Lake County, IL Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- AG/RE/E/R1-R4/R-4A/R5/RR
- 40 ft. max height
- R6 multifamily district
- 45 ft. max height
- AG/RE/E bonus height cap
- up to 50 ft. with setback trade-off
- Geographic scope
- unincorporated Lake County only
- Governing table
- § 151.125, Table 151.125(1)
Summary
Unincorporated Lake County caps most residential zoning districts at 40 feet, with the R6 multifamily district allowed up to 45 feet under the county zoning ordinance's density and dimensional standards table.
Single-family dwellings in the AG, RE, and E Zoning Districts may exceed the 40-foot building height limit by providing additional setbacks, as follows: for each 1 foot of additional height above 40 feet, structures shall be set back from all front, side, and rear property lines by two feet more than the otherwise required minimum setback. Structures in the AG, RE, or E Districts shall not exceed 50 feet in height.
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
Table 151.125(1) of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance caps building height at 40 feet in the AG, RE, E, R1, R2, R3, R4, R-4A, R5, and RR districts, and 45 feet in the R6 multifamily district. In the AG, RE, and E districts, single-family homes can rise above 40 feet, up to a 50-foot ceiling, if built with two extra feet of setback on every property line for each additional foot of height. These limits apply only to unincorporated Lake County; Waukegan, North Chicago, Highland Park, Gurnee, and Libertyville set their own height rules under their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
The Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department enforces height limits through the zoning certificate and building permit process; exceeding the limit without qualifying for the AG/RE/E setback trade-off requires a variation from the Zoning Board of Appeals under § 151.056.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this height limit apply in Waukegan or Highland Park?
Can a home in the AG, RE, or E district exceed 40 feet?
Which district allows the tallest residential buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois building setbacks & zoning overview
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