Parks, libraries, sanitation, public water — special districts are responsible for many of the essential services and amenities that make everyday life possible in Illinois. This practice guide, now in print for nearly 50 years, helps practitioners and their clients navigate it all with 10 chapters that cover special districts handling everything from cemetery maintenance and fire protection to drainage, hospitals, and more. The 2026 edition includes updates on legislative changes affecting license fees paid by foreign fire insurance firms, reapportionment plans for certain forest preserve districts, and restrictions on back-billing utility customers under the newly effective Local Government Billing Act. This volume also features dozens of editable forms and sample documents for attorneys to use in their practice.
Chapter 1 — General Considerations
John M. O’Driscoll and James J. Hess, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook
Chapter 2 — Cemetery Maintenance Districts
John M. O’Driscoll and James J. Hess, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook
Chapter 3 — Drainage Districts
John M. O’Driscoll and Erik R. Peck, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook, Sabrina Spano, Deputy City Attorney, Naperville
Chapter 4 — Fire Protection Districts
Shawn P. Flaherty, Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Ltd., Lisle, James S. Sinclair, Stobbs & Sinclair, Ltd., Alton
Chapter 5 — Forest Preserve Districts
John M. O’Driscoll, James J. Hess, and Megan M. Olson, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook
Chapter 6 — Illinois Tax-Supported Public Libraries
Phillip B. Lenzini and Jessica A. Pullen, Heyl Royster, Peoria, and Ann R. Pieper, ARDC, Springfield
Chapter 7 — Sanitary Districts
Brian F. Johnson, Peoria
Chapter 8 — Park Districts
John M. O’Driscoll and Andrew S. Paine, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook
Chapter 9 — Public Water Districts
M. Neal Smith and Sarah E. Kallas, Bond Conway Law Firm, Ltd., Wheaton
Chapter 10 — Hospital Districts
Katie E. Ngo, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook
