Will County, IL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Any work in county ROW
- Fine range
- $50–$500 per location
- Removal notice
- 10 working days
- Permit types
- Special event, utility, connection, alteration
Summary
Any private work in a Will County highway right-of-way, utilities, landscaping, retaining walls, service connections, needs a WCDOT use permit before you touch the shoulder or ditch.
Use of the county highway right-of-way for a non-highway function such as special events, utilities or facilities, whether temporary or permanent, shall be granted via one of four types of use permits. A permit is required for any work performed in the county highway right-of-way, even if a temporary or full closure of the roadway is not required. The four types of use permits are:
(A) Special event.
(B) Utility.
(C) Single service connection.
(D) Right-of-way alteration. (Ord. 20-231, passed 7-16-2020)
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 Code Ch. 56 requires a WCDOT permit for any non-highway use of a county highway right-of-way, covering special events, utilities, single service connections, and right-of-way alterations such as drainage-ditch work, tree clearing, retaining walls, and soil bores. An unauthorized object placed in the right-of-way is defined as an encroachment. If an owner refuses to remove an illegal encroachment after written notice, WCDOT may remove it and bill the owner. This chapter governs county highways only. Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield, and Lockport regulate their own municipal street rights-of-way separately.
Violations & Fines
Fines of $50 to $500 per access location under ILCS 605/9-117, with each day the encroachment remains in place a separate offense; WCDOT can also stop unsafe work and revoke permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a fence or landscaping in the road right-of-way?
What happens if I place something in the right-of-way without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.