Will County, IL Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Political signs on private residential property are broadly protected speech. Following the US Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), content-based sign regulations including special rules for political vs. other temporary signs are presumptively unconstitutional. Will County and its municipalities — Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield, New Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort, Lockport — generally allow political signs on private property with content-neutral size limits (typically 6 sq ft in residential zones, 32 sq ft in commercial per Will County Land Use Ordinance §155-14). No permit required. Signs must be on the property with the owner's consent. Placement in public right-of-way (between sidewalk and curb, on utility poles, or on IDOT ROW along I-55, I-80, I-355) prohibited under Illinois Highway Code (605 ILCS 5/9-113). The Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5/29) prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of polling place entrances on Election Day. Post-election removal deadlines (once common) are no longer enforceable as content-based under Reed, though many local codes still appear on the books.