Joliet, IL Holiday Decorations: Inflatable Display Rules (2026)

Joliet distinguishes residential decorative inflatables from commercial inflatable advertising. Commercial: the Joliet Zoning Ordinance Chapter 47 sign regulations (administered by the Planning Division) treat inflatable balloons, dancing 'air-dancer' figures, and feather banners as temporary signs subject to permit requirements, fees, and duration limits. Following 2015 enforcement, Joliet requires permits at approximately $50 per temporary sign for businesses, capped at three signs per location for a 30-day period, with fines of $50 per day for violations. Residential: holiday inflatables (a 10-foot inflatable Santa, an animated Halloween dragon, a Thanksgiving turkey) on a private single-family yard are accessory decorations rather than commercial signs because they do not advertise goods or services. They are not regulated by the Joliet sign ordinance and require no city permit. Practical constraints: (1) sight-distance triangles at corner lots — inflatables, like other obstructions, must not block driver vision at intersections under standard traffic engineering practice referenced in Chapter 47; (2) right-of-way encroachment — inflatables must not be staked or anchored in the public parkway between sidewalk and curb without permission; (3) lighting and glare — internally lit inflatables fall under the same reasonableness test as holiday lights; (4) HOA CC&Rs in many Joliet subdivisions limit yard ornaments, including inflatables, especially during non-holiday periods, enforceable under 765 ILCS 160/. Renters should review lease provisions before installation. Wind safety: large inflatables should be deflated and stowed in severe weather warnings to prevent windborne damage.