JOLIET — The City of Joliet will no longer require firefighters to live within city limits, after a unanimous City Council vote approved a new labor contract with the firefighters union that eliminates the decades-old residency rule.
The decision, approved Tuesday, comes amid ongoing challenges in recruiting qualified applicants to fill essential city roles — with Mayor Terry D’Arcy stating the residency mandate had become a significant hiring barrier.
“We’re having a hard time hiring people for our city,” D’Arcy told council members. “We’re having a hard time helping people move into the city,” as reported by Shaw Local.
New Rules Allow 50-Mile Flexibility
The newly approved contract with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 44 allows firefighters to reside anywhere within a 50-mile radius of Jefferson Street and Essington Road — giving recruits greater housing flexibility.
While the city’s previous rules required all city employees to live in Joliet, D’Arcy pointed to Joliet’s tight housing market and limited inventory as a core reason for the change.
“These are real-world problems,” he said, noting the city is “in kind of a crazy spot” due to a lack of affordable and available housing stock.
Not Union-Driven, Officials Say
Several council members, including Juan Moreno and Larry Hug, emphasized that the residency rule change was not a union demand, but rather initiated by the city’s management team.
“The union didn’t demand this, and they didn’t ask for it,” said Hug, who expressed frustration over the move but voted in favor of the contract nonetheless.
Resident Damon Zdunich, who previously ran for council, urged the city to delay the vote and seek more public input, arguing many residents are against dropping the requirement.
“A lot of the public doesn’t like it,” Zdunich said during the council meeting.
Pay Increases Included in Deal
In addition to the residency rule changes, the contract provides 3.25% annual pay raises for firefighters — retroactive to 2025 and lasting through 2028.
Firefighters are among the highest-paid city employees, with many earning six-figure salaries. Councilmember Sherri Reardon acknowledged those pay levels but noted that starting salaries aren’t always enough to support young families trying to relocate to Joliet.
“It’s not easy to move a young couple into the city who are just starting a job,” Reardon said.
More City Unions May Follow
The firefighters contract is the first of six currently being negotiated with Joliet’s employee unions. Mayor D’Arcy and council members hinted that the relaxed residency policy may extend to additional city departments, including public works and administrative staff.
What do you think? Should Joliet maintain residency rules for its first responders, or is flexibility needed in today’s housing market? Share your thoughts at chicagosuburbanfamily.com.
