Will County, IL Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)
Key Facts
- Max rain barrel height
- 5 feet, per encroachment table
- Applies in
- street, side and rear setbacks
- Governing table
- § 155-10.10(F) permitted encroachments
- Water-conservation status
- encouraged practice, § 155-12.90(P)(5)
- Correction window
- 10 days after violation notice
- Continuing violation
- each uncorrected week is separate offense
Summary
Unincorporated Will County zoning lets homeowners install rain barrels up to 5 feet tall inside required street, side and rear setbacks without a variance, and the landscape code separately lists rainwater harvesting as an encouraged water-conservation practice. No permit or setback relief request is needed for a rain barrel that meets the height cap.
Obstruction/Projection into Required Setback Street Side Rear ... Rain barrels up to 5 feet in height Yes Yes Yes ... (P) Water conservation. To promote resource-efficient landscaping for the conservation of water and other natural resources, the following principles and practices are encouraged: ... (5) Rainwater harvesting techniques;
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
" The encroachment table lists specific exceptions, and "Rain barrels up to 5 feet in height" is one of them, marked "Yes" for encroachment into the street yard, the side yard, and the rear yard alike. That means a rain barrel meeting the 5-foot height limit can be placed anywhere in a required setback on a residential lot in unincorporated Will County, the same table position given to rain gardens, arbors, and similar small-scale features. 70. 90(P) direct that "resource-efficient landscaping for the conservation of water and other natural resources" is promoted countywide, and the list of encouraged principles and practices under that subsection specifically names "Rainwater harvesting techniques" alongside water-conserving plant material, pervious paving, and mulching. 100, not a mandate, so a property owner is not cited for skipping rain barrels or cisterns. 10(F).
Violations & Fines
A rain barrel that exceeds the 5-foot height allowance loses its setback exception and becomes an unpermitted encroachment, treated as a zoning violation under Section 155-17.20(B), which covers using or erecting any structure inconsistent with the zoning ordinance. The Zoning Administrator enforces the code and gives written notice of the violation; the property owner then has 10 days to correct it before further action under Section 155-17.20(H)(1). Each week the oversized structure remains uncorrected after that notice counts as a separate violation under Section 155-17.20(C), and the county can withhold future permits, seek an injunction, or pursue administrative adjudication under Chapter 43 as remedies under Section 155-17.20(D).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a rain barrel in my side yard setback in unincorporated Will County?
Do I need a permit for a rainwater harvesting cistern taller than 5 feet?
Is rainwater harvesting required for new development in Will County?
What happens if my rain barrel setup violates the height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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