Moving to Joliet, IL: A Practical Orientation

This guide is a starting point for people relocating to Joliet: where the city sits, how to get around, which public agencies handle what, and the state paperwork to update after you move. For the details of setting up service accounts, see our utilities guide.

Where Joliet is

According to the City of Joliet, Joliet is located in Will and Kendall counties, about 30 miles southwest of Chicago, and is the county seat of Will County. At the 2020 Census it was the third-largest city in Illinois, with 150,362 residents.

Most of the city is in Will County. The 2020 Census counted 136,315 Joliet residents in the Will County portion and 14,047 in the Kendall County portion. Your county matters for voter registration, property tax records and some county services.

JolietRent also covers six neighboring communities. Crest Hill, Lockport, Shorewood, Romeoville and New Lenox are in Will County; Plainfield is in Will and Kendall counties. See each city page for an overview.

Getting around

Interstates

The city's economic development page lists 10 interstate interchanges on I-80 and I-55 within city limits.

Metra commuter rail

Joliet Gateway Center, 90 E. Jefferson Street, is the terminal for two Metra lines:

• Rock Island to LaSalle Street Station in downtown Chicago. Inbound from Joliet, the next stops in the area are New Lenox and Mokena.
• Heritage Corridor to Chicago Union Station, with stops at Lockport, Romeoville, Lemont, Willow Springs and Summit. When we checked Metra's trip planner in November 2026, this line had weekday trains only, with no Saturday trips.

Schedules, travel times and fares are in our commuting guide.

Amtrak

The city's Getting Here page says Joliet Gateway Center is a stop on Amtrak's Texas Eagle and Lincoln Service routes.

Pace buses

Pace runs local routes in Joliet, including 501 West Jefferson, 504 South Joliet, 505 West Joliet Loop, 507 Plainfield, 508 East Joliet, 509 Joliet–Fairmont, 511 Joliet–Elwood–CenterPoint and 512 Joliet–CenterPoint, plus regional routes 832 Joliet–Orland Park and 834 Joliet–Downers Grove. Pace also operates a West Joliet On Demand zone.

How people here commute

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020-2024) puts the mean travel time to work for Joliet residents at 28.8 minutes. In the same survey, 1.3% of Joliet workers commuted by public transportation and 8.8% worked from home.

How city services work

• City government. The City of Joliet is governed by a nine-member City Council: a mayor, five council members elected by district and three elected at large. City Hall is at 150 W. Jefferson Street.
• Water, sewer and trash. The city bills water, sewer and municipal waste on one monthly utility bill, and contracts with Waste Management for collection. Details are in our utilities guide.
• Snow parking ban. The city's FAQ says Joliet's snow parking ban takes effect automatically when 2 or more inches of snow fall within 24 hours.
• Street parking limits. The same FAQ says boats, RVs, trailers and trucks over 8,000 pounds may not be parked on city streets or in residential districts.
• Non-emergency police. The FAQ lists the Joliet Police non-emergency line as 815-726-2491.

Library and parks

Joliet Public Library

The Joliet Public Library has two locations: the Ottawa Street Branch at 150 N. Ottawa Street and the Black Road Branch at 3395 Black Road. The phone number for both is (815) 740-2660. Any resident of the city of Joliet can apply for a card with a government-issued photo ID and a printed proof of current address. Cards for children through age 17 are free, with a parent or guardian's signature.

Joliet Park District

The Joliet Park District is governed by its own Board of Commissioners, separate from the City Council. Its administrative office is at 3000 W. Jefferson Street, (815) 741-7275. Facilities listed on its website include Pilcher Park Nature Center, Inwood Athletic Club, Inwood Ice Arena, Nowell Park Recreation Center, Bird Haven Greenhouse, Hartman Recreation Center and Joliet Regional Airport. See our parks guide for more.

State paperwork after you move

Driver's license or state ID

From the Illinois Secretary of State:

• Moving from another state: get an Illinois driver's license or ID within 90 days. You must apply in person at a DMV. If you have a valid out-of-state license, only a vision test is required.
• Moving within Illinois: update your address with the Secretary of State within 10 days. You can do this online.
• Moving from another country: apply within 90 days; vision, written and road tests are required.

A REAL ID does not transfer from another state. For a REAL ID you'll need two documents proving your Illinois address, among others.

Vehicle title and registration

New residents have 30 days after establishing residence to apply for an Illinois title and registration, using an Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (form VSD-190) and the out-of-state title or other proof of ownership.

Voter registration

You can register through the Illinois State Board of Elections' online voter registration system or through your county clerk. The city's FAQ lists the Will County Clerk's Office at 815-740-4615 and the Kendall County Clerk's Office in Yorkville at 630-553-4105. As of November 1, 2026, the online system was closed for the November 3 election and scheduled to reopen November 5, 2026. Until then, the state's site says you can use in-person grace period registration through Election Day.

Next steps

• Browse rentals in Joliet and the six nearby communities.
• Read our Illinois landlord-tenant basics before you sign a lease.
• Check school information on our schools pages, which use official Illinois State Board of Education report card data.