Section 830.25  Daily Fee Fishing Area

a)         Persons wishing to obtain a fee fishing area license shall submit an application to the Department that contains all of the following information:

1)         the legal location of the site for which the license is intended;

2)         the size and number of water bodies located at the site;

3)         source of fish for stocking; and

4)         species of fish to be stocked.

b)         A representative of the Department shall inspect the proposed site and approve the fee fishing area application, providing all of the following criteria are met:

1)         the applicant is deemed capable of supervising a property of this character;

2)         the site is suitable for the purpose intended, but water bodies that are controlled, operated or managed as private club lakes, organizational lakes or lake developments are not eligible to receive a daily fee fishing area license;

3)         the operation of the property is not a menace or being established contrary to the laws of the State of Illinois;

4)         the operation of the fee fishing area will not work a fraud upon individuals utilizing the facilities; and

5)         Issuance of the license will be in the public's interest. [515 ILCS 5/20-95]

c)         The fee for a fee fishing area license shall be $50 annually, and the license shall expire on March 31 following its issuance.

d)         The Department may refuse to issue, refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke any license issued under this Section if the Department finds that the licensed area or its operator is not in compliance with this Section. The Department, however, shall not refuse to issue or renew, or suspend or revoke, any license for any cause other than the protection of public health and safety or if the area is operated unlawfully, unless the licensee affected is given at least 15 days notice, in writing, of the reasons for the action of the Department and given an opportunity to appear before the Department or its representative in opposition to the action of the Department. [515 ILCS 5/20-95]

(Source:  Amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 8079, effective June 1, 2026)