeds, rotting vegetation, or attract nuisance animals. Right now, the City doesn’t have specific rules to address those situations. This ordinance would fill that gap with common-sense, enforceable standards. The ordinance also allows the City to recognize that different parts of Rock Island have unique contexts and needs. For example, the ordinance provides more flexible standards for Southwest Rock Island, where properties tend to be larger and more rural in character. 

Key Features of the Proposed Ordinance

The following section summarizes some basics on what the proposed ordinance will do. Please read the entire ordinance for complete detail. 

• On lots with occupied structures, urban agriculture activity, including vegetable gardening, chicken keeping, and beekeeping, would be allowed. No specific height limits or setbacks would be required for vegetable growing areas. This is the case now, so nothing would change. 
• On vacant lots, urban agriculture activity would be allowed provided a five-foot (5') buffer consisting of either mowed turf grass, woodchips, or similar biodegradable mulch material is maintained. No chicken keeping and beekeeping would be allowed. Composting, water tanks, and storage sheds would be allowed with certain size and setback requirements.
• In Southwest Rock Island, keeping livestock, along with other urban agriculture activities, would be allowed on properties that have at least one (1) acre of an enclosed area. 
• On lots with vacant, abandoned, or foreclosed properties as covered by City Ordinance, urban agriculture activities would be prohibited. 
• A process would be established for addressing common nuisances such as rotting vegetables, weeds & overgrown grass, and rooster keeping. 
• Property owners would be able to apply for a variance from the ordinance. For example, someone could request to keep more livestock on their property than allowed or reduce the setback requirement for a chicken coop. Staff would evaluate the merits of the request and make a recommendation to the Planning & Zoning Commission. The commission would then make a final decision. 

Community Engagement & Decision-Making Timeline

The following timeline outlines the community engagement and decision making process.  Additionally, community members are encouraged to share input through the online comment form or by emailing cedmail@rigov.org. Staff ask that you submit comments before December 15th, so they can be considered. Please keep in mind that the proposed ordinance is intended to be a basis for continued conversation and your input is valuable in helping shape it.