Will County Passes Comprehensive Adult Entertainment Ordinance

Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Board passed Ordinance 26-133, enacting Chapter 119 of the Business Regulations to establish rigorous licensing, operational, and structural guidelines for adult entertainment establishments in unincorporated areas.

Adult Entertainment Regulations Key Points:

• Imposes a $200 administrative processing fee and requires a $5,000 surety bond for licensing.

• Establishes strict operating hours of 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight and bans alcohol and gambling on the premises.

• Raises the penalty for violations to $1,000 per offense, per day.

• Mandates stringent internal configurations, including 18-inch elevated stages separated by at least eight feet from patrons in cabarets.

The Will County Board on Thursday, April 16, 2026, unanimously approved a comprehensive overhaul of the county’s regulations governing adult entertainment establishments. Ordinance 26-133, which amends Chapter 119 of the Code of Ordinances, passed 20-0 on the consent agenda without debate.

The sweeping legislation establishes the Adult Use Commission, a three-member body appointed by the County Executive, to oversee the issuance, suspension, and revocation of adult establishment licenses. Operating without a valid license is now strictly prohibited and declared a public nuisance.

The ordinance targets Adult Cabarets, Adult Stores, and Adult Theaters, introducing a highly detailed set of operational restrictions designed to regulate the internal and external environments of such businesses. According to the packet materials, operating hours are strictly limited to between 12:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday. The establishments must remain closed on Sundays and all legal state or federal holidays.

Furthermore, the county has banned the sale, consumption, or possession of alcoholic liquor, as well as the presence of gambling devices, including video gaming, pinball, and slot machines, on the licensed premises.

Inside the venues, the structural requirements are rigid. Adult Cabarets must utilize stages permanently anchored to the floor, elevated at least 18 inches above the patron seating area. These stages must be separated by a continuous barrier at least three feet high and located at least eight feet away from all points of patron access.

The ordinance expressly prohibits physical contact between employees and patrons during performances. “Straddle dances” are completely banned, and tipping directly to an entertainer during a performance is illegal; tips must instead be placed in a management-provided receptacle after the show. Performers are also prohibited from appearing in a state of total nudity, requiring semi-nude coverage at a minimum.

Adult Stores featuring “Adult Booths” face similarly strict guidelines. Booths must be fully visible from a continuously lighted main aisle, and doors, curtains, or partitions that obscure the entranceway are illegal.

Violations of the ordinance carry severe consequences. The legislation raises the maximum fine from $500 to $1,000 for each violation, with each day the violation continues constituting a separate offense. The Adult Use Commission holds the power to suspend a license for up to 30 days or revoke it entirely for infractions, including the discovery of false information on the application or the occurrence of a specified criminal act on the premises.

Applicants must provide extensive documentation, including line-of-sight diagrams, and undergo background investigations by the County Sheriff, Health Department, and Land Use Department before a license can be issued.