Will County, IL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Fine range
- $25-$750 per day
- Plan deadline
- Before site stripped or graded
- Core rule
- Runoff must pass sediment controls first
- Stockpile trigger
- Controls required after 3 days
- Governing law
- Ch. 55, Stormwater Management
Summary
Will County requires construction sites to route all disturbed-area runoff through sediment control facilities before it leaves the site, with a written erosion control plan mandatory before grading starts.
The runoff from disturbed areas shall not leave the development site without first passing through sediment control facilities. This requirement shall apply to all phases of construction and shall include an ongoing process of implementation of measures and maintenance of those measures during both the construction season and any construction shut down periods.
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
Chapter 55's Sediment and Erosion Control subchapter (§§ 55.035-55.047) requires every development seeking a stormwater management permit to keep runoff on-site until it passes through sediment controls, and to file a phased sediment and erosion control plan under § 55.041 before existing vegetation or cover is stripped. Stockpiles left more than three days need their own controls, storm inlets must be filtered, and tracked-out soil must be cleared from roadways by day's end. Under § 55.120 the chapter applies to development within the county generally, but certified municipalities such as Joliet, Bolingbrook and Plainfield administer their own permits inside their boundaries, so unincorporated-area projects go through the county Administrator.
Violations & Fines
Undertaking development without a stormwater permit, or violating any provision, is unlawful and carries a civil fine of $25 to $750 per day; the Administrator may also revoke the permit or issue a stop-work order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply inside Joliet or other cities?
What triggers an erosion control plan?
Who enforces Will County's erosion control rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
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