Zoning for a property

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Our Agricultural Heritage

Will County is proud of its agricultural heritage.  Despite the considerable growth that is taking place, there are still large areas of the county that have a rural character worthy of preservation. 

Agricultural zoning districts in unincorporated Will County are designated A-1.  The primary purpose of an A-1 district is to encourage agriculture and related activities as the principle land use.

In addition, the goal of A-1 zoning is to prevent mixtures of urban and rural land uses which can lead to conflicts and incompatibilities with agricultural uses.

Permitted Uses

There are three permitted uses for A-1 parcels in Will County:

1. agricultural uses including growing of farm crops, animal and poultry husbandry, research and/or experimental farms, sale of agricultural products produced on the premises, landscape waste composting and land application, horse boarding and seed sales

2. residential uses including farm homesteads, certain single-family dwellings on parcels of five or more acres, group care homes with no more than 6 residents and related living quarters

3. parks and/or forest preserves.

See the Will County Zoning Ordinance for details about permitted uses.

Special Uses

The following special uses are allowed on parcels zoned A-1 if specifically authorized by the Will County Board:

• similar and compatible uses

• essential services (such as police and fire stations, public utilities and certain telecommunication facilities)

• penal farms

• private aircraft landing strips or pads

• exotic animal husbandry and boarding

• agribusinesses (such as riding stables, kennels and veterinary establishments, auctions, sale of farm supplies, agricultural implement sales and service, grain storage, fertilizer storage and mixing, animal feed operations, ammonia sales and storage, feed yards and landscaping/lawn maintenance operations)

• certain mining, blasting  and/or extraction of minerals or other aggregates

• hunting, fishing, game preserves and recreational clubs or camps

• floodplain developments

• single-family dwellings on parcels between two and a half and ten acres

• ECHO housing

• bed and breakfast establishments

• churches

• firearms dealers

• certain wholesale power generators

See the Will County Zoning Ordinance for details about special uses.

Temporary Uses

The Zoning Administrator may permit certain temporary uses on A-1 parcels, including buildings used for construction operations, buildings used for the sale or rental of property, bazaars and/or dances, residential structures to be used during construction of residences, and Christmas tree sales.

See the Will County Zoning Ordinance for details about temporary use permits.

Accessory Uses

Accessory uses on A-1 parcels may include accessory structures, garages and/or carports, home occupations, living quarters for those employed on the premises, swimming pools, roadside stands and garage/yard sales.

See the Will County Zoning Ordinance for details about accessory uses.

Site and Structure Requirements

Unless a zoning variance is obtained, the following site and structure requirements apply to all A-1 parcels in unincorporated Will County:

Site & Structure Requirements
Minimum Lot Area	10 acres
Minimum Lot Width	300 feet
Front-yard Setback	100 feet
Side-yard Setback	50 feet
Rear-yard Setback	50 feet for primary structure 10 feet for accessory structures
Maximum height	Must meet BOCA code
Lot Coverage	20 %

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit to the number of horses I can board on my property?

There is no limit to the number of horses you can board on your property.  However, if you operate riding stables or horseback riding operations, you must obtain a special use permit prior to operating those businesses.

Can I sell produce on my farm?

Roadside stands for produce grown on the premises are considered an accessory use and may be permitted under certain circumstances.  As such, a permit must be obtained to ensure that applicable provisions of the Will County Zoning Ordinance are met.

Can I construct a house on an 8-acre parcel zoned A-1?

No, a house constructed on an 8-acre parcel with A-1 zoning does not conform to the Will County Zoning Ordinance.  In order to comply, you must first obtain either a zoning variance for lot area (because the parcel is smaller than 10 acres) or seek a map amendment from A-1 to E-1 (single-family rural estate residence).  Neither variances nor map amendments are guaranteed.  Please contact the Zoning Division for additional assistance.