Oak Lawn village trustees this week approved a local rule that lets a small number of federally licensed firearms businesses operate from homes. The village will allow no more than five such dealers, who must take customers by appointment only and follow Illinois and federal licensing requirements.

Officials created the category after a resident asked to repair guns at home rather than sell them. Conventional retail gun stores in the suburb still must stay at least a quarter mile from schools and parks, a restriction that does not apply to the new home-based operations, though a state 500-foot setback from schools and similar sites remains in force.

Existing zoning already makes a standard storefront firearms shop nearly impossible in most of Oak Lawn.