Will County, IL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential-adjacent limit
- 0.50 footcandles at property line
- Non-residential limit
- 1.00 footcandle at ROW/property line
- Shielding
- required on all fixtures
- Prohibited
- flashing, search, laser lights
- Applies to
- unincorporated Will County only
Summary
Unincorporated Will County caps outdoor light spillover at 0.5 to 1.0 footcandles at the property line and requires all fixtures to be shielded from neighbors and roads.
(1) Outdoor lighting may not exceed 0.50 footcandles at any point on the abutting property if the subject property abuts a residential zoning district or a lot containing a residential use. (2) Outdoor lighting may not exceed 1.00 footcandles at the right-of-way line or at any point on the abutting property if the subject property abuts a non-residential zoning district or lot containing a nonresidential use. (3) All light sources must be shielded to prevent light and glare spillover to adjacent property and abutting rights-of-way.
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
Zoning Ordinance § 155-14.110(B) limits non-exempt outdoor lighting to 0.50 footcandles at any point on abutting property next to a residential district or use, and 1.00 footcandle at the right-of-way or abutting property line elsewhere. All light sources must be shielded to prevent glare spillover onto adjacent property and rights-of-way, and flickering, flashing, search, and laser lights are banned. Most new commercial and industrial fixtures also need a stamped photometric plan submitted with the building permit. Single-family houses, farms, and public street lights are exempt.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Administrator enforces § 155-14.110 under § 155-17.20: nonconforming lighting cited after a complaint must be fixed, permits can be withheld or revoked, work can be stopped, and each week a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Joliet or Bolingbrook?
Is my house exempt from the footcandle limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois outdoor lighting overview
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