Will County, IL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Will County Code § 155-12.90(A)
- Approved plant cover
- Native prairie, wetland plants, forbs, grasses
- Hardiness standard
- USDA Zones 1-5 for woody plants
- Occupancy hold
- CO withheld until landscaping complete, healthy
- Enforcement
- Zoning Administrator under § 155-17.20
- Continuing violation
- Each uncorrected week is separate offense
Summary
Unincorporated Will County's zoning code treats native plants as an approved way to meet mandatory landscaping. Section 155-12.90(A) lets developers cover required landscape areas with native prairie plants, native wetland plants, forbs and ornamental grasses instead of turf, while a companion water-conservation policy actively encourages water-conserving plant material over sod lawns to cut irrigation demand across the county's fast-growing subdivisions.
(A) Landscaping within required landscape areas. Required landscaped areas must be covered with biodegradable mulch, ornamental grasses, forbs, native prairie plants, native wetland plants, grass or other perennial herbaceous or shrub planting combinations. Landscape-grade stone or aggregate material may also be used within landscape areas. In areas subject to erosion, erosion-reducing blankets or reinforced mulch must be used. ... (P) Water conservation. To promote resource-efficient landscaping for the conservation of water and other natural resources, the following principles and practices are encouraged: (1) Practical turf areas; (2) Use of water-conserving plant material; (3) Grouping of plants with similar water requirements
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
90 governs the plant material developers and property owners must use to satisfy required landscape areas created by the zoning code's screening and buffering standards. Subsection (A) lists native prairie plants and native wetland plants alongside biodegradable mulch, ornamental grasses, forbs and other perennial herbaceous or shrub combinations as acceptable cover; landscape-grade stone or aggregate is also allowed, and areas prone to erosion must add erosion-reducing blankets or reinforced mulch. Subsection (B) lets existing non-invasive, non-noxious trees and shrubs already on a site count toward the requirement if they meet the same height and size standards.
Subsection (C) ties installation to the paperwork: landscaping must follow the approved landscape plan, and it must be installed in complete, healthy condition before the county will issue a certificate of occupancy. Subsection (D) adds selection rules: plants must suit the on-site microclimate and soil, meet American Standards for Nursery Stock, and woody plants must be rated for USDA Hardiness Zones 1 through 5; invasive and noxious species are declared a public nuisance and barred from counting toward landscaping requirements. Separately, subsection (P) sets out a water-conservation policy for the same landscaped areas: it encourages practical turf areas, water-conserving plant material, grouping plants by water need, pervious paving for groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, mulches, soil amendments based on testing, and reclaimed water use, though these practices are framed as encouraged rather than mandatory.
Subsection (Q) makes the property owner responsible for ongoing maintenance under the approved maintenance plan. Because these standards attach to zoning approvals rather than existing lawns generally, they bind subdivisions, commercial sites and other development going through Will County's zoning review, giving native prairie and wetland plantings equal footing with conventional grass and shrub landscaping.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Administrator enforces landscaping compliance under § 155-17.20. A certificate of occupancy will not issue until required landscaping, including any native plant cover, is installed and healthy per § 155-12.90(C)(2). Once the county gives notice of a violation, each week it stays uncorrected is a separate offense under § 155-17.20(C), and the Administrator may withhold or revoke permits, issue stop-work orders, or seek a court injunction to force compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use native prairie plants instead of turf grass on a Will County development?
Does Will County require water-conserving landscaping?
Do I need approval before installing native landscaping in a required landscape area?
Who maintains approved native landscaping after installation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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