Will County, IL Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)
FEMA flood zone rules in Will County, IL, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Water Resource Ordinance, Ch. 164
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Elevation standard
- BFE plus 2 ft freeboard (FPE)
- Permit needed for
- Clearing, grading, excavating, filling
- Fine range
- $25–$1,000 per day
Summary
New and substantially improved homes in unincorporated Will County's regulatory floodplain must have their lowest floor built up to the flood protection elevation, two feet above the base flood elevation.
The lowest floor including basements of all new residential structures, substantially improved structures and additions shall be elevated up to at least the flood protection elevation. ... Any person found guilty of an offense under this chapter shall pay a civil fine in an amount not less than $25 and not more than $1,000. Each calendar day during which the violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
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
Unincorporated Will County (outside Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield, Lockport and other city limits) regulates floodplain development under the Water Resource Ordinance for Unincorporated Will County, Will County Code Chapter 164. No clearing, grading, excavating or filling can start without a site development permit from the Land Use Department's Development Review Division, and any new or substantially improved residential structure in the regulatory floodplain must be elevated to the flood protection elevation -- base flood elevation plus a two-foot freeboard. Development also inside city limits falls under that municipality's own code, not this chapter.
Violations & Fines
Civil fine of $25 to $1,000 per day the violation continues; the Chief Subdivision Engineer can also revoke the site development permit and issue a stop-work order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Joliet or Bolingbrook?
How high must a new house be built in the floodplain?
Who issues the required permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
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