Lake County, IL Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- NFPA 70 NEC, 2023 edition
- Effective date
- July 12, 2025
- Enforcing agency
- Planning, Building and Development Dept.
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Lake County only
- Appeal deadline
- 35 days to Zoning Board of Appeals
Summary
Unincorporated Lake County adopted the 2023 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code with local amendments, and the Planning, Building and Development Department enforces it through electrical permits and inspections.
Effective July 12, 2025 upon passage of the ordinance codified herein, ... and the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023, (as amended), be and are hereby adopted by reference in unincorporated Lake County, Illinois pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-6002 through 5-6006. ... The Planning, Building and Development Department shall enforce ... the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023, (as amended), within the Planning, Building and Development Departments areas of jurisdiction.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 26-0618, passed 6-9-2026 | State legislation current through ILCS Pamphlet 2025 #5).
Full Breakdown
Lake County Code § 150.15 adopts the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023 edition, with local amendments, as the county's electrical code for unincorporated Lake County, effective July 12, 2025. The Planning, Building and Development Department enforces it and issues electrical permits and inspections for wiring, service upgrades and new installations. Amendments in § 150.22 rewrite NEC service-entrance, GFCI-alarm and underground-clearance rules, and add an appeal path to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 35 days of a Building Official decision. This applies only outside incorporated cities and villages such as Waukegan, Highland Park, Gurnee and Libertyville, which enforce their own electrical codes.
Violations & Fines
Working without an electrical permit, or letting a permit lapse under the code's completion deadlines, is a code violation the county enforces under the Administrative Adjudication Ordinance, with appeal of a Building Official decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 35 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lake County require a permit for electrical work?
Does this cover Waukegan or Highland Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
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