Will County, IL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Weed/plant growth limit
- 10 inches
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Will County only
- Enforced by
- Building Official, Land Use Dept.
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per day
Summary
In unincorporated Will County, premises and exterior property must be kept free of weeds and plant growth taller than 10 inches under the county's amended Property Maintenance Code.
Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. IPMC Section 304.14 Insect Screens Delete section in its entirety IPMC Section 404.4.1 Room Area Change living room area from 120 square feet to 70 square feet. IPMC Section 602.2 Residential Occupancies To read: Dwellings shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a room temperature of 68°F (20°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms based on the winter outdoor design temperature of 0 degrees. Cooking appliances shall not be used to provide space heating to meet the requirements of this section. IPMC Section 602.3 Heat Supply Delete first sentence in its entirety, delete exceptions in their entirety and insert the following. To read: Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units, rooming units, dormitory or guest rooms on terms, either expressed or implied, shall furnish heat to the occupants and maintain a temperature of not less than 68°F (20°C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms from September 15th to April 30th IPMC Section 602.4 Occupiable Work Spaces To read: Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat during "habitable working hours" of not less than 65°F (18°C). (Ord. 14-103, passed 5-15-2014; Am. Ord. 18-115, passed 5-17-2018; Am. Ord. 18- 116, passed 5-17-2018; Am. Ord. 21-102, passed 8-19-2021; Am. Ord. 22-387, passed 1-19-2023)
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 amended International Property Maintenance Code, adopted at Code § 150.170, requires that premises and exterior property in unincorporated Will County be kept free of weeds or plant growth exceeding 10 inches. The rule applies only outside city and village limits. Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield and Lockport enforce their own codes. The Building Official under the Land Use Department enforces the standard, and violations are petty offenses under § 150.999, fined up to $500, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Petty offense fined up to $500 per violation; each day the weeds exceed 10 inches counts as a separate offense under § 150.999.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this weed limit apply inside Joliet or Bolingbrook?
How tall can weeds get on a vacant lot in unincorporated Will County?
What happens if I don't cut the weeds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois property maintenance overview
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