Will County, IL Noise from Specific Sources: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Ground unit setback
- 15 ft from residential lot line
- Screening trigger
- within 25 ft of street/residential lot
- Roof unit screening trigger
- within 50 ft of residential lot
- Applies to
- unincorporated Will County only
Summary
Ground-mounted AC and heating units over 30 inches tall must sit 15+ feet from residential property lines and be screened if within 25 feet.
Ground-mounted mechanical equipment over 30 inches in height may not be located within 15 feet of the property line of a lot used or zoned for residential purposes. Ground-mounted mechanical equipment, including non-exempt utility installations, more than 30 inches in height and located within 25 feet of a street or a lot used or zoned for residential purposes must be screened from view by a solid fence, solid wall, dense hedge, or combination of such features. The hedge, fence or wall must be tall enough to screen the equipment.
(2) Roof-mounted mechanical equipment. Roof-mounted mechanical equipment (e.g., air conditioning, heating, cooling, ventilation, exhaust and similar equipment, but not solar panels, wind energy or similar renewable energy devices) over 30 inches in height and located within 50 feet of a lot used or zoned for residential purposes must be screened from the lot used or zoned for residential purposes in one of the following ways:
(a) A parapet along façades facing the lot used or zoned for residential purposes that is as tall as the tallest part of the equipment; [https://export.amlegal.com/media/8d2c19b96d0c815b86ee4c103e7ec0e3625f1a3e/ IMAGES/0-0-0-5176.jpg]
(b) A solid screen around the equipment that is as tall as the tallest part of the equipment, with the screen an integral part of the building's architectural design; or [https://export.amlegal.com/media/8d2c19b96d0c815b86ee4c103e7ec0e3625f1a3e/
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
Will County's zoning code treats HVAC units as mechanical equipment requiring setback and screening near homes. Ground-mounted equipment over 30 inches tall can't be placed within 15 feet of a residential lot line, and units within 25 feet of a street or residential lot must be screened with a solid fence, wall or dense hedge tall enough to hide the unit. Roof-mounted AC, heating, and ventilation equipment over 30 inches tall within 50 feet of a residential lot needs a parapet, solid screen, or a setback of three feet per foot of equipment height. This applies only in unincorporated Will County. Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield and Lockport enforce their own zoning codes for HVAC placement.
Violations & Fines
Zoning enforcement can require relocation or screening of a noncompliant unit; continued violation is enforceable as a zoning code violation under the county's general zoning penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Joliet or Bolingbrook?
Do rooftop AC units need screening too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois noise from specific sources overview
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