Ad-Hoc Committee: County Lowers Air Rifle Age to 13, Finds Airsoft Guns Beyond Local Regulatory Reach

Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | April 14, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee advanced updates to its public peace ordinances, lowering the legal age to carry or discharge an air rifle from 18 to 13 to comply with state statutes, while discovering they cannot regulate popular airsoft guns.

Public Peace Ordinance Key Points:

• Ordinance #26-4458 amends Chapter 133 of the county code, governing offenses against the public peace.

• The legal age to carry an unloaded air rifle or discharge one on private property was lowered from 18 to 13 to match state law.

• County staff confirmed they cannot legally regulate airsoft or paintball guns because they do not fire metal projectiles, and the county lacks home-rule authority.

• The ordinance maintains strict fireworks prohibitions, though staff noted the Sheriff’s Department has never been asked to issue a legal fireworks permit.

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee approved Ordinance #26-4458, amending Chapter 133 of the county code to update regulations surrounding air rifles, public noise, and fireworks.

A primary adjustment in the ordinance was lowering the legal age to carry or discharge an air rifle from 18 down to 13 years old. Staff member Philip Mock explained that the county was required to drop the age limit to mirror existing Illinois state statutes.

“The reason we lowered it from 18 to 13 is because that’s what the state statute says,” Mock noted. Under the revised ordinance, a 13-year-old may carry an unloaded air rifle on public streets or discharge it on private property, provided the projectile does not cross property lines.

The discussion prompted questions from the committee regarding the regulation of highly realistic airsoft guns, which are frequently used in recreational skirmishes.

“Do we address airsoft at all?” one committee member asked. “They look like real guns, but they shoot plastic pellets… they fit in holsters, it’s the exact same gun cops use.”

Mock clarified that the county has no legal avenue to regulate airsoft guns or paintball markers. The county ordinance specifically defines an air rifle as an implement that impels a pellet constructed of “hard plastic, steel, lead or other hard material of less than .18 inch in diameter.” Because airsoft guns shoot 6-millimeter plastic pellets and lack a specific state statute governing them, Will County’s non-home-rule status prevents the board from enacting a local ban or age restriction.

“If we were home rule, we could do these kind of things,” Mock told the committee.

The committee also briefly touched on Section 133.05, which governs the enforcement of fireworks. While the ordinance officially allows for the possession and discharge of display fireworks if a permit is granted by Will County, Mock noted that the provision is functionally unused by the public.

“I talked to the sheriff’s department. They’ve never gave permits… they said nobody has ever asked them for a permit,” Mock reported, drawing laughter from the committee, who acknowledged that residents simply cross state borders to buy fireworks and ignite them illegally. Nevertheless, the permit language remains in the code to ensure the county provides a legal avenue should a resident ever formally request one.

The ordinance was advanced on a motion by Dawn Bullock (D-Plainfield), seconded by Vince Logan (R-Joliet).