Will County, IL Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- A-1 minimum lot size
- 10 acres
- A-1 minimum frontage
- 300 feet
- A-1 street setback
- 100 feet from road centerline
- A-1 max building coverage
- 20%
- A-2 district
- grandfathered, no new rezonings
Summary
Unincorporated Will County zones farmland A-1 to preserve agriculture and protect farmers' property rights, with a 10-acre minimum lot and A-2 closed to new rezonings.
(A) The districts. The county's agricultural zoning districts are listed below. When this zoning ordinance refers to "agricultural" zoning districts or "A" districts, it is referring to these districts. ... (B) Purposes. (1) A-1. The A-1 zoning district is primarily intended to help accommodate, promote and preserve agriculture and farming as economically desirable businesses and a key determinant of the county's rural character, while also respecting the property rights of farmers. (2) A-2. The A-2 district is no longer available for rezonings. No rezoning applications may be accepted or approved for rezoning to the A-2 district.
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 county's zoning ordinance designates the A-1 Agricultural district to accommodate, promote and preserve farming as an economically desirable business and a key part of the county's rural character, while respecting farmers' property rights. A-1 carries a 10-acre minimum lot size, 300-foot minimum frontage, 100-foot road setback, and 20% maximum building coverage. The older A-2 Agricultural-Residential district is grandfathered but permanently closed to new rezonings. These rules apply only in unincorporated Will County, not inside Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield or Lockport, which zone under their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Development that doesn't meet A-1's lot size, frontage, setback or coverage standards is a zoning ordinance violation, enforced through the county's standard zoning code enforcement and permit-denial process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Will County's A-1 zoning apply inside Joliet or Bolingbrook?
Can I rezone land to A-2 Agricultural-Residential in Will County?
How much land do I need for a new A-1 lot in Will County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois right to farm overview
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