Joliet, IL Holiday Decorations: Holiday Light Rules (2026)

Joliet has not adopted a seasonal holiday-decoration ordinance prescribing when residents may install or must remove holiday lights. The city's Department of Community and Economic Development affirmatively promotes seasonal lighting through the annual City of Joliet Holiday Lights Map, which highlights residential displays during the late-November-through-early-January season. The Joliet Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 47) regulates 'signs' commercially and politically but treats residential decorative lighting as accessory to the principal dwelling rather than as signage, provided the lights do not advertise a commercial product or service. Practical constraints arise in three places. First, glare onto neighboring property or into public rights-of-way can violate Chapter 47 lighting performance standards if it creates a safety hazard for drivers or substantially interferes with a neighbor's use and enjoyment of property; the operative test is reasonableness, not a fixed lumens limit. Second, persistent year-round displays may be addressed under Joliet's general nuisance provisions in Chapter 17. Third, electrical safety: outdoor lighting must use UL-listed outdoor-rated cords and fixtures, with GFCI protection on outdoor circuits under the National Electrical Code as adopted by Joliet; overloaded circuits and stapled cords through siding create fire risk and may trigger property-maintenance enforcement under Chapter 8. Renters should consult lease provisions and HOA CC&Rs. Private CC&Rs in many Joliet subdivisions impose start and removal date restrictions enforceable under the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act (765 ILCS 160/).