If you're building, remodeling, or doing trade work in Lake County, Illinois, understanding the county’s building permit process can save you time, fees, and unnecessary delays. Helpful no matter the scope of your work, this guide walks through Lake County IL building permit requirements, fees, and more.
Information in this guide applies to unincorporated areas under the jurisdiction of the Lake County Planning, Building & Development Department.
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What requires a building permit in Lake County, IL?
Lake County requires building permits for most construction, renovation, or mechanical work in unincorporated areas.
Examples include:
- Construction of any new structure
- Construction of additions or alterations to an existing structure
- Construction of accessory structures such as a detached garage, shed, deck, swimming pool, or fence
- Any change of use of a building or structure
- Demolition of any structure
- Installing or altering any equipment regulated by the building, electrical, or mechanical code (for example, HVAC systems, regulated electrical work, etc.)
- Repair work that removes or cuts any wall, partition, or portion of a wall or partition
- Repair work that removes or changes any structural beam or load-bearing support
- Repair work that removes or changes any required means of egress, or rearranges space in a way that affects egress requirements
- Repair work that adds to, replaces, or alters water supply, sewer, drainage, gas, soil, waste, vent, or similar piping systems, or electrical or mechanical systems
What doesn’t require a building permit?
Per Lake County IL permitting guidelines, work that’s typically exempt from permitting includes:
- Replacement of ovens, refrigerators, washers, or dryers when there is no new electrical or plumbing work
- Interior and exterior painting (with extra checks if the property is in a floodplain)
- Installation or replacement of carpeting (again, with floodplain caveats)
- Land disturbance under 1,000 square feet with no change in drainage and not in a floodplain or drainage easement
- Planting trees
- Resurfacing existing paved surfaces such as sidewalks or driveways (though you may still need approval from the road authority or Health Department in some cases)
- Holding up to two garage sales per year
- Private, non-commercial events on the property (private parties, weddings, HOA or corporate picnics, etc.)
- Temporary signs such as residential real-estate signs, as long as setback rules are met
Lake County, IL building permit cost
Permit fees in Lake County vary by scope, project valuation, and square footage. Here’s a breakdown of typical fees:
Residential fees
1 & 2 family principal buildings & additions
Other principal buildings & additions
Residential accessory buildings
Residential repairs & alterations
Commercial fees
Principal non-residential buildings & additions
- Non-residential principal building or addition: $66.00 per 1,000 cu ft
- Minimum fee: $111.00
Non-residential accessory buildings
Commercial repairs & alterations
How long do building permits last in Lake County?
Lake County building permits have several important deadlines you need to watch:
- Application timeline: Your permit application expires six (6) months after you submit it if the county hasn't issued your permit yet. You'll need to request an extension to keep your application active.
- Starting construction: Once your permit is issued, you have six (6) months to begin work. If you don't start within this period, you must apply for an extension before you can proceed.
- Extension fees: Every extension request requires you to pay an administrative fee when you submit it.
Lake County IL trade permits
Plumbing permits
Required for any installation, repair, or alteration of water supply, sewer, or drainage systems.
Residential plumbing fees
Commercial plumbing fees
Electrical permits
Any new systems, upgrades, or fixture installation generally require an electrical permit.
Residential electrical fees
Commercial / multi-family electrical
Roofing, fence, and special permits
Accessory structure permits vary by size and location. Special permits may be needed in floodplain areas.
Roofing / siding (non-registration)
Fences - residential
Fences - commercial
To get more information on other trade permit fees, refer to the permit fee schedule.
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How to get a building permit in Lake County, IL
Lake County Planning, Building & Development handles permits for unincorporated Lake County. If the property is inside a city or village (Waukegan, Gurnee, Libertyville, etc.), permits must be pulled from that municipality’s building department instead.
Step 1: Prepare your documents
You’ll typically need:
- The address of the property or the Property Index Number (PIN)
- Completed Lake County IL building permit application
- Site plan/plat of survey (usually 3 sets)
- Architectural and construction drawings (as required)
- Contractor information and insurance
- Scope of work and estimated project value
Note: Some projects will also need a Site Development (Watershed Development) permit if they involve grading, drainage changes, floodplain, or wetlands.
Step 2: Submit online via the Lake County permit portal
Lake County uses the Land Development online permitting portal plus traditional submittal options.
- Create an account in the Lake County Land Development / Permit Portal to:
- Start a building permit application
- Upload your plans and supporting documents
- Track review status and, once approved, pay fees online
- For some permit types you can also submit applications by email or in person through Planning, Building & Development (Building & Engineering Division) at:
- 500 W Winchester Rd, Unit 101, Libertyville, IL 60048
Lake County typically calculates building permit fees after review; you don’t usually pay application fees up front. Fees are paid when the permit is approved and ready to issue.
Step 3: Departmental review
After submittal, your application is routed for review:
- Building & Engineering building, electrical, mechanical, structural, and life-safety code compliance
- Zoning use, setbacks, height, and other zoning requirements
- Stormwater / Watershed Development grading, drainage, floodplain, wetlands (may trigger a separate site development permit)
- Health Department / Utilities / Highway as needed for wells, septic, driveways, or work in the right-of-way
Step 4: Fee payment and permit issuance
Once your plans are approved:
- Staff finalizes your permit fees using the current FY25 Land Development Fee Schedule (different rates for residential vs. non-residential, trades, and special items like decks, pools, and fences)
- Fees are posted to your record in the online portal and/or provided on an invoice
- You pay fees online through the permit portal (or at the office if allowed by current procedures)
After payment:
- Your building permit is issued, and you can download/print the permit card and approved plans from the portal or pick them up at the office if required
Step 5: Begin construction and schedule inspections
With the permit issued and posted on site:
- You can start construction, following the approved plans and any conditions attached to the permit
- Inspections must be scheduled at key stages (for example: footing, foundation, framing/rough-in, insulation, final). Lake County’s Building & Engineering Division details required inspection stages by project type
To schedule inspections, you can:
- Use the online portal (where available) to request or track inspections, and/or
- Call Planning, Building & Development – Building & Engineering at 847-377-2600 or email lcpermits@lakecountyil.gov to coordinate inspections or ask which inspections you need for your project
Lake County IL permitting resources
- Lake County Planning, Building & Development Department
- Address: 500 W Winchester Road, Unit 101, Libertyville, IL 60048
- Phone: 847-377-2600
- Email: lcpermits@lakecountyil.gov
- Permit Portal: Lake County Permit Portal
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Permit fees in Lake County
- Lake County IL building permit application
- Property Index Number (PIN)
- Lake County IL permitting guidelines
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