Tazewell County, IL Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Community Development Administrator
- Maximum duration
- 7 days per § 157.287(G)(2)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Sign compliance
- Must meet §§ 157.330-157.342
- Fine for no permit
- Up to $500 per offense
Summary
Tazewell County requires a temporary use permit before any festival, street fair, or public celebration can set up tents or temporary structures in the unincorporated county. The Community Development Administrator issues the permit under Zoning Code § 157.287(G), and the event cannot run longer than seven days no matter which zoning district hosts it.
(G) Festivals.
(1) A temporary use permit may be issued for tents or other temporary structures and related facilities to house and serve public celebrations, special observances, cultural events, or entertainment programs sponsored by a local civic, religious, governmental, or recognized, duly chartered, fraternal organizations in any district.
(2) Such temporary use shall not exceed seven days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-7: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. LU-21-12, passed 9-29-2021; and Res. LU-26-09, passed 7-29-2026).
Full Breakdown
285, no temporary use, including a festival, may be established anywhere in unincorporated Tazewell County without a permit from the Community Development Administrator. 287(G) specifically authorizes that permit for tents or other temporary structures and related facilities housing public celebrations, special observances, cultural events, or entertainment programs sponsored by a local civic, religious, governmental, or recognized, duly chartered fraternal organization, in any zoning district, but caps the use at seven days. 286, which requires the applicant's name, the property owner's name if different, the site address, legal description, and parcel number, plus a description of the event and sufficient detail on waste disposal, temporary food service, security personnel, paved or graded ingress and egress for emergency and police vehicles, yard requirements, parking, traffic control, and hours of operation.
342, and the organizer must clear the site of all debris immediately after the event ends. Because this chapter governs only the unincorporated county, a festival held inside Pekin or any other incorporated municipality within Tazewell County falls under that municipality's own code, not this permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating a festival or street fair without the required temporary use permit is a petty offense under § 157.999(B)(1), punishable by a fine of up to $500 per offense, with each week the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The county may also pursue a court action under § 157.999(C) to restrain or abate an unpermitted event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to hold a festival in unincorporated Tazewell County?
How long can a festival temporary use permit last?
What information does the festival permit application need?
What happens if I run a festival without getting the permit first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tazewell County
Compare Tazewell County to another location·View the Illinois special events & permits overview
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