Executive Committee Advances Sweeping Overhaul of Will County Business Regulations

Will County Executive Committee Meeting | March 12, 2026

Article Summary: Will County is poised to modernize its business regulations following the Executive Committee’s unanimous approval of a massive ordinance overhaul. The updates repeal obsolete taxes and rewrite rules governing food establishments, cable television, and local contractors.

Will County Ordinance Overhaul Key Points:

• The committee approved eight distinct resolutions (26-4241 through 26-4248-01) updating Title XI: Business Regulations of the Will County Code of Ordinances.

• The overhaul repeals obsolete chapters regarding Stunt Events and updates operating rules for Peddlers, Solicitors, and Itinerant Merchants.

• Chapter 114 was extensively rewritten to align local food establishment sanitation rules with the 2022 FDA Food Code and Illinois Department of Public Health standards.

• Chapter 117 establishes strict $1,000,000 general liability insurance minimums for registered general contractors operating in unincorporated Will County.

The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, March 12, 2026, voted unanimously to advance a massive, multi-chapter overhaul of the county’s business and sanitation ordinances, cleaning up outdated language and strengthening local regulatory standards.

The sweeping legislative package, encompassing Resolutions 26-4241 through 26-4248-01, was spearheaded by the Will County Board Ad Hoc Ordinance Review Committee. The updates impact nearly every facet of Title XI: Business Regulations.

“I tend to sit in on some of these meetings and it’s very—I wouldn’t say excruciating, but you guys go through every detail,” Speaker Joe VanDuyne said, commending the ad hoc committee’s extensive work prior to the vote. “I just want to commend the ad hoc committee on taking the time for this. It’s something that needs to be done, and we appreciate you folks.”

The most substantial changes occurred within Chapter 114: Food Establishment Sanitation. The updated ordinance officially incorporates the standards of the 2022 FDA Food Code and the Illinois Department of Public Health. It establishes strict, tiered inspection frequencies for High, Medium, and Low-Risk facilities. It also codifies a comprehensive fee schedule, setting a $306 annual permit fee for small carry-out facilities and an $876 fee for large establishments with over 100 seats.

The overhaul also tightens oversight on local construction. Under the amended Chapter 117: Bid Contractors, any general contractor operating in unincorporated Will County must register annually and deposit a $10,000 permit and license bond. Furthermore, general contractors are now explicitly required to maintain a minimum of $1,000,000 in general liability insurance.

Other notable actions in the package included the complete repeal of Chapter 112, which previously regulated “Motor Races and Stunt Events.” According to the ordinance text, the county’s authority to regulate that area was stripped by state statute, which now only applies to counties with populations under 500,000.

The committee also updated Chapter 113, restricting door-to-door peddlers and itinerant merchants to operating strictly between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

All eight ordinance amendments passed the Executive Committee unanimously and will proceed to the full Will County Board for final adoption.