Lake County, IL Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Confirmed child blood lead level report
- Governing section
- Lake County Code § 94.06(C)
- Enforcing agencies
- Health Dept, Planning/Building/Development, Sheriff
- Cure period
- At least 7 days after warning notice
- Scope
- Incorporated and unincorporated Lake County
- Escalation
- Chronic nuisance recorded on chain of title
Summary
Lake County Code § 94.06(C) makes it a public nuisance for a property owner to skip a Health Officer-ordered lead hazard mitigation or block the Health Officer's lead risk assessment, once the county holds a report of a confirmed elevated blood lead level in a child living in the structure. The Health Department enforces it countywide.
Lead mitigation. It is a public nuisance for a property owner to fail to mitigate a lead hazard in a structure in a manner and/or timeframe prescribed by the Health Officer, or to fail to allow access to the Health Officer to perform a lead risk assessment of a structure when the Health Officer is in receipt of a report of a confirmed blood lead level from a child that resides or resided in the structure.
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
06(C) of the Lake County Public Nuisances Ordinance is triggered only after the Lake County Health Department, whose Health Officer is the Executive Director of the Health Department or a designated agent, receives a report of a confirmed blood lead level from a child who resides or resided in the structure. From that point, it is a public nuisance for the owner either to fail to mitigate the lead hazard in the manner and timeframe the Health Officer prescribes, or to deny the Health Officer access to conduct a lead risk assessment.
02(A)'s general jurisdiction clause, so it reaches incorporated municipalities too, in accordance with the Health Department's jurisdictional or contractual authority there. 80 places lead mitigation among the sections jointly enforced by the Lake County Health Department, the Planning, Building and Development Department, and the Sheriff's Office. 82 notice of ordinance violation can issue for a hearing before the Administrative Adjudication Hearing Officer or a citation to the 19th Judicial Circuit Court. A respondent can still avoid the hearing by abating the hazard and paying the listed fine before the hearing date. 84.
Violations & Fines
Each day the lead hazard or access refusal continues is a separate offense under § 94.99(B), with fines set by the Administrative Adjudication Hearing Officer or the Circuit Court rather than a flat schedule. Ignoring the warning notice escalates the case to a formal notice of violation and hearing, and repeat lead nuisances within three years can brand the property a chronic nuisance recorded on its deed under § 94.84 until the Enforcement Officer certifies compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lake County's lead mitigation rule apply inside cities like Waukegan?
What triggers a lead mitigation order in Lake County?
What happens if a property owner refuses the Health Officer access?
Who enforces the lead mitigation ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois building safety overview
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