Will County, IL Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1–R-5 hive limit
- 2 hives/acre on 22,000 sq ft lots
- R-6 district
- Beekeeping prohibited outright
- Max hive size
- 20 cubic feet
- Property-line setback
- 5 ft (no barrier present)
- State registration
- Required with Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
Summary
Will County allows backyard beehives by right in most unincorporated residential districts, capping density at two hives per acre on 22,000-square-foot minimum lots, but bans beekeeping outright in the R-6 district.
(d) R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, and R-5 districts. 1. The keeping of bees is allowed as of right in the R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, and R-5 zoning districts. 2. The limit on the number of hives that may be kept in the R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, and R-5 zoning districts is two hives per every one acre of lot area or fraction thereof with a minimum zoning lot size of at least 22,000 square feet. ... (e) R-6 District - The keeping of bees is prohibited in the R-6 zoning district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance No. 24-100, passed 4-18-2024 and Res. 23-387, passed 11-16-2023; and State legislation approved through 2024 Pamphlet #2).
Full Breakdown
Will County's zoning code regulates beekeeping as an accessory use under § 155-10.10(B)(3). Every colony must be registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture under the state Bees and Apiaries Act. Hives can't exceed 20 cubic feet, must sit at least 5 feet from a property line without a barrier, and 10 feet from any road or sidewalk; hives within 20 feet of a neighbor's house need a 6-foot flyway barrier. R-1 through R-5 districts allow up to two hives per acre by right on 22,000-square-foot lots, but the R-6 district bans beekeeping outright. Rules apply only in unincorporated Will County -- Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield and Lockport have their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Keeping bees in the R-6 district, exceeding hive-density limits, skipping Illinois Department of Agriculture registration, or ignoring the setback and flyway-barrier rules can draw a zoning violation and an order to remove or relocate hives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep bees on my property in unincorporated Will County?
How many hives can I have on a residential lot?
Does Joliet follow this same county rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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